The Holy Gospel of John: Chapter ( 9 )
Have you ever noticed that those who consider themselves, yet not necessarily considered by others to be "Righteous, Pious, Upstanding, Holier than thou citizens, are ever so quick to judge, pointing a finger at someone, for the slightest infractions determined by themselves only.
Some of us as Christians, hasten to stand in judgement of our fellow Christian brother and sisters over the slightest little thing, not unlike the Pharisees. We live in our own little world, where we see ourselves as judge and jury, and presume that we have the right to stand in judgement of others, and worse yet, we use partial Bible Scripture, taking the scripture out of context in order to try and prove our point or strengthen our position, rather than applying God’s word to the whole truth, but to our own little misguided piece of what we perceive the truth might be.
The Pharasees in the time of Jesus are such people. They have learned and understand the letter of the biblical laws as given to Moses, and then wrongfully, apply their own interpretation of the law to suit their own agenda.
One such law of Moses, deals with the Hebrew people doing any form of labour or work on the Sabbath. The pharasees of Jesus era and habitational area, narrowly interpret this law to mean that man cannot lift a finger to do anything that might or could be misconstrewed as performing work.
Jesus is travelling down some road with some or all of his disciples, when they happen across a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples ask Jesus, whose sin caused the man to be blind, the man or his parents, and Jesus answers them explaining that it was neither, that the man had been blinded so that God through Jesus could manifest the powers of God.
After saying this, Jesus spits on the earth, making some clay and anoints the man’s eyes with the mud, and then tells him to go and wash off the mud in the nearby river.
After the blind man is finished washing off the mud, he is discovered by some of the towns people, and now he can see. Everyone is both amazed and confused, because the recognize this man by his face and features, he is no longer blind, which is how they have recognized him all of his life. At this point the town’s people have absolutely no concern as to whether it was The Sabbath, or a Tuesday, just idle curiosity about how he now sees.
The town’s people, not satisfied with what their own eyes see, after questioning the man and hearing his simple explanation take the situation to the Pharasees, the supposed know every things about everything. Who ask the man the exact same question and get the axact same answer that the town’s people asked.
After asking the same question over and over and getting the same answer, an answer they refused to hear and comprehend, the pharasees first declare that the man was never truly blind, and declare that the man and even his parents, who vouche for the man, are liars.
Then the Pharasees, acting like politicians, divert the question of how the man regained his sight towards Jesus, stating that He Jesus, is not a man of God, WHY? because he did not keep with Jewish tradition as he performed work on the Sabbath. The all- knowing, pious, holier than though Pharasees, declare the man "Altogether born of Sin" and cast him out from the town.
Finally the man and some of the Pharisees catch up to Jesus, but the tones of accusation, and the confusion have subsided at least just a little. Jesus had already heard about what had transpired in the town and also with the Pharasees, of the town, and asks the man,"Dost thou believe on the Son of God? The Man asks Jesus and Jesus reveals to the man that He is one and the same. And the man worships Jesus. Finally Jesus admonishes the Pharasees.
Jesus States,"For Judgement I am come into this world,that they which see not might see, and they which see might be made blind." and when the Pharisees ask if they are blind Jesus answers them,"If ye were blind ye would have no sin: but now ye say We see, therefore your sin remaineth."
Luke: 6: 41-42 would also have been a marvellous quote to have been given to these all knowing, self-righteous, hypocritical, holier than thou, Pharisees, because they totally refused to recognize the truth about this man no matter who spoke. It was only their own opinion that mattered.