November 5

In Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles (continued) -- John 8:12-59, 9:1-41, 10:1-21

The Pharisees -- Muppet Style

The Pharisees continue to challenge Jesus again and again.  How frustrating is that?  He's come to save.  He knows the price He will pay because He's already talking about it.  I wonder at what moment specifically in His life did Jesus understand that saving the world would require a sacrifice and that sacrifice would be Him?  Did He regret leaving?  Had He grown so close to the people here -- to Peter, James and John, to Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene -- that He was sad to go?  Did He fear the pain and the shame?  I would like to know the heart and soul of Christ.  I know -- that requires reading and prayer and serving, walking in His steps to know His heart.  But in addition to that, I would like a vision and a voice.  But wouldn't we all?

The essential story in this reading -- sad, funny and poignant -- is the story of the blind man healed by Christ.  It seems unfeeling that instead of asking Christ to heal the man born blind they seem to clinically ask whose sin caused him to be blind -- his own or his parents?  Are people just projects to Christians?  They are people to Christ.  Jesus says its not their sin, "this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  A hard teaching...but there are some challenges in our life that are there to point to God.  So Jesus heals him.

The the fun begins.

The people can't believe it.  They don't think it's the same man.  The Pharisees question him and his parents.  The parents are afraid of the Pharisees and their motives.  The man is very, very cool.  He's bold, sarcastic even funny with the religious leaders.  I like this guy.

When they question him again, he says, "I have told you already and you did not listen.  Why do you want to hear it again?  Do you want to become His disciples, too?"  [John 9:27] 

lol  I just love that.  He throws them into a conniption fit.  This lowly blind man against the establishment. And then what a testimony follow from this man blind from birth to the well-educated and powerful Pharisees who have lived with every advantage and, yet, who don't know where Christ comes from.

The man answered, "Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does his will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.  If this man were not fro God, he could do nothing." [John 9:30-33]

For his faith and boldness, this former blind man will see not only the truth but the Truth.  Jesus will make another appearance to him and reveal to him who He truly is, let him see what the Pharisees are blind to see.