The light was on, but…

The account of a blind man being healed in John’s gospel seems to be a chiasm.

A chiasm is a mirrored literary structure where the use of words or images compliment or contrast each other in a definite sequence. It typically follows an ABCBA type pattern. Which places a climax point in the middle as well as at the end. Back when scrolls were in popular use the pivot point of the story was in the centre of the scroll as it opened.

In the case of John chapter 9. The words and images are all connected to sight and light and contrasted with darkness and blindness.

In this case the chiastic outline I’ve used has 7 steps.

1. The power of the (spoken) creative Word of God

vv.1-7 (characters: Jesus, disciples, blind man)
c.f. v.5 – “I am the light of the world” with Gen 1:3-5 “let there be light” & Psalm 119:130, “your words give light“
The man blind from birth is “sent” home seeing

2. A division occurs between those who “see” and those who don’t

vv.8-12 (characters: Neighbours/Jews, blind man)
“Where is this man?” They can’t “see” him and they refuse to “see” the wonder of the miracle that a blind man has been healed. Their eyes are behind a veil as it were, preventing them from seeing. c.f. 2 Corinthians 3:13-18

3. Debate about the purpose of the sabbath

In the law (Ex20:8-11, Deut 5:12-15) the sabbath was an occasion for resting from work for the purpose of drawing near to God in public worship. A blind man would have been ceremonially unclean and excluded from most of the festivals and sacrifices that made up Israel’s worship. Being healed meant, he could rejoin and fully participate in the community.
vv.13-17 (characters: Jews, Pharisees, blind man)
“This man is not from God…” or “… he is a “prophet” Which is it? He can’t be both.

4. The test – will the testify accurately about his experience with Jesus?

vv.18-23 (characters: Jews, parents)
“He is our son… he will speak for himself” – The parents trying to avoid persecution provide an opportunity for the formerly blind man to speak on behalf of Jesus. This is a climax point. Will he ratify his account and invite ridicule, mockery and social exclusion or will he remain silent in order to not to offend the religious zealots?

5. Those who “get it” are truly mature because they ‘do his will’

vv.24-34 (characters: Jews, blind man)
The debate intensifies about what it means to understand and apply God’s word. The Jews make an appeal to Moses (v.28), but they still can’t see the wonder of what has taken place. They start by saying, “give the glory to God“, but when the man does (v.33) they are offended at the prospect that God would act in this way.

6. The one who believes, conquers and is co-judge

vv.35-39 (characters: Jesus, blind man)
When the healing first occurred the Jews asked, “Where is the man“, but they aren’t prepared for the answer. Now Jesus returns to the conversation by addressing the man, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He is “the man” in more ways than one. Because the healed man places his trust in Jesus and worships him he enjoys the victory of true sight (v.39). As a result the healed man is now, by his testimony of faith, a co-judge against those that refuse to see and worship Jesus as the fulfilment of the Messianic promises.
c.f. Isaiah 35:4-5, Isaiah 42:6-7

7. The one who disbelieves is not glorified (does not receive God’s rest) but remains in guilt

vv.40-41 (characters: Pharisees, Jesus)
“Are we blind too?”
The Pharisees are claiming to “see” without the aid of the “light of the world“. Their insistence is going to exclude them from sharing in the forgiveness, healing and life that God brings with his light. Compared to the healed man who was “sent” home freed from his blindness, the Pharisees “remain” in their guilt – i.e. they are culpable before God for what they claim to understand from Moses and the law.

Other articles related to Chiasm’s:

Jim Hamilton’s ‘Chiasm’s on the brain‘
Mike Bull, Bible Matrix

Mike’s book explains the significance behind the recurring 7-fold pattern I’ve used above to outline John 9. It starts in the 7-day creation story, continues with the 7 festivals of Israel and the 7 key elements of the tabernacle.

A. Creation

B. Division

C. Ascension

D. Testing

C. Maturity

B. Conquest

A. Glorification

 

Swallowing a lie

The Bible pattern tells us how God reveals himself, how we receive his revelation (i.e. We eat it and make it part of ourselves) and how we exercise stewardship of his Word in our world. (i.e. Word, Sacrament & Government)

The fall into sin, told in Genesis 3, shows us what happens when God’s Word is not received. Instead of producing maturity, experiencing conquest and resting in satisfaction we are undone, unmade and destroyed.

Consider the events as they unfold in Genesis 2-3. Note the forming & filling pattern. Although in this instance the progress (or regress!) pivots on the testing of Adam and follows the ‘banquet‘ chiasm.

Forming

Creation
Adam is created in the image of God and given God’s Word / Law. Gen 2:16-17

Division
Adam is divided (blood is shed, his rib removed) and Eve is made. Gen 2:20-21

Ascension
They are brought together in a covenant of marriage. Gen 2:22-25

Filling

Testing
Adam, as high priest guardian & protector of Eve & Eden is tested. Gen 3:1-6

Maturity (or immaturity)
Adam seizes the fruit (takes things into his own hands, literally) and tries to cover his disobedience with fig leaves. Gen 3:7

Conquest (or defeat)
God uncovers Adam’s sin & covers it with blood of an innocent animal. He is outside the angelic veil and no longer in the promised land. Gen 3:8-13, 21-24

Future

Glorification / Rest (or pain / suffering)
Adam’s failed dominion is inherited by his offspring. Gen 5:3

Related Post
Where did we go wrong?

 

Because he built it, he will fill it

Is the world around us a mistake or an accident? If God made the world and everything in it, did Adam and Eve somehow upset everything and cause God to revert to “Plan B”?

The kingdom of God on earth started in Eden with the days of creation in Genesis 1. God sets the universe in motion and provides a template of forming and filling used during the entire Bible story.

The first stage of the 7 day pattern relates to new life. It starts with God speaking and his Word gives life. The way we receive faith and start our spiritual life is through God’s Word. (Rom 10:17, 1 Pet 1:23)

The seven day creation consists of 3 days of forming parallel to 3 days of filling*. In the same way you would build shelves in your house. First you erect the frame and then you fill the shelves with your belongings. The belongings don’t replace the shelves, they fill them. The New Testament did not replace the Old Testament, it filled it. (Matt 5:17-19, Heb 3:1-6)

The final day of Creation is a day of Rest, it anticipates our future and the rest that God desires to give us. (Matt 11:28-30, Heb 4:9-11)

Forming (by dividing)

Day 1 – Light & Dark

Day 2 – Firmament – Divided Waters (Sky & Sea)

Day 3 – Land & Sea, Grain & Fruit plants

Filling (with multitudes)

Day 4 – Sun, Moon & Stars

Day 5 – Swarms of Birds & Fish

Day 6 – Land Animals & Man

Future

Day 7 – Stop, Rest, Hallow & Enjoy

Note:
(*Bull, Bible Matrix, pp.46-47)

 

It’s time to open up a can-o-whup-???

It is tempting, in the face of sin, defiance and rebellion to respond with imprecations and denouncements. As a parent, sometimes it can feel as though all you are doing is ranting and reacting to a child’s misbehaviour or attitude. But when that happens too often, you will miss the joy of loving them. Imagine if God was as impatient with us as we sometimes are with our children? What horror would ensue.

A blog by Mike Bull and Tim Gallant on Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

caught my eye this morning and I’ve included some quotes below. Take time to read it all. If you’re a leader in the Church, consider how you model grace and love. If you’re not a leader and not a parent, consider and give thanks for the grace and love shown to you by God and your pastor.

If we ask the question: “How often is there something in my life that God could be correcting?” – the answer would have to be, “Always.” Even the strongest believers in this life are en route, are taking a journey in spiritual growth, and are immature in a host of areas.

The shepherds of the flock have a special calling to be aware of the needs of the sheep. And that awareness involves discerning where the flock needs correction and growth.

…

Occasionally Christians look at other Christians and wonder why the church leadership doesn’t do something. “So-and-so is at fault here and here and here; why aren’t the elders dealing with it?”

Aside from the fact that elders are almost always dealing with things far more than the congregation is aware – pastoral care is an iceberg that is more submerged than visible – there is more to it than that.

Wise shepherds know that not every battle can be fought at once; and they also know that not every battle needs to be fought the same way.

…

One of the greatest things that the Father does for His children is rejoice with them, and as shepherds who echo His heart and seek to embody the kingdom among the flock, we must take up that happy task with gusto.

When we do, we demonstrate again that Christ came to give life, and that most abundantly (John 10.10).

 

 

A Covenant Prayer

God is active in creating, moving and growing things. He expresses this to us in history by making covenants. His covenants aren’t static contracts. They absorb and succeed each other as they increasingly transform our world towards it’s final glorification.

John Frame, James Jordan and others have observed the five fold structure of biblical covenants. Mike Bull’s recent work on The Covenant Key also unpacks these five stages. When you start to see how pervasive the covenant structure is in scripture it really does give you new eyes.

Mike notes the stages as (with my simplified explanations):

Transcendence: God gives his name as he initiates the covenant, identifying who is in charge
. . . . . Hierarchy: God identifies his representatives, means of provision or mediation
. . . . . . . . . . Ethics: God provides his stipulations (how the relationship will work)
. . . . . Sanctions: God advises the consequences (blessings & curses) that accompany fidelity or failure
Succession: God points to a future inheritance (or disinheritance) as the future is prepared

Whilst doing a study on the five sacrifices given to Israel in Leviticus, I was reading Jordan’s monograph and enjoyed the parallels he noted between the sacrifices and covenant structure. My study took me a little further and I noticed something in the pattern that seemed familiar. When I was thinking about the relevance or application, if any, of the sacrifices to modern worship I came to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV):

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Christ’s instruction to pray appears to be in the form of a covenant pattern.

1. We recognise God’s transcendence, holiness and distinction (just as Israel did in the ascension/burnt offering) - Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

2. We trust God, as demonstrated in our tributes and tithes, to meet our daily needs (Israel did so in the tribute/grain offering) - Give us this day our daily bread.

3. God reconciles us to himself and to each other so that we are not only forgiven but able to forgive (Israel enjoyed the peace/fellowship offering which celebrated the same) - And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

4. God, through Christ, has expiated our sin so that we can draw near to him (Israel acknowledged their need for sin to be ‘taken away’ through the purification/sin offering) - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

5. Because our true and ultimate inheritance is a city not made with hands, we readily acknowledge God’s ownership and entitlement to everything (Israel’s guilt offering provided retributions for perjury and theft) - For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

So the covenant really is a key to understanding how we will enter our future rest.

 

Welcome to the feast

In the Bible, salvation is presented as a feast. We are guests at God’s banquet. A  modern reader struggles to make sense of the story written with patterns different to our modern history texts or popular novels. One of those patterns used in the Bible is based upon Israel’s festival calendar. Consider the pattern or process you might follow when hosting a dinner party:

You send invitations; You cover the table with a cloth; You lay out place settings & cutlery; The guests are seated; The food and wine is served; The feast is consumed; You recline together with your guests, full & satisfied and enjoy a digestif.

Look at this list arranged to emphasise the parallel structure:

A.  You send your invitations

     B.  You cover the table with a cloth

          C.  You lay out place settings & cutlery

               D. The guests are seated

          C1. The food and wine is served

     B1. The feast is consumed

A1. You recline, full & satisfied with an digestif

The invitation (A) anticipates the satisfied diners at the end of the party (A1). The table cloth (B) dedicates the table for the dinner (B1). The placement of the cutlery (C) is matched with it’s use to eat the food (C1). At the center of this event, the guests (D) are seated. Will they partake of the meal? Will they enjoy the party?

The Bible story is very similar. God has given us an invitation, he has prepared life for us, he has called us to himself, he has given us his Word. Will we receive it? Will we make it a part of ourselves? When we do, we have “a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”