We are now reading some of the most thought provoking – and personally challenging – chapters in the whole of Scripture. John records in detail the conversations of Jesus. On Tuesday we will read the words of Jesus to the disciples that they are going to receive, “the Holy Spirit … the Father will send in my name, … (which will)… bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” [14 v,26] The translators interpret the Greek pronouns the wrong way – God’s spirit is a “power” not a person – see Luke 24 v.49, Acts 1 v.4.
Our chapter 9 today describes in great detail the intense discussion which followed his healing of the man born blind. They put him out of the synagogue (v.34) because he refused to agree with them that Jesus must be a sinner. In declaring Jesus “is a sinner” [v.24] they say “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” [v.29]
As a result the healed man declares, “”Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.” [v.30] We can draw a parallel here – men (claiming to know everything, like the Pharisees did) have convinced themselves there is no God, no creator – and that all the amazing wonders of life scientists have been discovering more and more about – that these wonders – miracles – all happened by ‘chance’ in an endless series of ‘accidents.’
As we realize and learn more and more how wonderfully all the aspects of nature depend on each other, the vegetation, the birds, the animals, the circle of the seasons, &c. then we cannot help but think and say ‘Why this is an amazing thing’ – it is utterly impossible that everything that exists is the result of an endless series of purely ‘chance’ happenings.
A final thought – one that is a great invitation to each one of us. Ch. 10 contains Jesus’ wonderful illustration that he is “the good shepherd.” John has been inspired to record in detail the shepherds’ “voice” which the sheep hear. Let us make sure we are among the sheep who hear, who “go in an out and find pasture” [v.9] every day by reading – and then – digesting his word..