Seeing the Impossible: When Jesus Finds the Outcast
Based on the November 3, 2024 message by Dr. David Fraze
Have you ever felt like you didn't belong in church? Like everyone else had it all together, while you were just faking it? Or maybe you've experienced rejection because of your faith. If so, you're not alone. The story of Jesus healing the blind man in John 9 speaks directly to these experiences and reminds us of God's heart for the outcasts.
The Blind Man's Incredible Day
Imagine being blind from birth, spending your days begging on the street. Then one day, a man comes by, puts mud on your eyes, and tells you to go wash. Suddenly, you can see! It's the greatest day of your life. But then things take a sharp turn.
As David shared, "We're about to go from greatest to worst. Like radical turn." The religious leaders start interrogating you. Your own parents won't stand up for you. You're thrown out of the synagogue, cut off from your entire community.
This is exactly what happened to the man Jesus healed. His story illustrates both the joy of encountering Jesus and the cost of following Him.
When Church Feels Uncomfortable
Many of us can relate to feeling out of place in church. Have you run across the people who feel like they're imposters? They have the imposter syndrome. We put on our Sunday best, plaster on a smile, and pretend everything's fine. But inside, we're thinking, "If people really knew who I was, they'd run away."
Or maybe you feel overlooked or judged because of your appearance or circumstances. As David shared about an Olympic athlete in a wheelchair who told him, "I don't go to churches very much anymore because the churches I go to, everybody wants to pray for my wheelchair, but they don't know me."
The Cost of Following Jesus
When we truly encounter Jesus, it can turn our world upside down. Like the blind man, we may face opposition from unexpected places – even our own families. I've seen this play out with young people who get excited about their faith:
"These are actual conversations with a parent and a child. Just remember when you give your life to Jesus, it's kind of like, you know, it's just something we do. Don't get too carried away."
Some face even harsher consequences. I remembered a student at our camp who wore a black cape:
"He walks out of the classroom crying. So I get up and I follow him and I'm like, are you all right? He says, people don't know what I have to pay for because I follow Jesus. And it's one of those cases you had to turn into CPS because his dad would literally beat him because he followed Jesus."
Following Jesus can be costly. But as the blind man discovered, it's worth it. Even when faced with intense pressure, he stood firm in what he knew to be true: "One thing I know: I was blind but now I see" (John 9:25).
Jesus Seeks the Rejected
Here's the beautiful part of the story. After the man is thrown out of the synagogue, we read:
"Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?'" (John 9:35)
Jesus sought him out. He didn't leave him alone in his rejection. This is the heart of our God – He pursues those who are cast aside by others.
When you give up everything, Jesus works his way back and says, do you believe I'm the one? That will happen. He will show up when you give up everything.
Creating Authentic Community
As the church, we're called to reflect this same heart. We should be a place where the outcasts, the misfits, and the broken find acceptance and love. David shared a powerful story about a girl who came to their youth group:
"She wrote an incredible note... And she said, when I got here, I didn't think anybody saw me. And I felt so lost, and I felt so alone. But you people are crazy, and you just kept coming and coming and coming and coming. And she said, this is the first time I felt in a long time that people see me, and I feel accepted."
Putting It Into Practice
So how do we live this out? Here are some practical steps:
Be honest about your own struggles. Don't pretend to have it all together.
Look for the person who seems uncomfortable or out of place at church. Introduce yourself and get to know them.
When you're tempted to judge someone based on appearance, remember Jesus' example of seeing people's hearts.
Stand firm in your faith, even when it's costly. Remember that Jesus sees and values you.
Create spaces in your church where people can ask questions and express doubts without judgment.
Remember, "There's something when you're blind and then you see and then you are found by Jesus in a community that finds you and says, we were there and we understand and you have value to us. That changes everything."
Let's be that kind of community – one where the impossible becomes possible through the love of Christ.