Thoughts on life, leadership and the movement called the church by Brian C. Hughes, Senior Pastor

by Brian C. Hughes, Senior Pastor

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Easter Soul Prep Day 9

Some of you have made very insightful comments on previous days. You are asking questions, seeing things you hadn't seen before, and learning to read between the lines. You are hearing tone and visualizing the scene. You are digging deeper into the background, culture and historical context. THIS is the BEST of great Bible study...Way To Go!

Lately, God is doing something in me where He is bringing to my mind many other parts of the Bible as I read. For example, Jesus says in John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." That leads to the question: 'Well, Jesus, who's the light of the world whey you are not in the world?' And I immediately thought of Matthew 5:14 when Jesus clearly says, "You are the light of the world." and John repeatedly uses light as a metaphor for direction, goodness, God's presence, truth, etc. See chapters 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11 & 12.

The question that is asked by the Pharisees in v.2 would be a normal, common assumption. Disease or affliction was deemed to be the result of someone's sin. Your life circumstances were in a cause-and-effect relationship with your goodness.

Jesus dispels this kind of false assumption. Things are often broken because we live in a broken world. Sometimes, we can draw a straight line from our actions (sin) to our circumstances (consequences). Other times, like the devastation of a natural disaster or many diseases, etc., you cannot do this. It just is. Nobody caused it.

Jesus' response, though, in v.3, reminds me of Romans 8:28.

What follows is a witch-hunt. The Pharisees are really upset about the healing and are looking for someone to be a scapegoat. Note that man's defense in v.30, which is really funny, by the way.

The entire chapter is centered around this one healing and the fallout that comes behind it. It is fascinating and there are many lessons to come from it. What are some of the things you see or some of the ways you feel God is speaking to you out of this?

(By the way, it does have a lot of relevance to last weekend's services at PCC, doesn't it!?)

2 comments:

jf said...

I wondered why Jesus would make the man go to the river and wash the clay out of his eyes before he regained his sight. Jesus could have easily restored this man's sight instantly, so why did he make him wash at the river first? Was this a test of this man's faith?

Brian C. Hughes said...

It's a great question, jf. It's also worthwhile asking about the spit and mud...Jesus didn't need that either. Lots has been made over these questions. I encourage you to keep thinking about them. God may give you a great answer!