This week’s long, uplifting reading from John 9:1-41 has a few places that really bother me.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him”One side of this is comforting – “Nobody’s being punished by this man being blind.” One side really bothers me. “Blame God – this guy had to be blind until now so that he could be healed and y’all would experience what God does.” Why say that? Why not just stop at “Nobody’s being punished?”
"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 know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself."Parents don’t want to get in trouble and be punished because of what their son did? Why not say, “He used to be blind, now he can see. What’s the problem with that? We think he’d tell you the same thing – why not ask him?”
"I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."Did Jesus come so that some would be turned away? Or is it more of an “I came to show all the people who think they get it that they really don’t get it” kind of thing?
What are you thinking about with this week’s Bible reading?
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