Great lines. John 9.

I don't know how universal this is (in America anyway), but our family accumulates lines from movies like they were photos stuffed in a box. (Does anyone do that anymore, or do we stuff them on a computer disk somewhere?) My guess is that it's common, since the American Film Institute has a top 100 movie quotes. Our family has a somewhat eclectic collection. It includes many of the famous lines, but other lines delivered with an interesting inflection or accent, or lines that fit family circumstances are more the norm. So while "Mama always said life is like ..." from Forrest Gump is the memorable quote (#40 on the list), our girls are more likely to burst out with "Run, Forrest, run." For years, a simple line from Mrs. Miniver, shaped how our three daughters addressed one another. In the movie, set during the London Blitz, the vicar delivers a stirring speech that begins, "This is the people's war!" But our girls were captivated by the son of the Minivers who is a cheery, naive, young soul who goes off to join the army to fight the Nazis. Every entrance he makes in the movie seems to start with a "Hello ..." The line our girls picked up on was "Hello, dad." said with an aristocratic, English lilt. And so it went ... younger daughter steps into the room and says to oldest sister, "Hello, dad." And oldest sister responds, "Hello, sonny."

Chapter 9 of John's gospel is filled with great takeaway lines and mini-scenes like that. I'll get to those in the next paragraph, but first a couple other thoughts. Remember that chapters are artificial divisions in these writings. Even so, this passage fits into a neat package, one story, of a length that matches other "chapters." One story in the chapter. A great story. I can imagine John really enjoying writing up this account, a smile on his face as he recalls how this blind beggar confounded the Pharisees with his plain-spoken words, and the seeing/blind contrasts and paradoxes in the rabbi's words and teaching.

First quote (John 9:9): Some people said, “This is the man!” while others said, “No, but he looks like him.” The man himself kept insisting, “I am the one!” Can you imagine the people talking amongst themselves as if the formerly blind man doesn't exist. Maybe shouting in the background in a DeNiro, Taxi Driver, voice, "You talkin' 'bout me? You talkin' 'bout me!"

Second quote (the simple report -- John 9:15b): The beggar is asked twice about his restored sight, once by the people, and once by some Pharisees. In both cases, his answer is essentially the same, and straight reporting: “He put mud on my eyes and I washed, and now I am able to see.” No extra words -- "it's a miracle, praise God, yippee skippee." We don't know, maybe the man's inflection or excitement said all that. Like the woman in Star Trek IV (the whale movie) who had been given a pill by Dr. McCoy, and as she's wheeled down the corridor is shouting, "The Dr. gave me a pill and I've got a new kidney." I'm sure that some times our witness needs to be this simple and matter of fact -- "I decided to follow Jesus, and now I'm able to see."

Third quote (the parents -- John 9:20,21): “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But we do not know how he is now able to see, nor do we know who caused him to see. Ask him, he is a mature adult. He will speak for himself.” Once again, no one seems to want to pay attention to the testimony of the blind guy. Here, it's how the parents protect themselves by answering the Pharisees' questions with indisputable facts, but with no conclusions or opinions about those facts that gets to me. "Go ask him for yourself." Maybe they said this like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof in the opening scene when he introduces the song, Tradition, by talking about tradition:

For instance,
we always keep our heads covered,
and always wear a little prayer shawl.
This shows our constant devotion to God.
You may ask,
how did this tradition get started?
I'll tell you.




I don't know.

Two really great quotes (John 9:25, 27b): “I do not know whether he is a sinner. I do know one thing – that although I was blind, now I can see.” and “Look!" the man exclaimed. "I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” (NLT) This is the place where I hear John chuckle thinking about those Pharisees, with all their learning and nuance and rhetorical skill, all twisted up by a simple fact, the blind man can see, and a simple conclusion, "this isn't hard to grasp, but you keep asking, so you must be really interested."

Final quote (the devastating rejoinder -- John 9:41): “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.” The Pharisees are ready to argue with Jesus, dispute his claim that they're blind, and he turns the tables on them. If only ...

In the beginning ... John 1.

Beginnings are so important. John starts his gospel at the beginning of time. No, that's not quite right. Maybe at the creation of time. However exactly we might describe this moment, it's the parallel to the Genesis account. "In the beginning, God ..." "In the beginning was the Word ..."

Volumes have been written about the first fourteen verses of John's gospel. His beginning that tells of the beginning. John speaks of the other John, the baptizer.

John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” ... John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” ... John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing. (John 1:15, 23, 26-28 NET)

More testimony from the baptizer:

On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” (John 1:29-31 NET)

Parallels to the Old Testament are heaped onto the beginning.

• The Word was life, which was light -- let there be light.
• The law through Moses, grace and truth through Jesus Christ.
• John fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy.
• John working in Elijah's territory.
• Jesus, the Lamb of God.

As you read through this gospel over the next several weeks, you may want to come back each day and read these first 39 verses, soaking up the richness of John's beginning.

Two thoughts resonated with me this morning. John the baptizer said that he wasn't even worthy enough to be Jesus' servant -- "to untie the strap of his sandal." Thinking ahead, there will be more imagery associated with Jesus' feet? More importantly, how is it I can be worthy enough to be His servant?

The other thought was about way in which John (the gospel writer) has tied to Jesus to great figures and events from the text -- the law and prophets. John (the baptizer) in the continuation of Elijah's work. John also as the way-maker spoken of by Isaiah, and Jesus as the one for Whom the way was prepared. Jesus as Moses' fulfillment. And the allusion to father Abraham contained in the phrase, the Lamb of God. From Genesis 22:6-8:

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father?” “What is it, my son?” he replied. “Here is the fire and the wood,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together.

Think of it. God will provide for Himself the lamb of sacrifice. And He did.