After working through the obvious contrasts of the Pharisees and the blind man, new sight brings out the depth of the passage. One of the themes introduced is that this man is blind in order that "the works of God" might be revealed/displayed in him. The typical reader of this passage will find a way to associate the words "the works of God" with a mental image based on their experience and perhaps take this to mean that he is blind so that Jesus can perform a miracle. The astute reader will not reach that conclusion!
The astute, informed reader will remember that "the works of God" is a theme that has previously been introduced in this gospel. In 6:26-30 Jesus engages in answering this question to a less than astute audience. His answer in 6:28 identifies the "work of God" as believing in the one God sent. If this is the case, then the man is born blind so that belief in the one God sent will occur.
The question becomes, in the words of the disciples, 'who sinned, this man or his parents?' Jesus' response to the disciples that echoes throughout the ages remains the same, those under the power of sin are in such a condition so that they might believe in the one whom God sent?
Is that an appropriate understanding of sin? Sin is unbelief, people have only one way to go when they are under the power of sin, that is to burst its bonds and in a victorious shout yell, "MY DEBT IS PAID", "I BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHOM GOD SENT!" Jesus is the victorious one, should our reading of the Bible not transform our thinking?
The thoughts of a Fascination Advantage® Archer: Mystique plus Alert. Pragmatic, Focused communication is my DNA.
Showing posts with label John 9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 9. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
John 9 and "Be careful what you think!"
A brief outline of John 9 places the Disciples' question and Jesus' response in 9:1-5 in parallel with the Pharisees' question and Jesus' response in 9:40-41. In short here are the two questions:
1) Teacher, who sinned to cause this man to be born blind, the man or his parents?
2) Surely you don't think that we are blind, do you?
Here are the two responses:
1) This man was born blind to cause the works of God to be revealed through him
2) If you were blind you wouldn't have any sin, but you have sin because you say that you see.
It appears to me that the teaching of this passage is relatively simple. It revolves around the concept of reality. Reality TV is anything but real. Reality is admitting to the state of affairs as they actually are, not as we want them to be or think that they are. Reality is when the perspective of God becomes the lens through which all things are seen.
We have two main characters here, the blind man (whom everyone but Jesus characterized as somehow being under the power of sin) and the Pharisees (whom everyone but Jesus characterized as not being under the power of sin). In the eyes of Jesus the blind man was not under the power of sin because he willing permitted God to work through him while the Pharisees were under the power of sin (I am repetitive here but I can't presume that everyone can complete a parallel thought) because they would not allow the works of God to be revealed in them.
If that is the case, does it change how you think about sin?
1) Teacher, who sinned to cause this man to be born blind, the man or his parents?
2) Surely you don't think that we are blind, do you?
Here are the two responses:
1) This man was born blind to cause the works of God to be revealed through him
2) If you were blind you wouldn't have any sin, but you have sin because you say that you see.
It appears to me that the teaching of this passage is relatively simple. It revolves around the concept of reality. Reality TV is anything but real. Reality is admitting to the state of affairs as they actually are, not as we want them to be or think that they are. Reality is when the perspective of God becomes the lens through which all things are seen.
We have two main characters here, the blind man (whom everyone but Jesus characterized as somehow being under the power of sin) and the Pharisees (whom everyone but Jesus characterized as not being under the power of sin). In the eyes of Jesus the blind man was not under the power of sin because he willing permitted God to work through him while the Pharisees were under the power of sin (I am repetitive here but I can't presume that everyone can complete a parallel thought) because they would not allow the works of God to be revealed in them.
If that is the case, does it change how you think about sin?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)