John 9

We've talked about this story in class--about how Jesus sent the man to wash in Siloam when there was almost certainly water closer--a miracle that asked for a step of faith on the part of the recipient. But look closer at the first 3 verses in this chapter. Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? If you look at verse 34, the consensus among the religious folks seems to suggest his parents (lit. "In sins you were born, entirely!"). Even though I don't like the language, the force behind what they said to the man in verse 34 is something like, "Why, you bastard! How dare you lecture us?!" This was serious business. At any rate, the response Jesus gives in verse 3 is stunning: Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened that the work of God might be displayed in his life. I still remember Tyler V.'s dad talking about this verse in particular before Tyler had his bone marrow transplant. I think this was part of the reason that I believed so strongly that God would completely heal Tyler.

But the healing is only part of the story. Most of the chapter deals with the conversations that took place after Jesus healed the man. I would like to point out that not all the religious folk were dead set against Jesus' actions. Look at verse 16. They were divided. As it turns out, this is not uncommon in Rabbinic Judaism. The man's parents chicken-out a little here, don't you think? But this man sure doesn't. He even gets himself tossed out of the synagogue for his words, but the pure simplicity of his testimony is beautiful: One thing I know. I was blind but now I see! When it boils down to it, this is, in a way, the common testimony of all who claim Jesus as Lord.