Reflections

John 9:1-5 (MSG)

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light."

Because of judgmental-blame, sin has become a sensitive topic. I'd say the sin-taboo is justified. Judgment is not our responsibility. Judgment is for Jesus a lone.

Jew's held a belief that a person inherits sin from their father(John 9:34); moreover, parental-sin manifests in children. Which means the sins of parents cause all sorts of deformities in children--such as the blindness of John chapter nine. This belief is completely useless. If anything detrimental.

I love translation of the above passage. It makes the intent of John chapter nine clear. Finding fault is a waste of time. Blaming other people is a waste of time. Degrading people is a waste of time. Instead of wasting time Jesus commands his disciples to follow his lead and to be "energetically at work" for God.

John chapter nine continues with an example of God's work. Jesus heals the man--which is a form of forgiveness. Taking away the blindness signifies the erasing of inherited sins. This is something the Jews pick-up on, well some. And some do not understand. As always there is an elect group that sees but does not understand. These people in charge of the synagogue find the once blind man and question him. 

The interrogation goes back and forth between the healed man and the leaders; it bounces to the leaders and the Parents of the healed man. Ultimately the interrogation ends back with the healed man. It proves one thing: though the man was blind he now sees (John 9:25). The leaders of the synagogue are enraged by the gift. They think of themselves separate, blameless and holy--but now this person once below them has the audacity to presume to teach them. The leaders harden their hearts, turn a blind eye, and kick the guy out of their synagogue.

Jesus finds this displaced person. He says to him,"For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind"

Some nearby Pharisees hear this and basically ask 'does this mean we too are blind?'

Jesus says, "If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you're accountable for every fault and failure." John 9:41 (MSG)

The irony of judgment is it makes a person blind to their own sin. The Bible is rather specific about responsibility--he saves people so they may be a blessing to others. The Jewish nation is the Bibles first example of salvation. In the Old Testament God saved Israel from captivity--so it may become a nation of priests. He wanted his chosen people to ultimately bless the world. However, fast forward to the new Testament and Israel has lost their ability to bless--their views bend inwards upon themselves and upon being self-righteous. Such action is not a reflection of God's light but walking in darkness. Jesus' judgment comes on those that should know better--those that have been saved and been told "Sin no more", but continue to sin. Jesus doesn't see blame with the blind--the blind can be made to see.

How does Jesus make a person see their sins; when the person focuses only on how superior they are to others?

This passage is a call to humility.