Correlation seen between knowledge, faith
Scripture reading: John 9:1-41. Text: “A second time they (the Pharisees) summoned the man who had been blind. ‘Give glory to God,’ they said. ‘WE KNOW this man (that is Jesus) is a sinner.’ He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I DON’T KNOW. ONE THING I DO KNOW. I was blind but now I see!'” John 9:24-25. Jesus healed a man on Sabbath who had been blind from his birth. The Pharisees disapproved this miraculous healing because it had taken place on the seventh day when no work was supposed to be done. See Exodus 20:8-10. Thus an argument had developed among the Pharisees, the parents of the healed man, and the person who had regained his eyesight. In this argument, we find several charges and excuses of the participants, referring to tradition, religion, knowledge or the lack of it, fear, witnesses and determination to find out the truth. Please, read the whole story, as presented in John chapter nine, so you will know the details.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE FIND AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH.
Knowledge is important in practicing our faith, as prophet Hosea had recorded: “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6. On the other hand, we have to agree with Apostle Paul that our knowledge is far from being perfect: “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12. Concerning our knowledge, what do we learn from the healing of the blind man?
Due to our human nature, we are curious and WISH TO KNOW MORE. “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'” first verse. Often our question is based on wrong assumption as Jesus had corrected the disciples: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned.” second verse.
Some individuals think, they KNOW IT FOR SURE, yet there are controversies: “‘Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?’ Some claimed that he was. Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.'” eighth-ninth verses. Who is right and who is wrong?
EXPERTS are entering into the controversy: “They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.” 13th verse. The Pharisees asked questions from the healed man and found out the healing had taken place on Sabbath.
The ISSUE BECAME SIDETRACKED due to the strict adherence to the tradition as the Pharisees had said: “This man (that is Jesus) is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” 16th verse. Do tradition, prejudice, personal interest and/or unhappy experience influence our thinking? Also, do they destroy our logical conclusion?
When theology is based on false human knowledge, it leads to A MISTAKE: “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath . . . We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” 16h & 31st verses. Are our hearts and minds open to see the other side and will we correct the mistake?
The knowledge of an individual VERSUS the knowledge of many: “‘WE KNOW this man is a sinner’ (the Pharisees said.) He (the healed man) replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I DO KNOW. I was blind but now I see!'” 24th-25th verses. In spiritual life and moral issues not the majority decides who is right and who is wrong. Martyrs were killed by authorities, although the martyrs were right.
The story ends with a dialogue between Jesus and the healed man. Jesus did not want to continue this legal and religious debate on who was correct or mistaken. Faith and salvation received the priority; so the Lord asked the healed person: “‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ . . . Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.” 35th and 38th verses. Can we also close our dialogues and debates in this way?
Apostle Peter had made it clear that in our spiritual life, besides faith and knowledge, we also should possess other traits and they should be in right proportion: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your FAITH, goodness; and to goodness, KNOWLEDGE; and to KNOWLEDGE, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7. Please, see also Galatians 5:22-23.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.