This morning, I've got some questions for you. Don't worry, though, they're really easy questions. So here goes: 1. What is your favourite colour? 2. What is your favourite TV programme? 3. What is your favourite view? [Some interesting answers - colours included purple, light blue, dark blue, turquoise; TV included CBBC (and not CBeebies, as I thought he had said!) and Great Railway Journies) and views ranged from Cyprus to the Glens of Antrim]
With all of those favourites, you need to be able to see, to watch, to look. Can you imagine if you couldn't see the colour purple any more? What if you didn't ever see the Glens of Antrim again? Sometimes, as we get older, our eyesight gets worse. Some people need to wear glasses (as we can see as we look around). Eventually, some people can't see any more, they become blind.
In our Bible reading today, Jesus meets a man who was blind from birth. He had never seen anything. He didn't know what his mum and dad looked like, he could not watch Horrible Histories, he didn't know what he looked like. Life was like darkness for him, it was always dark, because he couldn't see.
I've brought along a blindfold for a volunteer to give me a hand. Does someone want to see what it's like to not be able to see? Perhaps you'll walk down the church, but watch out for the dangers.
When it gets dark at night, what do we need? If you're in the car with your mum or dad, then they need to put on the headlights to be able to see where they're going. I've brought along another couple of examples - in and around the house, you might need a torch; or in a power cut you might light a candle.
In the darkness, we need the light to see. And the Bible says that we're all in the darkness, because of our sins. We prefer the darkness, because it keeps us hidden, what we're really like.
In our reading, Jesus says that he is the light of the world. He helps us to see what God is like. He helps us to see what we're like. He gives us his light so that we can walk in his way.
Jesus heals the blind man and helps him to see. Can you remember how Jesus healed him? He spat on the ground, made some mud, and put it on the man's eyes. I've brought along some soil from the Rectory garden, but I didn't need to spit on it - it's wet enough already. Would you like some of this mud on your eyes?
Jesus puts the mud on his eyes and sends him to the pool of Siloam (sent) to wash it off, and suddenly he can see!
Jesus is the light of the world, he helps us to see. The question is, will we stay in our darkness, or will we come into his light?
This sermon was preached at the Family Service in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 15th January 2012.
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