Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
John 9:30-34
The (formerly) blind man questions the Pharisees’ knowledge and their faith, stating “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing” (v. 33). This infuriates them and they throw him out. His honesty about what Jesus has done for him defies their understanding.
They are too wrapped up in their own position in the religious hierarchy and their misapplication of the law to see the miracle that has occurred. Instead of giving thanks to God for the healing the man received, they are angry that it was performed on the Sabbath and without their involvement. We must ask ourselves “are we still like the Pharisees?”
We argue about how to resolve a problem, unwilling to give the other side a “win”, regardless of the good it might achieve. Once the disciples reported a man performing miracles in Jesus’ name and asked if they should stop him – because he wasn’t one of them. Jesus replied that “no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me” (Mark 9:39). We must look first for the goodness in an action and not the affiliation of the one who does it.
Loving Lord, teach us Your ways and show us how to love one another. Let us see that all who do Your will are our brothers and sisters, regardless of who they are or where they come from. Amen.