Fear of the Truth
Read John 9.
Procedurals are a standard form of entertainment in today's world. Take, for example, the many incarnations of shows like Law & Order or CSI. Procedurals are all about detailing the crime, investigating the crime and determining a punishment for the crime. For whatever reason, we are a culture fascinated by such procedurals.
John 9 reads like an ancient procedural. The whole chapter is really one story where Jesus does a "crime" (in the eyes of the Pharisees, at least) and then he is investigated for it (repeatedly). Jesus' crime here is that he heals a man born blind—and he does it on a Sabbath. He "works" again on the Sabbath (because he didn't learn the first time...or, in reality, the Pharisees didn't learn). So they spend the rest of the day interrogating this man and his family, trying to get them to condemn Jesus.
There is an air of fear that permeates this story. The parents are afraid of being put out of the synagogue, and while that may not sound like a big deal to us, for them it would have meant being isolated in the community. Imagine living in a town where no one would talk to you, interact with you—basically, they would consider you dead. It's not like today where we would just go to another church when we get disenfranchised or angry with our current one. Being put out of the synagogue meant an end to your social, religious and spiritual life. So it's an understandable fear on many levels.
The Pharisees are also afraid. They fear Jesus and what he is up to. He is drawing attention, and he has no authorization to do the things he is doing. They claim they don't even know where he comes from! They are afraid of losing power, influence, and spiritual authority.
What everyone is afraid of in this chapter is the truth. Or, perhaps I should say, the Truth. Because the Truth is standing right in front of them, and by the simple act of healing, he inspires fear in so many people.
The only person not afraid in this story (besides Jesus) is the man who was healed. He isn't afraid of being put out of the synagogue (because they eventually do that to him) and he isn't afraid of the questions the religious leaders are asking. He even pokes back at them: "Do you want to become his disciples? Why are you asking me the same thing over and over again?" And he boldly proclaims his newfound faith in Jesus: "I only know one thing: because of Jesus, I once was blind but now I see!" His encounter with Jesus has removed his fear. Is this what Jesus meant when he said the truth would set us free (cf. John 8:32). I think so!
How has the truth found in Jesus set you free?
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| Pool of Siloam |
John 9 reads like an ancient procedural. The whole chapter is really one story where Jesus does a "crime" (in the eyes of the Pharisees, at least) and then he is investigated for it (repeatedly). Jesus' crime here is that he heals a man born blind—and he does it on a Sabbath. He "works" again on the Sabbath (because he didn't learn the first time...or, in reality, the Pharisees didn't learn). So they spend the rest of the day interrogating this man and his family, trying to get them to condemn Jesus.
There is an air of fear that permeates this story. The parents are afraid of being put out of the synagogue, and while that may not sound like a big deal to us, for them it would have meant being isolated in the community. Imagine living in a town where no one would talk to you, interact with you—basically, they would consider you dead. It's not like today where we would just go to another church when we get disenfranchised or angry with our current one. Being put out of the synagogue meant an end to your social, religious and spiritual life. So it's an understandable fear on many levels.
The Pharisees are also afraid. They fear Jesus and what he is up to. He is drawing attention, and he has no authorization to do the things he is doing. They claim they don't even know where he comes from! They are afraid of losing power, influence, and spiritual authority.
What everyone is afraid of in this chapter is the truth. Or, perhaps I should say, the Truth. Because the Truth is standing right in front of them, and by the simple act of healing, he inspires fear in so many people.
The only person not afraid in this story (besides Jesus) is the man who was healed. He isn't afraid of being put out of the synagogue (because they eventually do that to him) and he isn't afraid of the questions the religious leaders are asking. He even pokes back at them: "Do you want to become his disciples? Why are you asking me the same thing over and over again?" And he boldly proclaims his newfound faith in Jesus: "I only know one thing: because of Jesus, I once was blind but now I see!" His encounter with Jesus has removed his fear. Is this what Jesus meant when he said the truth would set us free (cf. John 8:32). I think so!
How has the truth found in Jesus set you free?
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