18 The Jews(A) 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 Jews,(B) for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ[a] would be put out(C) of the synagogue.(D) 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”(E)
Afraid v. acknowledge.
So, I’m wondering how old the previously-blind man was. He’s called a “man” and referred to as “of age” so he’s not 14. That makes it interesting, all the more then, that the Jews sent for his parents. Because they didn’t get the answer they wanted from the man himself.
Huh, and I wonder how they found the parents. Was the community small enough that it was clear all familial ties? And, if he has parents, why aren’t they helping support him? Why was he begging in the first place?
But, just like the Pharisees, the parents are real people. Real, broken people, I need to remember.
People just like me. In need of Jesus.
Their response seems to reveal their decision of what directs action in their life in telling times like this: fear.
They were afraid. “His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews,(B) for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ[a] would be put out(C) of the synagogue.(D) ”
Afraid v. acknowledge Jesus.
I thought about that quite a bit yesterday. The same choice presents itself to me, in many ways, throughout a given week. Or a day.
Will I fear people (what they think, what they’ll do, etc.) or do I acknowledge Jesus and His sovereignty to take care of me in all situations?
ScottandAngie.org 