Transforming Faith - Part 2
Don Hamer is on professional development leave until May 15. He is writing occasional posts to this blog to share some of his experiences.
They called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son,k who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we now who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. (John 9:18 ff)
This passage from today's Daily Office follows yesterday's passage in which a man who was born blind and who had spent his life as a beggar was restored to sight by his faith in Jesus. Today's passage picks up with the Pharisees, still doubting that this is the same man, actually go to check out the story with the man's parents. Later, when the pharisees again confront the man directly, and the man later tells Jesus, "Lord, I believe." Again, this passage raises a number of issues, but I invite you to focus with me on just one:
Ignoring John's characteristic and unfortunate painting of "the Jews" as a monolithic group of evildoers, consider the response of the parents. Their son, who has been blind all his life, has his sight restored, but all they fear is their standing in the synagogue. What are we afraid of? What stands in the way of our publicly acknowledging God's goodness in our lives? Are we afraid we will be identified as "weird" or "extreme?" Do we, like the man's parents, hope that someone else will do the talking and allow us to slip quietly under the radar? Jesus invites us, and desires us, to stand with him and before the world, like the man who had his sight restored, and say, "Yes, I believe, and this is why . . ." That is how we can help the Kingdom of God to come near.
Have a blessed day! Your brother in Christ, Don+
They called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son,k who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we now who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. (John 9:18 ff)
This passage from today's Daily Office follows yesterday's passage in which a man who was born blind and who had spent his life as a beggar was restored to sight by his faith in Jesus. Today's passage picks up with the Pharisees, still doubting that this is the same man, actually go to check out the story with the man's parents. Later, when the pharisees again confront the man directly, and the man later tells Jesus, "Lord, I believe." Again, this passage raises a number of issues, but I invite you to focus with me on just one:
Ignoring John's characteristic and unfortunate painting of "the Jews" as a monolithic group of evildoers, consider the response of the parents. Their son, who has been blind all his life, has his sight restored, but all they fear is their standing in the synagogue. What are we afraid of? What stands in the way of our publicly acknowledging God's goodness in our lives? Are we afraid we will be identified as "weird" or "extreme?" Do we, like the man's parents, hope that someone else will do the talking and allow us to slip quietly under the radar? Jesus invites us, and desires us, to stand with him and before the world, like the man who had his sight restored, and say, "Yes, I believe, and this is why . . ." That is how we can help the Kingdom of God to come near.
Have a blessed day! Your brother in Christ, Don+
posted by Don+ @ 5:58 PM
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