Expectations

Why do things happen the way they do? A natural human question.

We’ll take more than one day with this powerful story.

Jesus’ disciples’ question is not uncommon. When something goes a particular way, we begin to question how we got there. It could be seen as a responsible question, in part asking, How did we get here and what can we do to prevent this injustice in the future?

These days, Jesus’ answer is sometimes seen as cruel. You mean this guy sat around without sight for years and years just so in this current moment Jesus could demonstrate God’s power? …wasn’t there another way?

Perhaps Jesus isn’t quite saying that. Rather, he’s proposing that whatever the situation is, it has the capacity for the work of God’s justice to restore or bring newness or instill life. (We’ll see tomorrow that this is unacceptable to many people for some reason.)

In the meantime, he calls his disciples (including you and me) to acknowledge that there is darkness and there is light. We can expect such things in life.

And he is the light of the world.

Remember that there are all sorts of allusions to the creation story here in John. I am the light of the world harkens back to that first divine utterance to bring forth life in the chaos and darkness. And so Jesus returns to the ground - dust and dirt, brings forth water, and uses it to instill new life for the human.

John 9:1-7

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was born blind, this man or his parents?”

Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents. This happened so that God’s mighty works might be displayed in him. While it’s daytime, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After he said this, he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smeared the mud on the man’s eyes. Jesus said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (this word means sent). So the man went away and washed. When he returned, he could see.

Prayer

God,

How is it that we come to have so many expectations? I’m concluding more and more that life’s disappointments are the result of unmet expectations. Not that this is wrong, it’s just a way I’m looking at things. So, when I find out that an agreement I had with someone ten months ago is now off the table, I’m disappointed. Or when I put some kind of food in my mouth, believing it will be good, but the grape is rotten, it is less than satisfactory.

Do you give me expectations? Had I known the grape was rotten, I might have prepared myself differently to eat it. I’m not saying it would have been enjoyable…just that I would have dealt better with it.

Does this even make sense, God?

My kindergarten teacher told me I could be anything, do anything, have anything. I’m not mad at Mrs. Russo, but I just feel like she was old enough to know better.

Lord, help me live a life that is reasonably expectable. I don’t mean that I want to sit around Eeyore-like, always expecting the worst. But I do want to be even-keeled, steady in hope, and ready to respond.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.