Month: June 2019

JESUS HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND

Unlike many chapters in the gospels, which may include a variety of events, John 9 centers upon one event, where Jesus heals a man born blind. Throughout the chapter, we see a number of “blind spots” if you will from those who respond to this miracle.

This is the sixth sign in the gospel of John.

Bruce Milne, says that this chapter is one of the most unified in the entire gospel because it revolves around one miracle and it maintains a continued focus on light  throughout the entire pericope (Milne, The Message of John. 136, 137).

In summary (yes, before we even begin!), we see two results of Jesus being the light of the world (John 9.39):

1. He brings salvation to “those who do not see.”
2. He brings judgment to those who believe they see, but are really blind.

Continue reading “Journey Through John – Ch 9”

I. (7.53-8.11) The Woman Caught In Adultery

Then they all went home, ¹ Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Of interesting note, your Bible probably has some sort of editorial note concerning this pericope. The oldest manuscripts of John we have discovered do not contain these verses. So, what do we do with this narrative?

Should we consider it as valid, authoritative and applicable to our lives?

Continue reading “Journey Through John – Ch8”