February 9, 2008 9:19 AM
Sam wrote:
Familiarity breeds contempt. I don't know why that saying was ever made. It just came to me when I read Chapter 9 today, as I am familiar with these 'stories' as I have heard them many times since becoming a Disciple in 1996. This familiarity has caused me this morning uneasiness, as I cannot think of anything 'new' to write about in these passages. That is sad. I am so familiar with this chapter that I tend to just gloss over each of these miraculous events. I didn't take time this morning to really understand any more deeply, the intent of God putting them in this Gospel. This familiarity can cause me to lose some of my love for Jesus, as it just doesn't seem as important as when I was first taught these gems. The miracles recorded in this chapter should be revered, and if I re-read it with that in mind, I think I can remove some of that 'contemp' or 'laziness' in my thinking. Take for example when Jesus healed two blind men, restoring their sight (of course he did this because of their faith in him). Jesus told them 'sternly' (the ASV uses the word 'strictly') not to tell anyone. Yet, they did. I wonder, 1, why Jesus told them (was he too busy to be healing everyone?---don't thinks so as verse 35 says he healed every disease and sickness), and 2, when they failed to obey him, I wonder what his thoughts were of them now? Did he hold it against them? Forgive them? Make them blind again? The answer to those questions could have a tremedous impact on how and why we obey God's Word today. I realize it was almost impossible, probably, for the men to NOT tell anyone, simply because of their new found 'freedom'. And we are 'supposed' to have those same type of feelings because of our new found freedom in Christ when we were baptized. We want to tell everyone about it (or at least we should). Again, I am curious why Jesus would tell them not to spread that news. If he showed up and healed all your infirmaries, and told you not to tell anyone, would you? Could you? Rhetorical of course, but an interesting question. As we become familiar with Bible passages, we need to make sure it doesn't breed laziness in thought; that is why I pose some of these questions, and I read what you guys write every day. I do not despise the Bible, I am not contemtuous about it, in fact, I love reading it. However, I must use caution when I read familiar passages and think new thoughts about each; and then maybe, just maybe, I'll bet more excitement out of it like the two blind men and want to tell the whole world about what I read and learned. Reply to this
February 10, 2008 3:57 PM
Rich wrote:
Jesus was a true man of action. He definitely stirred things up. In this chapter he is healing, forgiving, teaching, challenged, distracted and he ends the chapter realizing that the needs are much, much greater than any single man (even Jesus) can meet. Jesus was very aware of all that was going on around him. He noticed needs because he looked for them. And when he saw need,s he me them. I know that I often try to 'ignore' needs of others. I am just too busy (I tell myself) to look for needs to fulfill. For example, the other day I noticed a guy going around in a parking lot looking for someone to help him get some gas for his car. He was carrying a small gas can and stopping people asking for help. I purposely ducked out of my car when he was going the other way, into the store and when I came out of the store, I purposely drove the other way just to not have to possibly come in contact. How selfish I was. Jesus would have looked and seen the need and then done what he could to meet the need. Jesus had compassion and he did what he could to help others. What about me? What about you? Reply to this
Familiarity breeds contempt. I don't know why that saying was ever made. It just came to me when I read Chapter 9 today, as I am familiar with these 'stories' as I have heard them many times since becoming a Disciple in 1996. This familiarity has caused me this morning uneasiness, as I cannot think of anything 'new' to write about in these passages. That is sad. I am so familiar with this chapter that I tend to just gloss over each of these miraculous events. I didn't take time this morning to really understand any more deeply, the intent of God putting them in this Gospel. This familiarity can cause me to lose some of my love for Jesus, as it just doesn't seem as important as when I was first taught these gems.
The miracles recorded in this chapter should be revered, and if I re-read it with that in mind, I think I can remove some of that 'contemp' or 'laziness' in my thinking. Take for example when Jesus healed two blind men, restoring their sight (of course he did this because of their faith in him). Jesus told them 'sternly' (the ASV uses the word 'strictly') not to tell anyone. Yet, they did. I wonder, 1, why Jesus told them (was he too busy to be healing everyone?---don't thinks so as verse 35 says he healed every disease and sickness), and 2, when they failed to obey him, I wonder what his thoughts were of them now? Did he hold it against them? Forgive them? Make them blind again? The answer to those questions could have a tremedous impact on how and why we obey God's Word today. I realize it was almost impossible, probably, for the men to NOT tell anyone, simply because of their new found 'freedom'. And we are 'supposed' to have those same type of feelings because of our new found freedom in Christ when we were baptized. We want to tell everyone about it (or at least we should). Again, I am curious why Jesus would tell them not to spread that news. If he showed up and healed all your infirmaries, and told you not to tell anyone, would you? Could you? Rhetorical of course, but an interesting question.
As we become familiar with Bible passages, we need to make sure it doesn't breed laziness in thought; that is why I pose some of these questions, and I read what you guys write every day. I do not despise the Bible, I am not contemtuous about it, in fact, I love reading it. However, I must use caution when I read familiar passages and think new thoughts about each; and then maybe, just maybe, I'll bet more excitement out of it like the two blind men and want to tell the whole world about what I read and learned.
Reply to this
Jesus was a true man of action. He definitely stirred things up. In this chapter he is healing, forgiving, teaching, challenged, distracted and he ends the chapter realizing that the needs are much, much greater than any single man (even Jesus) can meet. Jesus was very aware of all that was going on around him. He noticed needs because he looked for them. And when he saw need,s he me them. I know that I often try to 'ignore' needs of others. I am just too busy (I tell myself) to look for needs to fulfill. For example, the other day I noticed a guy going around in a parking lot looking for someone to help him get some gas for his car. He was carrying a small gas can and stopping people asking for help. I purposely ducked out of my car when he was going the other way, into the store and when I came out of the store, I purposely drove the other way just to not have to possibly come in contact. How selfish I was. Jesus would have looked and seen the need and then done what he could to meet the need. Jesus had compassion and he did what he could to help others. What about me? What about you?
Reply to this