The four Gospels tell eight different stories about Jesus healing blind folks. Are these eight different healings or just one healing told eight different times with different circumstances?
My take is that none of the stories are true, but inside each story is a great truth. But first, a little background:
- We have a daughter who is deaf and blind, so we understand the science behind both disabilities. No ophthalmologist, even Jesus, can rebuild eyes or ears with or without clay and spit. Both sensory systems are incredibly complex.
- The miracle in this story is not about giving sight but goes much deeper. To tease out the truth, we need to use the Jewish art of midrash, or biblical interpretation.
- With midrash, there is no absolute truth. My truth might not be your truth, which is fine because your truth is as good as mine.
Let’s look at John’s version. It’s a long one, forty-one verses, but I see it as three different sections. The meat is found in verses 9:1–11: “As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?'”
As an aside, we have had people ask us almost the same question, insinuating God was punishing us for past sins. One lady, thinking she was being comforting, stated, “Isn’t it lucky that your daughter was given (by a god) such nice parents as you.” Lucky? Being deaf and blind? Totally upending our lives? I left quickly, before I called her an idiot.
I didn’t like Jesus’s answer any better. He insinuated that God made the man blind so that we could see how God works. I despise that god!
Then, John has Jesus say, “I am the light of the world.” Is this a pun, blind and light? Let’s move on.
Jesus then spits on the ground, makes mud with the saliva, and puts it on the man’s eyes, telling him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). The man did as he was ordered, and when he returned, he could see. Really?
The next verses, John 9:12–41, describe conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees using the man’s blindness.
I see the truth in verses 1–11, but verse 39 reminds us of why Jesus was crucified: “I came into the world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Ouch!
What is this story saying to me now?
We all have our blind spots. In my early ministry, I pretended I didn’t have them. As I matured, I had to admit that I had a long list of blind spots. For example, I was a white boy raised in a black neighborhood, and I still have prejudices from that time. The church insinuated that the Jews killed Jesus, that all gay people are evil, and that homosexuals will try to convert me. I’m a Korean War vet, and we said a lot of derogatory remarks about Koreans. Women were thought of as second-class citizens, even my sisters. The list goes on.
Then, I met the agape Jesus. Unconditional love demands no exceptions, and my blind spots are irrelevant.
I could no longer subscribe to OS, original sin, so I switched to OG, original goodness. All humanity is good, but some folks have issues that make them do bad things. But they are basically good.
Agape has made my life so much simpler. I have to love everyone, forgive quickly, and spend my life caring, despite my blind spots.
What does the story of the blind man receiving his sight mean to you? I’d love to hear your ideas.
PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness
Bil
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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.
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