A Question of Authority

Scripture

John 9:8-34

  ⁸ The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” ¹² They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ¹⁴ Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. ¹⁷ So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

¹⁸ The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight ¹⁹ and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” ²⁰ His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹ 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.” ²² 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. ²³ Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

²⁴ So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” ²⁵ He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” ²⁶ They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” ²⁷ He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” ²⁸ Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” ³⁰ The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. ³² Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” ³⁴ They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.  (NRSV)

Devotion

 If today's scripture reading was on an album, it would be Side B to Monday's reading about Jesus healing a person who had been blind since birth.  Jesus has gone on his way, and the formerly blind person is celebrating his ability to see for the first time ever.  Where the man sees a reason to praise God, though, everyone else sees a problem.  Neighbors and people who know the man as a beggar, distrust what has happened to him as being too good, too unexpected, and too life-changing to be true.  These folks have two main questions:  First, what authority does Jesus have to perform such a healing?  Second, why on Earth would he do so on the Sabbath?  Surely a holy person wouldn't do such work on the day God set aside for rest.  The people bring the situation to the attention of the Pharisees, who are the accepted authorities on how to keep God's commandments.

The Pharisee's interrogation of the blind man and his parents is cringe-worthy.  Where John's readers see a miracle that displays God's love for all people, the Pharisees see an unauthorized event that needs to explained away.  And yet, there is no explanation that suits their perspectives.  If Jesus is indeed a sinner who does not have the authority to heal someone, then how did he do it?  If he is from God, then why doesn't he have the pedigree they expect or follow the rules?  Finally, the only thing they can think of to do is drive the healed person from their presence.

It's tempting to judge the Pharisees for disputing a true miracle from God.  Before we act all holier-than-thou, though, we should ask ourselves if we really do any better.  Time and time again, I hear stories of individual, churches, or denominational bodies that take issue with the way that God has decided to work among them.  Why should this person be trusted to run (or even help with) a certain ministry?   How dare that person share God's love in a way that defies our normal expectations..and who or what made them think they had permission to do so anyway?  We can get so caught up in trying to explain away God's unsettling miracles that we end up persecuting and rejecting  the very folks who have  experienced Christ's healing love at work in their lives.  Chances are that if he physically showed up among us tomorrow, would even drive away Jesus himself.

Just because this is the way we've been doing things doesn't mean its the way that things have to stay.  The next time when we find ourselves wanting to second guess or reject the way Christ chooses to work among us, let's stop and ask why it makes us feel so threatened.  What is it about the situation that bothers us?  Once we have answered that question, let us lift it up to God.  With Jesus to guide us, we can come to terms with and even celebrate the miracles that unsettle us...the physical, mental, social, and emotional healings that defy our expectations...the God-moments that seem to break all the rules. When we learn to take off our spiritual blinders and praise God in times such as those, we will get a clearer vision of God's coming Kin-dom.  And if we need a little bit of help to trust in Christ's goodness and authority, we can ask the blind man for assistance.  He saw it all.

Prayer

Jesus, I love you.  I praise your name.  Help me to trust the surprising ways in which you heal the world.  May I become a person who celebrates your deeds and lifts up everyone who defies our expectations in order to do your good work.  Amen.