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Totally outclassed by an uneducated beggar!

Text: John 9 : 10-41

TOTALLY OUTCLASSED BY AN UNEDUCATED BEGGAR!

The attempt at intimidation by the Jews might have worked if the blind beggar had gone to one of their Rabbinic schools. There he would have learned how to fear their teachers! However, he had not been to school, and thus he was not in the least intimidated by the Jews.

He had lived as a beggar in the streets. Over the years, if you were used to your wits, you became sharp and wise in the ways of the world. You had to be street smart or you would not have survived for long!

Just how well the former blind beggar had learned his lessons from the school of hard knocks could be seen in the way he replied to the Pharisees.

“Why this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know
where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!”
John 9:30

The first salvo was fired point blank! The Jews had spurned Jesus by saying that they did not know where He came from! The Jews were famous for being wooden-literalistic if it suited their purposes. The blind beggar turned the screws on the Jews and used the same method.

Did he hear the Jews right? Did they say that they did not know where Jesus came from? Was that meant to be taken literally? How could they not know about a Person who could open the eyes of a blind man?

If the Jews were indeed astute scholars, surely they would have done their research and discovered exactly who Jesus was by now! How could they, who represented the religious authority of the land not know who Jesus was – a Man who could open the eyes of the blind?

Before the Jews could recover from this powerful retort, the blind beggar turned “instant theologian” fired the second salvo.

“Now we know that God does not hear sinners;
but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will,
He hears him.
Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone
opened the eyes of one who was born blind.
If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
John 9:31-33

The second salvo must have shaken the Jews! This blind beggar had dared to challenge their considered opinion concerning Jesus. They had declared Him a sinner, and they stood condemned in their sight. Nobody had dared to challenge that official position until now! The Jews must have been surprised by this blind beggar! How could he speak so clearly and so logically? Who had taught him to reason like that? If they did not know better, they would be forced to conclude that he was an erudite scholar!

A STRONG AND UNBOWED WITNESS

The more the Jews sought to attack Jesus, the stronger the defence made for Jesus! What did it take to defend Jesus anyway? It would be great to go to war with a full arsenal of weapons. But if one did not have any proper equipment, the jawbone of a donkey in the hands of a determined fighter could do much damage too. (See Judges 15:14-17 for the use of the term “jawbone of a donkey).

The former beggar began to wax eloquence as he spoke about Jesus. (We have to remember that he had very little knowledge of Jesus). He argued strenuously against the theological position of the Jews! They had posited that Jesus was a sinner, because He had “broken” the Sabbath! He argued otherwise. He took the opposite view. In his view, Jesus had to be a “worshipper of God”. He had also to be One who did His will. Obviously, God heard His prayers. Thus He must have a pretty dynamic relationship with God! He had to be a Man sent from God! Whoever has heard of a Man who had the power to give sight to a man born blind! No medical doctor could ever claim such a feat! No spiritual healer could boast of performing such a miracle either. How could a sinner perform this great sign! The Jews must have been wrong in their reasoning!

Strong and unbowed the erstwhile blind beggar waded into the Jews and staggered them badly! Not only was he not intimidated; he outshone them in reasoning skill and communicative power! Was he wrong in his reasoning? The Jews would have to refute his statements! They would have to make a convincing rebuttal of his arguments! Could they do that?

BACK TO THEIR OLD ABUSIVE WAYS

The Jews knew that they had no answer to the statements of the former blind beggar! They had heard similar lines of reasoning before, from a Man called Jesus! They could not answer His theological questions and His many profound statements! They had been defeated many times before, but they could stomach the defeats from Jesus. He was a renowned thinker and speaker. He was able to perform mighty signs and wonders! When He spoke, there was great authority in His voice. They may have disagreed with Jesus, but they knew that He never mocked them! He may have reproached them. He may have pointed out their errors, but He never taunted them!

The Jews caught the mocking tone of the former blind beggar. They must have felt greatly insulted. Certainly, they were being publicly embarrassed by a man who had never been to school! There seemed only one way to deal with such a person! They stopped their interrogation. Instead, they hurled an insult back!

“‘You were completely born in sins, and
are you teaching us?’ And they cast him out.”
John 9:34

The Pharisees had mastered this practice to perfection. They hid behind their religious authority. They were unafraid to apply religious authority to shut people up. Just when the former blind beggar appeared to make sense – too much sense perhaps – they excommunicated him! What a way to run their religious affairs!