The Pharisees still have not received the answers they want to hear. They've questioned the man, and they've questioned his parents. So what's their next step? As Burrigdge puts it
They follow the age old police method, getting him to repeat his story in the hope of catching him him out. (p. 128)Not only do they not get the answers they want, their witness get frustrated with them and becomes firmer in his own resolve. Then he goes on to lecture them in much the same way as Jesus has in the previous chapter! Their reaction, at least to us, is predictable:
"You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. (9:24)Just who is blind here?
Burridge says:
So this blind man becomes an example for John's original readers who may have suffered a similar fate, and a challenge to us. Are we prepared to stand up for what Jesus has done for us--even under hard questioning and threats of rejection? (p. 120)LBGTs are familiar with this "similar fate." How many times have we been told we are sinners and then driven out of our churches by the religious authorities? Yet many of us have not gone away. We continue to stand up for what Jesus has done for us and claim our place among his followers.
Peace,
Jeffri
No comments:
Post a Comment