JOHN – Chapter 9
What/who was important to Jesus?
Spiritual Vision
What needs did Jesus meet?
Giving sight to the blind
What did Jesus ask or require of his followers?
Keeping our sight on Him
What issues did Jesus address (relationships, work, money, character, religious practice, etc.)?
Spiritual Blindness
What is compelling to you about Jesus in this section?
How Jesus challenges the Jewish (Pharisees’) assumptions of equating suffering with sin and suffering being penal, which was the dogma of the Jewish retribution theology of the day---in which all those suffering from diseases or any malady were living sinful lifestyles: what is even more interesting is the Jewish thought implying sinning fetuses and esoteric Rabbinical thought theorizing soul reincarnation (See The Disciples’ Commentary On The Gospels: John by David Smith and The Gospel Of John In Light Of Indian Mysticism by Ravi Ravindra for further information)---{Sadly, retribution theology is still in fashion in the homophobic rhetoric of the Fundamentalists in equating the modern phenomenon of homosexuality and AIDS as sinful diseased lifestyles and God’s wrath poured out on humanity---but Jesus challenges these false assumptions as well}
How do followers respond to Jesus?
I am reminded of the line from that old hymn:
“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”
What in this section challenges us to respond/ imitate/obey?
We must live an enlightened life by living just as Jesus
How did Jesus change the world (for an individual or for a community)? Jesus is the True Light of the world
What vision of being missional do you glimpse for yourself? For the church? The church must live as a beacon of light in the world by pouring out the light of grace rather than the darkness of religious retribution otherwise known as karma---for that is what an enlightened life is all about
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