A recent
Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary was John 9:1-41. Jesus and
the disciples met a blind man—blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Who
sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Their
question represents old wisdom: poverty or illness as a sign that somebody has
sinned. Blame the victim! Jesus contradicts that wisdom: “It’s not the victim’s
fault. It’s not anybody’s ‘fault’.
But God can be glorified in and through any situation.”
And, Jesus
heals him. Note: It was on the Sabbath.
The
neighbors were amazed! “Isn’t this the guy that used to sit and beg?” “No! It
can’t be! It’s just somebody that looks like him!” When they confronted him, they
didn’t like his answers; so, they took him to the Pharisees, who immediately said,
“Well, the healer can’t be from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.”
Maybe
you’ve noticed: sometimes our ideologies—our beliefs and doctrines, both
religious and political—get in the way of what’s right.
The Pharisees decided the man hadn’t been healed. It was a sham;
so, they called his parents, who said, “Ask him; he’s of age.” (They were
afraid of the Pharisees. Hmmm. Imagine: being afraid of religious leaders!)
So, the Pharisees called the man back in, and
played the intimidation card: “Change your testimony! We know this man is a sinner;
so, don’t say he healed you. Say God healed you!”
His response was simple: “One thing I do know, I
was blind, now I see.”
So, they asked again, “What did he do to you? How
did he open your eyes?”
He replied, “I told you already, and you wouldn’t
listen. Why do you want to hear it again?” [Starting
to seem like a Senate investigation hearing, isn’t it?]
They said, “You were born entirely in ignorance, and you’re trying
to teach us?” And they kicked him out in the street.
There are several layers here: nobody
in this story “gets it”! I wonder what I
don't get. I wonder what we don't get.
I
guess I’ve been thinking that the principle of an ideological system taking
precedence over human need is a relatively new thing. Obviously, I was wrong. “The
healer can’t be from God because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath?” Great Honk!
A
human need has been met! A man has been healed! He once was blind, but now he can
see! Why isn’t that the primary focus? Why isn’t it celebrated? “…he doesn’t
keep the Sabbath? [Later, this healer who can’t be from God would ask the same
Pharisees, “Is it right to do good on the Sabbath?”]
All
these people were looking for—were longing for—the kingdom of God; and all the
while, the healer who can’t be from God has been saying, “The Kingdom is here!”
“This is it!”
They
couldn’t see it, because it didn’t fit their expectations. It didn’t fit in
their system.
A
primary message of the Gospels is that this healer who can’t be from God is the
very one who is bringing in the Kingdom of God; but he hasn’t come to restore
the old kingdom of their creedal system; he’s come to bring a New Kingdom! The
old kingdom was based on law and sacrifice; the new kingdom will be based on
love and grace.
People
whose lives are based on rules find it hard to understand and accept love and
grace. “You don’t work, you don’t eat.” That’s law. “I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat.” (Matthew 25:35
NIV) That’s grace. It’s easier to respond, “Get a job!” or, “I don’t
want to encourage their dependence.”
The Gospel readings in the Lectionary are preparing us and moving
us toward the Easter celebration. Sunday-after-next will be Palm Sunday. Remember:
many
of those who cried “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday, cried, “Crucify him!” Friday
morning, because he didn’t live up to their locked-in belief system. So, they
judged him unqualified.
They
didn’t get it. Had I been there, I wonder if I’d have “gotten it.” Do I really “get
it”, even today? Is my own ideology—my doctrine—so rigid that I don’t recognize
the movement of God unless it fits into what I already think I know? What don’t
I get?
That’s
the essence of walking by faith, not by sight.
That’s
the way I see it through the Flawed Glass that is my world view.
Together in the Walk,
Jim
