John 9, a second look

Originally published 4/11/2012

After working through the obvious contrasts of the Pharisees and the blind man, new sight brings out the depth of the passage. One of the themes introduced is that this man is blind in order that "the works of God" might be revealed/displayed in him.  The typical reader of this passage will find a way to associate the words "the works of God" with a mental image based on their experience and perhaps take this to mean that he is blind so that Jesus can perform a miracle. The astute reader will not reach that conclusion!
The astute, informed reader will remember that "the works of God" is a theme that has previously been introduced in this gospel. In 6:26-30 Jesus engages in answering this question to a less than astute audience. His answer in 6:28 identifies the "work of God" as believing in the one God sent.  If this is the case, then the man is born blind so that belief in the one God sent will occur. 
The question becomes, in the words of the disciples, 'who sinned, this man or his parents?' Jesus' response to the disciples that echoes throughout the ages remains the same, those under the power of sin are in such a condition so that they might believe in the one whom God sent?  Is that an appropriate understanding of sin? Sin is unbelief, people have only one way to go when they are under the power of sin, that is to burst its bonds and in a victorious shout yell, "MY DEBT IS PAID", "I BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHOM GOD SENT!"  Jesus is the victorious one, should our reading of the Bible not transform our thinking?