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November 10


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John 9:1-10:21

We are in the Christ Stream reading from the Modern English Version.

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Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord Jesus, we pray as the disciples did, “increase our faith.”  We want to know you more, trust you more, understand you more, be with you more.  Amen.

9 – This is one of Jesus’ most famous healings. He restores a blind man’s sight.  When the issue of “who sinned?” arises. Jesus uses language that basically implies we should stop assessing and categorizing people in our ministries and just meet needs.  Jesus heals this man and heeeeere goes – let the squabbles begin.  The Pharisees are beside themselves.  Jesus set it up this way.  He wants the man healed and He also wants the people to know for certain that the Scribes, Pharisees, teachers of the Law and Sanhedrin do not care about peoples’ welfare. They only want to control people.  Their healings, their joy, their stories, their needs are of no concern to the leaders.  The testy discussion that ensues is legal madness.  They don’t even know what it is that they want to know.  Notice that every question and statement that the leaders ask of the healed man, his parents, and of Jesus is a fruitless and absurd inquiry.  Think of it: they want people to come to Temple.  But once they get all their circular questions answered about the healed man, they throw him OUT of the Temple!  His healing is of no joy to them. The men are spiritually demented … and yet they are in charge.  It’s not right. Jesus  has more dialogue in this venue wherein spiritual blindness is discussed and proven.  “It’s a wrap” on another perfect teaching moment that merely authenticates [through healing] that Jesus is in the world to take us to God in Heaven; The One who made heaven and earth and first said, “let there be light.”  Then again, Jesus just said that He is the light.   The discussion about Jesus being light is still going on isn’t it?!

10:1-21 – Jesus tells a gripping parable about sheep and shepherds.  It falls on open ears too since the people were very fond of their sheep, the wool, the mutton, the whole culture around these animals.  Everyone knew the impetus of the shepherd in their culture. And Jesus launches into a lesson about Himself based upon the population’s understanding of shepherds and sheep.  He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus guides because He can see where we need to go.  (And this is right after he restored the sight of an infamous blind man!)  Shepherds take sheep to fresh water (He called Himself ‘Living Water’).  Shepherds bring sheep to new pasture; more food (He called Himself the Bread of Life).  He is the doorway…the doorway to God = the safety of being ‘in the fold’.  He will not run like a hack or hired hand who doesn’t care.  He will protect from “wolves” – the enemies of this world. He says He lays down His life for the sheep.  What   might   that   possibly   mean ?  Notice that this teaching again enlightens some and infuriates others; it splits the group.  The argument might end quickly by those who despise Jesus for they resent His deeds but then again, how can He heal eyes if He is evil?  The controllers in Jerusalem are so frustrated by Jesus.  However, those longing for life are so comforted by Him.  Which are we? The frustrated or the comforted?

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