Tuesday 25th June
Read John 9:18-23
“They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 ‘Is this your son?’ they asked. ‘Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?’
20 ‘We know he is our son,’ the parents answered, ‘and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.’ 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’” (NIVUK)
Many commentators have questioned the historicity of this passage because they can’t imagine that whilst Jesus was still alive the opposition by the Jews was so great that following Him could result in exclusion from the synagogue. This story must reflect an anachronism, a reading back into the life and times of Jesus, the circumstances Christians found themselves in in the early 2nd century. They claim the very idea that the man’s parents would not speak up for fear of exclusion is absurd at that time.
One suspects that they have forgotten how often Jesus forced people to a decision around Him. There was very little room on the fence. Jesus said hard things. Jesus offended those who thought they were in control of their own salvation. Opposition continued to grow during His life and the leaders sought many and various ways to silence Him. Ultimately the opposition was so fierce they killed Him. There is no real reason to believe that the opposition that ultimately resulted in His death was not felt by those who also followed Him. It was fierce enough that even Peter denied Him three times!
There is no anachronism here. The decision demanded was real. It had consequences. It was why Jesus regularly taught His followers about persecution. Though not in any way they expected!
“Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:22) (NIVUK)
