Christ confronts a blind man and heals him
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1--13 (C, E); 1 Samuel 16:1, 6--7, 10--13 (RC)
This text presents us with an interesting theological concept that challenges our notions of God's unchangeableness. Here God changes his mind about a choice he had previously made. Saul was no longer worthy to be king and Samuel was to appoint another to take his place. The prophet reluctantly goes to the house of Jesse as directed by God, to select a successor for Saul. When Samuel spies Eliab, who is tall and handsome, he thinks that this is truly the new heir to the throne. God says no, because the Almighty does not judge as humans do, on appearances. God is more interested in what lays inside. Jesse's sons come before Samuel but none are chosen. The prophet inquires if there are any other sons and is told that there is one, David, out in the field tending the sheep. Once again, God does the unexpected and picks the young shepherd boy to be his Anointed.
Lesson 1: Hosea 5:15-6:2 (L)
If the people admit their guilt and turn from their sinful ways, God will heal and restore them.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:8--14 (C, RC); Ephesians 5:(1--7) 8--14 (E)
Before Christ, a person is not merely in the darkness, he or she is an integral part of the darkness, since there is no source of light within them. Through faith in Christ, we not only walk in the light, we are light, since God's illuminating Spirit is within. While we were darkness, our lives were fruitless, but now that we are light, we produce the fruits of goodness, truth and love.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--10 (L)
Paul proclaims the good news that ''there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus'' (v. 1). Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we are freed from the domination of our sinful nature and given a new nature through the Holy Spirit. We are not to live out of our sinful nature but live a life dominated by the Spirit of God.
Gospel: John 9:1--41 (C, RC); John 9:1--13 (14--27) 28--38 (E)
Jesus heals a man born blind. However, there is much more at stake here than physical sight. This account highlights the dynamics of spiritual blindness and spiritual insight. The blind man receives his eyesight immediately after washing his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, but his spiritual prescription comes more slowly. We see the development in the account, as this man gradually comes to see who Jesus is.
Gospel: Matthew 20:17--28 (L)
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus informs the disciples of his upcoming passion and death. They do not see the picture, nor do they comprehend what he is saying. This is seen in what happens next. The mother of James and John approaches Jesus with a request that her two sons be accorded positions of power and glory in his kingdom. Jesus grasps the teaching moment and tells them that the one who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who is the most dedicated servant.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 23 (C, RC, E) - ''The Lord is my shepherd ...'' (v. 1).
Psalm 43 (L) - ''Oh, send out your light and your truth and let them lead me'' (v. 3).
Prayer Of The Day
Merciful God, remove the scale from our soul and the film from our eyes that we might see Jesus in the midst of life's joys and sorrows. May the light of his Spirit within us show the way that leads to life eternal. In Christ's precious name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Note: Most of the appointed lessons for this day connect on the theme of seeing and perceiving. In 1 Samuel 16:1--13, God helps Samuel to see beyond the exterior and be a good judge of character. This enables him to pick the right man to replace Saul. In Ephesians 5:8--14, Paul reminds us that we are light in the Lord. No one can see without the light. In Matthew 20:17--28, the disciples are unable to see the true nature of the Kingdom of God. And in John 9:1--41, Jesus helps a man gain not only physical but spiritual vision.
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1--13
Learning to see through the eyes of God. When Samuel lived with Eli, the priest, in the house of God, the Lord called him in the night. He had to learn to distinguish the voice of God. When the Lord told him to go to the house of Jesse in order to anoint another king, he needed to learn to look at the candidates, not through the eyes of human perception but through the eyes of the Lord. He needed God's--ray vision to penetrate the heart. Eliab truly impressed the prophet: he was tall and handsome; but David had a heart which sought to please the Lord.
Lesson 1: Hosea 5:15-6:2
The weakness of God. God is not able to help or heal his children until they confess their sins and turn to the Lord for healing. ''I will return again to my place until they admit their guilt'' (5:15). We see this same principle played out in alcohol treatment. The alcoholic cannot be helped until he comes to the end of his rope, desires to turn from his destructive lifestyle and seeks help from on high.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:(1--7) 8--14
Fruit of the light. In order for a tree or plant to produce fruit, there must be light. Paul relates that Christians are light and they are to produce the fruit of the light - goodness, righteousness and truth. Those who do not know the Lord are in the darkness and their lives are fruitless.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--10 (See Lent 5.)
Gospel: John 9:1--41
The paradox of suffering. The blind man brought to the fore the questions we all struggle with: Why do some people suffer loss and misfortune and not others? The disciples, products of their society, assumed that such a misfortune must be the punishment for some evil, either
on the part of the man or his ancestors. ''Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'' (v. 2). The disciples assumed that there was a neat explanation for everything that happened in this world. They wanted and needed to believe in a rational universe, where there is cause and effect. That's what we want too, isn't it? The factor that really disturbs a lot of people about the epidemic of violence in our society is its randomness. Some punk pulls out a pistol, shoots into a crowd and kills innocent bystanders, who just happened to be there. No more orderly universe. The paradox of suffering can be stated as follows: If God is good, as well as powerful, why do innocent people suffer? God does not explain away the paradox; he merely answers it with another paradox. The God who brings light out of darkness also raises life out of death.
Identity crisis. After Jesus healed the man there was a question as to whether this sighted man was really the blind beggar. He was known as the blind man, his identifying characteristic, and since he was no longer blind, it must be someone else. If we take the evidence in the text alone, it would appear that this man had no identity crisis. ''I'm the man,'' he boldly proclaimed. Yet this man's life was turned on its ear. He could no longer earn his living as a beggar through the sympathy of bystanders. His world was immeasurably enlarged and transformed - almost like being on another planet. He had to learn how to see and this would take time. Fortunately, he had Jesus to open his eyes not only to the physical world but also to the spiritual world. To know Jesus is to get a handle on our identity crisis.
Seeing Jesus with both eyes. When the blind man received his sight, he did not immediately see Jesus. In the account, we see a growth in his perception of the Lord. When the Pharisees asked who healed him, he responded, ''The man they call Jesus ...'' (v. 10). Note the impersonality of his designation. As they continue to interrogate him concerning the identity of the man who had healed him, he responded: ''He is a prophet'' (v. 17). Finally, he encountered Jesus himself. ''Do you believe in the Son of Man?'' ''Who is he, sir?'' Jesus replied that he is now looking at him and talking to him. The man formerly blind then confessed, ''I believe'' and then worshipped Jesus. The restoration of his vision was complete. At the same time, the sighted Pharisees were spiritually blind and would not see the Spirit of God in the actions of Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 20:17--28
King of the mountain. As children, we sometimes played a game called ''king of the mountain.'' The king was the person on top of the hill and he earned his title by throwing off all those who would knock him from his perch. Sounds like a description of life in corporate America or politics. According to Matthew, the mother of James and John begs Jesus to grant her sons the privilege of sharing with him the glory of being in the top spot. Jesus has another idea about being king of the mountain. He informed them that he was going up to Jerusalem to be elevated, not on a throne but a cross. If they expected to reach exaltation in God's kingdom they must learn how to be servants just as ''the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many'' (v. 28).
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1--13
Sermon Title: Seeing Through God's Eyes
Sermon Angle: Samuel had a tough time seeing why God had rejected Saul as king. When he finally went to the house of Jesse, as the Lord had directed, to discover the next king, he was thoroughly impressed with the eldest son. Eliab was tall and handsome. Surely, this must be the Lord's anointed one. Samuel was warned not to judge by externals, as humans do, but to penetrate to the inward qualities, as the Lord does.
Outline:
1. Humans tend to judge others on exterior characteristics
- Samuel was ready to choose Eliab as king because of his looks
- David was initially rejected because he was young, short and a shepherd
2. Our society judges people based on external qualities - beauty, strength, status
3. God sees the heart
- not what we appear to be but what we are inside
- not even what we are but what we can become with his help
4. Let us walk closely with God that we might see others through his eyes
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:(1--7) 8--14
Sermon Title: Fruit Of The Light Christians
Alternative Sermon Title: Children Of The Night Or Of The Light
Sermon Angle: Paul informs the Ephesian Christians that they were once darkness but are now light, because of their relationship with the Lord. The darkness produces fruitless works, while the light yields life--giving fruits such as goodness, righteousness and truth. What kind of fruit is our life producing? Let us constantly turn our faces to the light of Christ's grace and love.
Outline:
1. Both science and faith tell us there is no life without light
- Genesis describes the pre--created world as a dark, formless void
- God's first creative act was light
- Light produces life
2. The ungodly person is a dark, formless void
3. The Christian person radiates the light of Christ
4. Enlightened Christians produce the fruits of righteousness (love, joy, peace, and so forth)
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--10
Sermon Title: Free At Last
Sermon Angle: Paul proclaims the good news: ''There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.'' As Dr. Martin Luther King so eloquently proclaimed: ''Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I'm free at last.'' Christ frees us from the power of sin and the futility of the law.
Outline:
1. Christ frees us from the domination of sin and death
2. Christ frees us from condemnation
- we are freed from self--condemnation (guilt)
- we can rise above the condemnation of others (shame)
3. Choose to live out of your new nature and not your old sinful nature
Gospel: John 9:1--41
Sermon Title: The Scandal Of Suffering
Sermon Angle: The disciples assumed that there was a direct link between sin and suffering. Jesus denies this connection in the case of the blind man, without revealing the reason for such misfortunes. Yet, he sees it as an opportunity to display the grace of God. Such misfortune is still a scandal (stumbling block) for those who would believe. Without explaining away the mystery of suffering, we can use it as an opportunity for the Spirit to manifest God's glory.
Sermon Title: Open My Eyes Lord, I Want To See Jesus
Sermon Angle: If you employ this theme and title, use the song by the same name before or after the sermon, as a way of reinforcing the theme. The blind man gradually had his spiritual eyesight opened to the fullness of Jesus. He began seeing Jesus as a man, then a prophet and, finally, as the incarnation of God (v. 38). Do we see Jesus in all his fullness?
Outline:
1. At first, the blind man saw Jesus as a man (We too must acknowledge his full humanity) (v. 10)
2. Then, Jesus became larger - a prophet (v. 17)
3. Finally, Jesus confronts him and the man worships him as the exalted Son of Man (v. 38)
4. To be a disciple of Jesus, we must see all three dimensions of Jesus and fall down to worship him
Gospel: Matthew 20:17--28
Sermon Title: King Of The Mountain
Sermon Angle: The request from the mother of James and John produced indignation on the part of the other disciples because they too were jockeying for position. Several of them desired one of the top spots in the kingdom of the Christ; these wanted to become the king of the mountain. Jesus sets them straight. Only they will attain the heights who are willing to descend to the depths of servanthood.
Outline:
Introduction: The controversy over position and power showed that the disciples had not attained the values of the kingdom.
1. The world honors those who attain fame, money, power and position
2. God glorified his son because he was willing to give his life for the world
3. God honors those who are willing to serve the needs of others
Conclusion: Don't concern yourself with the values of this world. Lose yourself in serving the Lord.
In the spring quarter of the 1981 Pulpit Resource, J. Glendon Harris draws an interesting analogy between Plato's Allegory Of The Cave and the state of those portrayed as spiritually blind in our gospel lesson, the Pharisees. In Plato's allegory the majority of humankind is compared to the woeful condition of prisoner in a cave. The den has an opening to the light but the prisoners have their backs to the light, so that they see only shadows. We might think that if these prisoners were released from their dungeon, they would be able to see things as they really are, not mere shadows of reality. The allegory shows that if the dungeon dwellers were free to fully face the light, their sight would be overwhelmed with the painful luminescence of the sin. Their sight would not, at first, be greater but less. They would have to avert their gaze to reduce the stabbing brilliance of the light.
Jesus is the light of the world but the blind man could not handle the full brilliance of this light immediately. As he admitted more and more light to his soul, he was able to move beyond seeing Jesus as a man, to perceiving him as a prophet and then, the Son of God. The Pharisees chose to linger in their world of shadows, their den of illusions, rather than face the painful process of seeing things as they really are in the light of Christ.
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1--13 (C, E); 1 Samuel 16:1, 6--7, 10--13 (RC)
This text presents us with an interesting theological concept that challenges our notions of God's unchangeableness. Here God changes his mind about a choice he had previously made. Saul was no longer worthy to be king and Samuel was to appoint another to take his place. The prophet reluctantly goes to the house of Jesse as directed by God, to select a successor for Saul. When Samuel spies Eliab, who is tall and handsome, he thinks that this is truly the new heir to the throne. God says no, because the Almighty does not judge as humans do, on appearances. God is more interested in what lays inside. Jesse's sons come before Samuel but none are chosen. The prophet inquires if there are any other sons and is told that there is one, David, out in the field tending the sheep. Once again, God does the unexpected and picks the young shepherd boy to be his Anointed.
Lesson 1: Hosea 5:15-6:2 (L)
If the people admit their guilt and turn from their sinful ways, God will heal and restore them.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:8--14 (C, RC); Ephesians 5:(1--7) 8--14 (E)
Before Christ, a person is not merely in the darkness, he or she is an integral part of the darkness, since there is no source of light within them. Through faith in Christ, we not only walk in the light, we are light, since God's illuminating Spirit is within. While we were darkness, our lives were fruitless, but now that we are light, we produce the fruits of goodness, truth and love.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--10 (L)
Paul proclaims the good news that ''there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus'' (v. 1). Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we are freed from the domination of our sinful nature and given a new nature through the Holy Spirit. We are not to live out of our sinful nature but live a life dominated by the Spirit of God.
Gospel: John 9:1--41 (C, RC); John 9:1--13 (14--27) 28--38 (E)
Jesus heals a man born blind. However, there is much more at stake here than physical sight. This account highlights the dynamics of spiritual blindness and spiritual insight. The blind man receives his eyesight immediately after washing his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, but his spiritual prescription comes more slowly. We see the development in the account, as this man gradually comes to see who Jesus is.
Gospel: Matthew 20:17--28 (L)
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus informs the disciples of his upcoming passion and death. They do not see the picture, nor do they comprehend what he is saying. This is seen in what happens next. The mother of James and John approaches Jesus with a request that her two sons be accorded positions of power and glory in his kingdom. Jesus grasps the teaching moment and tells them that the one who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who is the most dedicated servant.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 23 (C, RC, E) - ''The Lord is my shepherd ...'' (v. 1).
Psalm 43 (L) - ''Oh, send out your light and your truth and let them lead me'' (v. 3).
Prayer Of The Day
Merciful God, remove the scale from our soul and the film from our eyes that we might see Jesus in the midst of life's joys and sorrows. May the light of his Spirit within us show the way that leads to life eternal. In Christ's precious name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Note: Most of the appointed lessons for this day connect on the theme of seeing and perceiving. In 1 Samuel 16:1--13, God helps Samuel to see beyond the exterior and be a good judge of character. This enables him to pick the right man to replace Saul. In Ephesians 5:8--14, Paul reminds us that we are light in the Lord. No one can see without the light. In Matthew 20:17--28, the disciples are unable to see the true nature of the Kingdom of God. And in John 9:1--41, Jesus helps a man gain not only physical but spiritual vision.
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1--13
Learning to see through the eyes of God. When Samuel lived with Eli, the priest, in the house of God, the Lord called him in the night. He had to learn to distinguish the voice of God. When the Lord told him to go to the house of Jesse in order to anoint another king, he needed to learn to look at the candidates, not through the eyes of human perception but through the eyes of the Lord. He needed God's--ray vision to penetrate the heart. Eliab truly impressed the prophet: he was tall and handsome; but David had a heart which sought to please the Lord.
Lesson 1: Hosea 5:15-6:2
The weakness of God. God is not able to help or heal his children until they confess their sins and turn to the Lord for healing. ''I will return again to my place until they admit their guilt'' (5:15). We see this same principle played out in alcohol treatment. The alcoholic cannot be helped until he comes to the end of his rope, desires to turn from his destructive lifestyle and seeks help from on high.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:(1--7) 8--14
Fruit of the light. In order for a tree or plant to produce fruit, there must be light. Paul relates that Christians are light and they are to produce the fruit of the light - goodness, righteousness and truth. Those who do not know the Lord are in the darkness and their lives are fruitless.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--10 (See Lent 5.)
Gospel: John 9:1--41
The paradox of suffering. The blind man brought to the fore the questions we all struggle with: Why do some people suffer loss and misfortune and not others? The disciples, products of their society, assumed that such a misfortune must be the punishment for some evil, either
on the part of the man or his ancestors. ''Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'' (v. 2). The disciples assumed that there was a neat explanation for everything that happened in this world. They wanted and needed to believe in a rational universe, where there is cause and effect. That's what we want too, isn't it? The factor that really disturbs a lot of people about the epidemic of violence in our society is its randomness. Some punk pulls out a pistol, shoots into a crowd and kills innocent bystanders, who just happened to be there. No more orderly universe. The paradox of suffering can be stated as follows: If God is good, as well as powerful, why do innocent people suffer? God does not explain away the paradox; he merely answers it with another paradox. The God who brings light out of darkness also raises life out of death.
Identity crisis. After Jesus healed the man there was a question as to whether this sighted man was really the blind beggar. He was known as the blind man, his identifying characteristic, and since he was no longer blind, it must be someone else. If we take the evidence in the text alone, it would appear that this man had no identity crisis. ''I'm the man,'' he boldly proclaimed. Yet this man's life was turned on its ear. He could no longer earn his living as a beggar through the sympathy of bystanders. His world was immeasurably enlarged and transformed - almost like being on another planet. He had to learn how to see and this would take time. Fortunately, he had Jesus to open his eyes not only to the physical world but also to the spiritual world. To know Jesus is to get a handle on our identity crisis.
Seeing Jesus with both eyes. When the blind man received his sight, he did not immediately see Jesus. In the account, we see a growth in his perception of the Lord. When the Pharisees asked who healed him, he responded, ''The man they call Jesus ...'' (v. 10). Note the impersonality of his designation. As they continue to interrogate him concerning the identity of the man who had healed him, he responded: ''He is a prophet'' (v. 17). Finally, he encountered Jesus himself. ''Do you believe in the Son of Man?'' ''Who is he, sir?'' Jesus replied that he is now looking at him and talking to him. The man formerly blind then confessed, ''I believe'' and then worshipped Jesus. The restoration of his vision was complete. At the same time, the sighted Pharisees were spiritually blind and would not see the Spirit of God in the actions of Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 20:17--28
King of the mountain. As children, we sometimes played a game called ''king of the mountain.'' The king was the person on top of the hill and he earned his title by throwing off all those who would knock him from his perch. Sounds like a description of life in corporate America or politics. According to Matthew, the mother of James and John begs Jesus to grant her sons the privilege of sharing with him the glory of being in the top spot. Jesus has another idea about being king of the mountain. He informed them that he was going up to Jerusalem to be elevated, not on a throne but a cross. If they expected to reach exaltation in God's kingdom they must learn how to be servants just as ''the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many'' (v. 28).
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1--13
Sermon Title: Seeing Through God's Eyes
Sermon Angle: Samuel had a tough time seeing why God had rejected Saul as king. When he finally went to the house of Jesse, as the Lord had directed, to discover the next king, he was thoroughly impressed with the eldest son. Eliab was tall and handsome. Surely, this must be the Lord's anointed one. Samuel was warned not to judge by externals, as humans do, but to penetrate to the inward qualities, as the Lord does.
Outline:
1. Humans tend to judge others on exterior characteristics
- Samuel was ready to choose Eliab as king because of his looks
- David was initially rejected because he was young, short and a shepherd
2. Our society judges people based on external qualities - beauty, strength, status
3. God sees the heart
- not what we appear to be but what we are inside
- not even what we are but what we can become with his help
4. Let us walk closely with God that we might see others through his eyes
Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:(1--7) 8--14
Sermon Title: Fruit Of The Light Christians
Alternative Sermon Title: Children Of The Night Or Of The Light
Sermon Angle: Paul informs the Ephesian Christians that they were once darkness but are now light, because of their relationship with the Lord. The darkness produces fruitless works, while the light yields life--giving fruits such as goodness, righteousness and truth. What kind of fruit is our life producing? Let us constantly turn our faces to the light of Christ's grace and love.
Outline:
1. Both science and faith tell us there is no life without light
- Genesis describes the pre--created world as a dark, formless void
- God's first creative act was light
- Light produces life
2. The ungodly person is a dark, formless void
3. The Christian person radiates the light of Christ
4. Enlightened Christians produce the fruits of righteousness (love, joy, peace, and so forth)
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--10
Sermon Title: Free At Last
Sermon Angle: Paul proclaims the good news: ''There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.'' As Dr. Martin Luther King so eloquently proclaimed: ''Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I'm free at last.'' Christ frees us from the power of sin and the futility of the law.
Outline:
1. Christ frees us from the domination of sin and death
2. Christ frees us from condemnation
- we are freed from self--condemnation (guilt)
- we can rise above the condemnation of others (shame)
3. Choose to live out of your new nature and not your old sinful nature
Gospel: John 9:1--41
Sermon Title: The Scandal Of Suffering
Sermon Angle: The disciples assumed that there was a direct link between sin and suffering. Jesus denies this connection in the case of the blind man, without revealing the reason for such misfortunes. Yet, he sees it as an opportunity to display the grace of God. Such misfortune is still a scandal (stumbling block) for those who would believe. Without explaining away the mystery of suffering, we can use it as an opportunity for the Spirit to manifest God's glory.
Sermon Title: Open My Eyes Lord, I Want To See Jesus
Sermon Angle: If you employ this theme and title, use the song by the same name before or after the sermon, as a way of reinforcing the theme. The blind man gradually had his spiritual eyesight opened to the fullness of Jesus. He began seeing Jesus as a man, then a prophet and, finally, as the incarnation of God (v. 38). Do we see Jesus in all his fullness?
Outline:
1. At first, the blind man saw Jesus as a man (We too must acknowledge his full humanity) (v. 10)
2. Then, Jesus became larger - a prophet (v. 17)
3. Finally, Jesus confronts him and the man worships him as the exalted Son of Man (v. 38)
4. To be a disciple of Jesus, we must see all three dimensions of Jesus and fall down to worship him
Gospel: Matthew 20:17--28
Sermon Title: King Of The Mountain
Sermon Angle: The request from the mother of James and John produced indignation on the part of the other disciples because they too were jockeying for position. Several of them desired one of the top spots in the kingdom of the Christ; these wanted to become the king of the mountain. Jesus sets them straight. Only they will attain the heights who are willing to descend to the depths of servanthood.
Outline:
Introduction: The controversy over position and power showed that the disciples had not attained the values of the kingdom.
1. The world honors those who attain fame, money, power and position
2. God glorified his son because he was willing to give his life for the world
3. God honors those who are willing to serve the needs of others
Conclusion: Don't concern yourself with the values of this world. Lose yourself in serving the Lord.
In the spring quarter of the 1981 Pulpit Resource, J. Glendon Harris draws an interesting analogy between Plato's Allegory Of The Cave and the state of those portrayed as spiritually blind in our gospel lesson, the Pharisees. In Plato's allegory the majority of humankind is compared to the woeful condition of prisoner in a cave. The den has an opening to the light but the prisoners have their backs to the light, so that they see only shadows. We might think that if these prisoners were released from their dungeon, they would be able to see things as they really are, not mere shadows of reality. The allegory shows that if the dungeon dwellers were free to fully face the light, their sight would be overwhelmed with the painful luminescence of the sin. Their sight would not, at first, be greater but less. They would have to avert their gaze to reduce the stabbing brilliance of the light.
Jesus is the light of the world but the blind man could not handle the full brilliance of this light immediately. As he admitted more and more light to his soul, he was able to move beyond seeing Jesus as a man, to perceiving him as a prophet and then, the Son of God. The Pharisees chose to linger in their world of shadows, their den of illusions, rather than face the painful process of seeing things as they really are in the light of Christ.
