March 26, 2017. Not everyone wants to be free from blindness. Pastor Penny preaches today on both the physical blindness of the man Jesus healed in John 9:1-41, and on another kind of blindness. The Pharisees who questioned the healed blind man were themselves blinded, by their rules, and by their obsession with keeping the law. Are we more like the blind man or the Pharisees? When Jesus invites us to the baptismal font, do we promise to try to see others as God sees us?
*** [Keywords: Amy high powered New York architect At First Sight movie God valued him Gospel James Jesus invites us to the baptismal font Jesus offers healing Jesus’ intention John 9:1-41 Pastor Penny Holste Pharisees Sabbath Shirl Jennings Ten Commandments Virgil able to see accepts afraid all their many rules already loves us anxieties baptized based on true story beggar bird took off flying blind from birth blinded by rules booted from synagogue breaking rules broken commandment called him Lord can be painful challenged their blindness come to see God compulsion confident couldn’t remember their image crucified did not want to dirt distances were confusing doctor dog from cat drives wedge between us and people we love educated ends on sad note excellent in work or school eyesight fall back fall in love feeling fell on knees felt more disabled felt superior first a man free from blindness get rid of their blindness gift good life in spite of blindness great temptation having our trust healer helping someone on Sabbath highly respected leaders ice skating on pond identity independent keep all the rules keeping trust kneading bread know world without seeing known by everyone light of God’s love look at life through God’s eyes lost confidence love and forgive us forever love and mercy maintaining certain lifestyle make paste man from God massage therapist mitzvot mixing anything with hands more aware of Jesus more confusing and scarier never gave up on them obsession with keeping the law offered to end their blindness our value is already there outcast physical blindness physical sight pool and be healed prefers to remain blind questioned the healed blind man reaction to world reason he was killed recover sight regained energy religious leaders renewed creative energy road leading to village rose from darkness of death saddest thing about their compulsion about rules see others as God sees us see others like God sees us sinful society portrayed solution for eyelids something more precious soul searching spit still blind stronger than blindness succeeding in physical challenges successful operation take over our lives teaching then prohpet they were seeing God third commandment through hearing time and money touching trust Jesus trust in loving God unfailing promise unless they were dying vacation spa valued by God wash eyelids in pool wasn’t being punished when we fail who God was who he was whole new understanding your sins remain 613 rules]