John 9;1-41 (KJV)
I apologize that this next section is a day late. Remember Brothers and Sisters, laziness has no place within your life: especially your spiritual life. Nothing comes to a sleeping man but a nightmare.
Okay, back to the prensentation. Everyone still got there Bible? Good, let's jump right back into this former blind man's situation.
HOW YOUR LIFE CHANGES (HOW FRIENDS AND FAMILY TREAT YOU)
We left off with this man's friends bringing him before the Pharisees, more than likely due to their own anger, jealousy, and depression about the fact that he has received a great blessing from Christ Jesus and they didn't (not that they couldn't John 9;11-12). We, now, are going to deal with the issues that can arise within family once someone receives a momumental blessing. No need to waste time, let's go.
v18-23
But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
***If you prone to easily crying or quickly getting emotional, you may want to grab some tissue***
I must address the obvious situation that is within this text. Either this former blind man didn't go home to tell his parents of his good news, or his parents put him out and he didn't feel the need to share with his parents the good news of his life altering blessing. Something occurred within this family that caused this man to not go to his parents (who are still living and knew he was blind from birth) with a joyous event that very well could have mended fences, or there was an event which occurred that cememnted in this man's mind the perception he couldn't go home with such joyous news. Either way, it is a tragedy.
Yet, we know of a family situation just like this one in the text, either we are friends with the outside individual or the family who has the person outside. Or, we ARE that former blind man; outside the family, maybe we sit in the house of the family wondering about that outside member. Like stated just a minute ago: its a tragedy.
First thing that I had to seek exact understanding on was the way the parents answered these Pharisees. Going back to the text, verse 20-21, I had said (based totally on how I was raised) this is a stand taken by parents who are defending their child; even if he didn't come share in such a joyous event with us: for whatever reason, we still are his parents and we will defend him to our deaths. Remember, this is me, Brova Stokes, thinking this upon reading it: before receiving any further understanding concerning the totality of this presentation. This former blind man's parents aren't defending this man, no. They are actually protecting themselves; they have no thought of what may become of their son. This is the harshness and coldness that will bring about the possible use of the tissue I said you may need.
Everybody didn't grow up with that carbon copy household of 'Leave It To Beaver' or 'The Cosby Show', but most of us did know the love and warmth of a parent (if not both parents). But, do not forget, there are some who do not know that love. They were abandoned, cast aside, thrown out, o just plain forgot about. Some are even walking around with the "right now" knowledge of a parent's admission that, "I should have gotten an abortion."
There is a saying which goes, 'No one can hurt you like family can.' Unfortunately, that is the ABSOLUTE truth within certain families. Parents out-right mistreatment, or abandonment of their own children. Kids total lack of respect for and towards their parents. Siblings desires to wage constant war with each other. It all had a beginning!!! Just like this family within the text. I can imagine it is the father speaking in verse 20 and the mother speaking in 21, all because of their secret conference we know about in verse 22. See these parents CARED MORE about there place within the synagogue (within the eyesight of that present society) than they did about their own child. It ain't enough that they go about their days, througout the marketplace and village, never checking on their son; who is blind, begging, without proper shelter, no healthcare, and most days hungry. Understand, within these days in the text, these people had to encounter their son quite often. They knew of his dibilitating state, and how it continued to go downward. What is so tragic? What made me cry a bit? Is when the understanding of the phrase, 'he is of age' was brought to me.
Among the Jewish people, culturally, a boy is thought of and celebrated as becoming a man when he reaches 13 years old. This is worldly known, even if the meaning is not known, by the festive celebration of Bar-Mitzvah. This is acknowledged as a boy' time to begin to take on the responsibility of his own religeous and cultural duties. Do you get where I am going with this? Is it clear the possible time period this boy could have been 'of age'? Yes, of course, we wouldn't desire to think of this former blind man's parents putting this man out when he was just at the entrance of his manhood. But, it could be true. We don't want to think about the family friend, who said they just couldn't take it any longer, and with much regret, placed that severely disabled child within that 'care facility'. We don't want to think about that brother or sister, who said this is the last time they was spending that portion of another month's rent just to bail this 15 year old boy out; again. What is even worse for us to think about is the family down the street, that we just found out about: who forced their pregnant daughter out the house. 16, pregnant, scared, and now saddled with the mindset that her condition is the sole reason for expulsion from this house, this family, and this love. 'No one can hurt you like family can'...
It could all end there, just as it could have for this former blind man. We, seriously, could be speaking about this as just another tragic cautionary tale about being family. How we can learn to avoid all the pitfalls and entanglements which cause such damaging rifts and tears at the fabric of family. But, what we are shown here is the base level reasoning for the euphoria this 'blind man' has at receiving his sight. Shall I dare say, his down-right, can't nobody do me like Jesus, can't nobody do me like the Lord, assurance by which he stands at present moment. All of his family drama was not layed out before us. Because we are introduced to him as a man, we cannot really say his age or for how long he was outside of his family. What we do know is all that we need to know. That is just like today's men and women, we meet, who have met Christ Jesus. We do not need to know all of their family business, no. What we need to know is their testimony. It is that which will propel us to our own place of Hallelujah, because we understand the joy of meeting Christ; wherever it was we had our meeting. LOL. I think of my meeting him. On a sidewalk: that could have easily been transformed into my living roon/bedroom/bathroom/balcony/driveway.... y'all understand.
This is what today's section of this mini-series is to be about. Understanding that, sometimes, family WILL FAIL you. Some are reading now, tissue in hand, because of that very fact. Wondering why you and your daddy just can't seem to get on the same page; when in the same room for more than 10 minutes. Why is is mama won't come by, and celebrate this newness of relationship I am having? What is that makes my brother want to fight me every d@mn time we show up to grandma's house? How is it my sister just cannot stop herself from flirting or sleeping with every man I bring around?
Could it be the answer to these questions could be resting in a place we all have had opportunity to witness? That place being the very exact place a man said, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see."
Holla,
Yer Brova Catalyst
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