Who’s to blame?

The beauty of the Gospel of John lies with the personal encounters between Jesus and the individuals who’ve been the hapless or the willing victims of a fallen world. The stories are representative, with each carrying a subplot beyond the obvious need of the moment. Nicodemus, one of the rulers of Israel needed further revelation. Was Jesus just a talented stump preacher? There had been a number of those. They came and they went. The colleagues of Nicodemus were efficient at dispatching such upstarts. The Samaritan woman needed a man to notice her for something beyond her obvious physical attractions. She needed to hear truth. The paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda needed his body restored but he also had need of spiritual focus and purpose. The woman caught in adultery needed protection, forgiveness and restoration.

But beyond the need of the individual, the stories have an effect on the audience as well. The religious shopkeepers are reminded that the mercy of God is not limited to a six-day work week. Jesus heals in the moment regardless of religious protocol. The gathered crowds witness the emerging Christian notion of grace through the kind words to the sobbing adulterous. Again, the stories are multi-layered. There is something in them for everyone.

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“Which is it Jesus? Ma, Pa or the boy himself? Everyone knows that blindness is caused by doing something to annoy God! Am I right, or am I right?” I can just imagine the hopeful, knowing, collegial look on the face of the disciple who asked that question. He may have even been scratching his chin for scholarly effect. “Hmm…blindness…SIN would be my diagnosis. But which sin? Who sinned? What think ye Jesus?” Jesus’ response puts a spear through their theologizing: Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man who sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” ~ John 9:3

To those outliers of the Christian faith who still, to this day, associate any illness, misfortune or setback to one’s sin, these are important words to consider. Jesus is not at all saying that bad behavior doesn’t have its consequences. He said as much to the man healed of paralysis, “Go and sin no more less something worse befalls you.”  What he is saying though is that sin is not always causal. These things are not monolithic. It is important therefore not to read more into this response than is merited. This man had been placed before Jesus for a purpose. His blindness was about to be used to help others see.