~ There can be many ways to oppose the establishment ~
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”He answered, “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 9.25-27)
Remember those crowing Pharisees from last week's study in John 9? They'd only just gotten started when they summoned the man blind from birth... summoned him back for a second round of questioning.
As we looked at last week, they had a strategy. First, they tried to bully him into telling him "truth-" not "THE" truth but rather A "truth" but one that would be palatable to them.
Have you ever noticed that when someone says something with which you agree - or that is palatable to you, you are more ready to identify those words as truth, even if you really might not know for sure? I know I do.
Have you ever noticed that when someone says something with which you agree - or that is palatable to you, you are more ready to identify those words as truth, even if you really might not know for sure? I know I do.
I love how the blind man refuses to "judge" or totally label Jesus and stuff Him in a box of his own design based off of the small amount (although very significant) of time he'd spent with Jesus. What he does do, however, is he states what he knows to be true:
- He was blind.
- Now he can see.
That's something anyone who's encountered Jesus can do, regardless of how many encounters, regardless of how much time, regardless of how spectacular those times might have been. When asked, when confronted, when put on the spot, I can always testify confidently of my personal experience with the Lord.
Then he makes it quite clear that he doesn't know if Jesus is a sinner or not... implying the impossibility of him being able to answer that question one way or another. In other words, he tries to sidestep or evade the question. He probably, for easily understandable reasons, wants to slide out of the spotlight and avoid further attention or confrontation.
Then he makes it quite clear that he doesn't know if Jesus is a sinner or not... implying the impossibility of him being able to answer that question one way or another. In other words, he tries to sidestep or evade the question. He probably, for easily understandable reasons, wants to slide out of the spotlight and avoid further attention or confrontation.
Sometimes I hate it when looking in God's Word is like looking into a perfectly cleaned mirror with bright lights shining so that nothing... no imperfection or flaw or outright yuckiness... can be obscured.
The previously blind man's attempt to evade the question and deflect an inevitable confrontation was, personally, super convicting. As a person who prides (yeah... true confession there...) herself on her skill in using words, this was one of those zinger moments. How many times, how many subjects, have I sidestepped in conversations, have I blatantly tiptoed through without ever standing for Jesus and saying what I know to be clear truth because the conversation enters realms like:
The previously blind man's attempt to evade the question and deflect an inevitable confrontation was, personally, super convicting. As a person who prides (yeah... true confession there...) herself on her skill in using words, this was one of those zinger moments. How many times, how many subjects, have I sidestepped in conversations, have I blatantly tiptoed through without ever standing for Jesus and saying what I know to be clear truth because the conversation enters realms like:
- homosexuality
- same sex marriage
- abortion and women's rights
- that there is ONLY ONE Way, Truth, Life...
- the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God - every jot and every tittle - and it applies regardless of person, race, culture, experience, perspective...
- etc.
and I'm concerned with the repercussions of making such a stand.
Ouch!
I know I need to make those stands. Knowing isn't doing. And it will be uncomfortable, so I
I know I need to make those stands. Knowing isn't doing. And it will be uncomfortable, so I
The Pharisees continue to press the man. "What exactly did he do to you?" "How did he do it?"
If they could just get this man to confess that there was some trick involved, something unholy or demonic, something that would prove that Jesus could not be from God - because they were absolutely convinced He couldn't be.
One thing I learned during in depth study of the Bible with women from another culture is that many times what seems obvious to me in Scripture is only so because it is colored by my the glasses of my perspective - and my perspective is a product of this Western, imperialistic, individualized and materialistic culture.
When I read these next verses, I think, "The previously blind man must have had it. He's no longer passively accepting the insults and insinuations of the Pharisees. He attacks back!" for he immediately reminds them that he had described all of this earlier... during his first summons. He wasn't giving them any new information. He wasn't telling them anything different from what he'd already said. If they didn't accept his answer then and it nothing had changed, why would they accept his answer now? Matthew Henry writes "this sentence is equivalent to '...You had no ears, you took no heed. If you had already listened to the simple facts wherefore would ye hear it again? You will pay no more heed now than then. Or do ye want to transform it into a charge against me? Against [Jesus]?'" Next, he taunts them, asking them if they want to become disciples as well implying that he could never imagine them singing the praises of Jesus as the multitudes were wont to do. That being the case, why did it even matter. Why not just leave him alone rather than scapegoating him?
When I read these next verses, I think, "The previously blind man must have had it. He's no longer passively accepting the insults and insinuations of the Pharisees. He attacks back!" for he immediately reminds them that he had described all of this earlier... during his first summons. He wasn't giving them any new information. He wasn't telling them anything different from what he'd already said. If they didn't accept his answer then and it nothing had changed, why would they accept his answer now? Matthew Henry writes "this sentence is equivalent to '...You had no ears, you took no heed. If you had already listened to the simple facts wherefore would ye hear it again? You will pay no more heed now than then. Or do ye want to transform it into a charge against me? Against [Jesus]?'" Next, he taunts them, asking them if they want to become disciples as well implying that he could never imagine them singing the praises of Jesus as the multitudes were wont to do. That being the case, why did it even matter. Why not just leave him alone rather than scapegoating him?
On the other hand, I can imagine sitting in the courtyard of our Eglise Evangelique de Harobanda, feel the sweat dripping down my back and rolling down the backs of my legs, register the sounds of goats in the street... sheep and chicken in the Pastor's courtyard while a few rabbits hop around near our group of ladies, and then hear, clear as a bell in my mind - Amina translating Mamata's impassioned response: "Look at how the previously blind man indirectly offered his authorities the opportunity of considering discipleship instead of remaining Jesus doubters of Jesus! What a wise man!"
I immediately assumed a sarcastic and frustrated tone of voice as the man born blind responds to the Pharisees. In our world, our day and age, it is not hard to imagine an ordinary man responding to community leaders in such a way because we value individualism and freedom of speech. In the Biblical world, that day and age, I'm guessing it isn't so likely. In a culture that respects age, education and position as well as the consensus of the group, any type of pointed remark to someone in a traditionally respected position would be very indirectly given.
Look at the original meaning of the Greek word translated as "want" in the Scripture text above:
There are many ways to make a stand for Jesus - and unless you are one of those who thrives on confrontation, none of them will ever be easily described as comfortable.
But making a stand for Jesus is always the right choice, no matter how the Spirit leads you to do it.
I immediately assumed a sarcastic and frustrated tone of voice as the man born blind responds to the Pharisees. In our world, our day and age, it is not hard to imagine an ordinary man responding to community leaders in such a way because we value individualism and freedom of speech. In the Biblical world, that day and age, I'm guessing it isn't so likely. In a culture that respects age, education and position as well as the consensus of the group, any type of pointed remark to someone in a traditionally respected position would be very indirectly given.
Look at the original meaning of the Greek word translated as "want" in the Scripture text above:
There are many ways to make a stand for Jesus - and unless you are one of those who thrives on confrontation, none of them will ever be easily described as comfortable.
But making a stand for Jesus is always the right choice, no matter how the Spirit leads you to do it.
How are you making a stand for Jesus right where you are, right now?
this week's gratitude list
(#'s 4658 - 4685)
visit with Uncle Tim
doughnut Saturday
great week of Triple C ball camps for Tori and Anna
Anna's five-on-five team won the end of week championship game
Brendan, Rebekah and Nadia all have driving permits
afternoon at the pool
freshly picked cherries
honest-to-goodness summer weather
looking forward to a visit from Joe and Andi
Daddy up at church - making a good recovery
beautiful flowers from last week's Farmers' Market
some really fun visits with friends last week
really encouraging things happening in the realm of partnership development
writing a letter to a friend I miss more than I can accurately describe
reading my kids' letters to that same friend - all written in French (Jonathan's and Tori's were awesome!)
speaking of Jonathan - he starts Triple C basketball this week. He's so excited to play AND see all his friends!
Upcoming registration at SVSU for our transfer student
watching the final episode of last season's The Mentalist, again!
late night grocery store run with hubby - almost like a date!
looking forward to reading a book where the "shock value" title has me totally intrigued
encouraging report from one of the churches we've visited recently
my kids playing with other kids right here in the neighborhood
hanging out with some new folks
falling asleep before 10:30 one night
watching Rebekah care for an injured red fox and a baby green heron while volunteering at the ARK last week
baby coons making me smile
hearing that we'll probably be able to release the baby turkeys back behind our house where we found the eggs
walking out late one night to see (and hear the clip clop on the concrete) a buck walking down the sidewalk in front of our house
visit with Uncle Tim
doughnut Saturday
great week of Triple C ball camps for Tori and Anna
Anna's five-on-five team won the end of week championship game
Brendan, Rebekah and Nadia all have driving permits
afternoon at the pool
freshly picked cherries
honest-to-goodness summer weather
looking forward to a visit from Joe and Andi
Daddy up at church - making a good recovery
beautiful flowers from last week's Farmers' Market
some really fun visits with friends last week
really encouraging things happening in the realm of partnership development
writing a letter to a friend I miss more than I can accurately describe
reading my kids' letters to that same friend - all written in French (Jonathan's and Tori's were awesome!)
speaking of Jonathan - he starts Triple C basketball this week. He's so excited to play AND see all his friends!
Upcoming registration at SVSU for our transfer student
watching the final episode of last season's The Mentalist, again!
late night grocery store run with hubby - almost like a date!
looking forward to reading a book where the "shock value" title has me totally intrigued
encouraging report from one of the churches we've visited recently
my kids playing with other kids right here in the neighborhood
hanging out with some new folks
falling asleep before 10:30 one night
watching Rebekah care for an injured red fox and a baby green heron while volunteering at the ARK last week
baby coons making me smile
hearing that we'll probably be able to release the baby turkeys back behind our house where we found the eggs
walking out late one night to see (and hear the clip clop on the concrete) a buck walking down the sidewalk in front of our house
Ten most recent posts in this series:
- Made to stand before...
- His Traumatic Love
- Believed isn't always the same as believing
- Why?
- Why? (Part 2)
- Divine Makeovers
- Muddy Spittle Grace
- ~ when parents fear men ~
- "Cock-a-d00dle-d00!" they crowed
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