"I Once Was Blind But Now I See." John 9, Introduction.

We're going to be in John 9 for a while.

The story of Jesus is told in the Gospels by narrative (stories) and discourse (speeches, monologues.)  The Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) is a discourse, as is the final discourse of Jesus in John 14-17.  The meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus that we just finished is a narrative -- a story in which God is revealed through the interaction and dialogue that takes place.

John 9 is narrative.  It is, I believe, the longest story in the Gospels.  If you know that to be inaccurate, please post which Gospel story is longer.

Where the narrative between Jesus and Nicodemus is almost more discourse -- Jesus does a lot of expounding -- the healing of the blind man in John 9 is pure and simple a well-told story with a real punch at the end.  Jesus has a small part in the introduction and the miracle of healing, and a short piece at the end.  The drama and comedy take place with him off-stage.  If you like short stories this one is akin to an O. Henry short story, in my opinion.

There are sections to this story and subsections within the main part.  Were I a more sequential fellow I'd lay that outline before you now.  Too bad! I'm not.  But we will step through those sequences on our way.  Maybe one of you who IS more sequential could outline it for us and post it when we get through with the chapter.  That would be nice.  If you do this, you will get extra credit towards your grade at the end of the quarter.

You may want to read through the whole story to ground yourself, then read through each section as we cover it.  That way you've seen the whole as we focus on the parts.

Have I written that John always writes at two levels?  If so, it bears repeating.  For instance the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana, John 2, first section.  At face value it's a nice story about Jesus going to friends' wedding and making sure they have enough wine.  But, it's also his first miracle and John puts it there (no other Gospel records it) to make a declaration about the purpose of Jesus coming.

Think about it . . . TWELVE jugs of water for JEWISH CEREMONIAL CLEANSING become the TWELVE jugs of the BEST WINE anyone has tasted -- when the best wine should have come first.

Where does the number 12 pop up in both the Old Testament and around Jesus?

What is the qualitative difference between drinking hand-washing water and having a wonderful glass of top quality wine?

If you didn't know, wedding feasts are a metaphor through-out Scripture for the coming of the realm of God to us.

See what I mean about the two levels?  So . . . enjoy the surface level of John 9, it's a well told story.  A person condemned to a life of beggary due to congenital blindness is given sight and freed from his darkness.  But look for themes we have already spoken about and the deeper levels in the story.  Think about the man's condition -- blindness, the inability to see.  Have you ever known anyone who refused to see what was right in front of them?  We are again confronted with the Johanine theme of light and darkness.


That's enough for today.  If you want to prepare for the next blog, at least read John 9:1-8.