Faith without religion.
In chapter 9 of the Gospel of John we come upon a most marvelous story – the man born blind.
John 9:1 And as Yeshua passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
All his life he wandered about surrounded by the most religious people on earth, never finding relief to his ailment and now he has an interaction with God with us – Yeshua. And at verse six we read that Yeshua does in fact heal the man – and it was, of course, on the Sabbath day. Jump to verse 13
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Yeshua made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
At this point we get some bravery from the man born blind now healed. The leaders of the faith had already told him that Yeshua was not “of God because He keepeth not the Sabbath day,” and yet when they asked the man his opinion of him he boldly stated that he STILL thought that he was a prophet!
Where did this courage come from? Perhaps the man was a bit of a rebel to begin with? It’s possible, but generally speaking – especially in that day – a disabled person would survive better by being a sycophant rather than a rebel – after all, they relied upon the goodness of the people so the more accommodating they would be to more people the greater their chances of receiving their support.
Now the Jews did not believe that he was born blind so they called his parents in to testify and they were terrified and pretty much said, yeah, he was born blind but as to all the rest of it you have to ask him. They took this take because the religious leaders had already made a rule known – verse 22
“that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”
So the parents cowered to the threat and gave them nothing. Verse 24:
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.”
And here we come to a common impasse that exists between religious (ahem) rulers and those who chose to defy them – the rulers say, “WE KNOW” this or that about your views, or the person you appreciate – so you best call them a sinner and the fact that something good has occurred through the person the religious rulers are calling a sinner.
We see this all the time today. That guys is a sinner. That woman is a heretic. Stay away from Shawn McCraney – he is an apostate from the faith – and on and on and on. Religious men criticizing other men and women who do or say things that do not measure up to the other sides view or opinions.
The interesting thing here is that we are not talking about me here or Joel Osteen or Joyce Meyer, or whomever – in this case the religious leaders are talking about Yeshua! But I would suggest that the attitude of religious leaders remains. Now the blind man speaks again and says something remarkable. He says (verse 25)
25 Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
The proof is on the pudding, folks. Or as Yeshua taught, a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. And in the case of religious leaders today it seems to me that the demanding, dogmatic, despotic ones are the ones producing the bad fruit of anger, judgement, even hate while the others are producing light and love and healing in Yeshua name. But perhaps that is just my view.
The Pharisees reply
26 What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
And it is here that we get to see the power, boldness and independence Yeshua gives to all who are His.
(verse 27)
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
This was a bold – almost rude response. So much so that (verse 28)
28 Then they reviled him, and said, “Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.”
Look at the shift on power! The Pharisees, the most powerful men in all of Israel and in an argument with a man who just hours or days earlier was destitute and without any voice at all in the world! All because Yeshua entered into His life and healed him. And being healed by God this man was NOT going to play by the rules of Man anymore! But it doesn’t end there. (Verse 30)
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Do you know what this is folks! This is a mini sermon. It is the Spirit of God testifying through a once broken vessel through an appeal to heavenly reason! It is truth coming from the mouth of babes – to a group of men who think they are in control, that they have the power, that they have the education and intelligence and position to decide all things! And how do these religious men respond to their lesson? (Verse 34)
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
First they besmirch his character, (Thou was altogether born in sin) then they mock his teaching TO THEM as inept and inferior to their wisdom and knowledge, and then they excommunicate him – or cast him out of the synagogue once and for all!
Which is exactly what the religiously inclined continue to do today to others who have been healed by Christ via means they do not deem orthodox. No difference.
The important lesson in this is two fold – first, there has always been and there will always be those who set themselves up on earth as authorities for God. Due to the fallen nature of Men I’m not sure this will ever change. But more importantly, when Yeshua steps in to the lives of people, then are automatically empowered and they stand for Him – no matter what others say, including those who suppose themselves the voice of God here on earth.
