Text Study for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Rev. Joseph Winston

April 3, 2011

Commentary
1 Samuel 16:1-13
This lesson is about the calling/anointing of David. The L ORD sends Samuel to
Bethlehem but Samuel does not want to go because this trip means the end of
the reigning king Saul. If this word reaches him, he will want Samuel’s head.
In Bethlehem, Samuel asked that Jesse come along with his sons. The L ORD told
Samuel that He would select the correct one. Child after child went by the prophet,
but God never indicated that this was the one. When it was realized that one more
child was in the family, Samuel called for him. The L ORD told that David was the
one.

1 Samuel 16:1 The L ORD said – The relationship between the two was so solid
that there was not question about who was speaking.

1 Samuel 16:2 How can I go? – This is a very practical response to the difficulties
in this life.
Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the L ORD.’ –
Sometimes a little indirection is the best policy.

1 Samuel 16:3 you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you – The L ORD
speaks and you will act.

1 Samuel 16:4 The elders of the city came to meet him trembling – Samuel’s
reputation precedes him.

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 1 Samuel 16:5 sanctify yourselves – Prepare to come into the holy mystery that
surrounds God.

1 Samuel 16:6 Surely the L ORD’s anointed is now before the L ORD – The sight
of one who follows the L ORD is not always in line with the L ORD wants.

1 Samuel 16:7 L ORD looks on the heart – God does not look at how someone
might feel but instead inquires of their motives and thoughts.

1 Samuel 16:8 Neither has the L ORD chosen this one. – This is not a rejection of
the individual rather is is that this one is not qualified for this calling.

1 Samuel 16:9

1 Samuel 16:10

1 Samuel 16:11 There remains yet the youngest – Age with its attendant attributes
neither qualifies nor disqualifies an individual.

1 Samuel 16:12 was handsome – This one stands out in the eyes of people too.

1 Samuel 16:13 L ORD came mightily upon David from that day forward – This
is the prayer of the people that the L ORD calls: come and bless me so that I
may do your work.

In the twenty-third psalm, the community is composed of the sheep that God
brings together into a flock. The sheep are people just like you and I (Psalm 23:1).
We are the ones who do not know what to eat, so Jesus brings us the food that truly
fills us (Psalm 23:2). We cannot find the water that gives us life (Psalm 23:2). That
is why Jesus brings us where this water flows (Psalm 23:3). We continually want
to wander off from this community and Jesus always brings us back to the flock
(Psalm 23:4). Jesus patiently does all this work while we are surrounded by our
enemies (Psalm 23:5).

Psalm 23:1 I shall not want. – We lack nothing because L ORD leads us.

Psalm 23:2 He makes me . . . he leads me – The work done by the L ORD happens
even when we do not want to follow Him.

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 Psalm 23:3 he restores my soul – The L ORD every day gives us the “stuff” of
life. This is what allows us to be renewed.
He leads me in right paths – For a sheep, this would be the way to good
food and water. And of course, to shearing and slaughter. While the last two
might not be beneficial for the sheep, it certainly is good for the sheep’s
owner. We have to trust that God is not “fleecing” us because we have no
recourse if He is.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil – The au-
thor of the psalm knows that life comes with its ups and downs. Sometimes,
it looks as if there is no way out. Even in those situations, the Shepherd is
there.
your rod and your staff – they comfort me. – The work of discipline is some-
thing that we should accept.
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies – De-
spite all the problems that face me daily, the L ORD feeds me.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me – All around us are gifts
that the L ORD brings. They are nearby even when we do not see them.
I shall dwell in the house of the L ORD my whole life long. – While this might
sound like a promise made by the author, this cannot be the case because a
sheep does not select its Shepherd. The blessing of being with the L ORD is
given to us.

Ephesians 5:8-14
The author of Ephesians calls the followers to remain in the light of the Lord.
Because of this life, good works will appear. Try to stay in the light rather than
venture into the darkness. The section ends with the strange saying that the dead
all on their own wake up and then when this occurs, Jesus will show His light.
Ephesians 5:8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.
– This phrase in the use of light and darkness contains Gnostic tendencies
that are amplified in the lesson.
Ephesians 5:9 the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true
– The explicit knowledge of how to locate this fruit is omitted in the text
and thus it adds to the Gnostic side of the text.

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 Ephesians 5:10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. – Rather than iden-
tifying the law as what pleases the Lord, the author evades the issue. This
appears to be hidden information from the audience.

Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness – Likewise, what
is condemned is not enumerated.

Ephesians 5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly
– While this might be true in the abstract, it lends to the apparent division
between the few who know what is right and the rest who do not.

Ephesians 5:13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible – This is one
of the basic functions of light.

Ephesians 5:14 Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. – Jesus is now
identified as the light that shines in life.

John 9:1-41
More than likely, none of us are professional actors, but yet we all have settled
into well-known roles. Teachers follow scripts otherwise known as lesson plans.
Chemical workers act in strict accordance to plant guidelines. Families follow this
same pattern. Outside, children can run and scream to their heart’s content. Inside,
this behavior is unacceptable. Parents are no different. Almost universally, moth-
ers and fathers give their children “that look” when they start to misbehave and if
the children do not get the hint then a stern word is spoken to them. However, dis-
agreements between adults are handled in a different manner. We try to tell others
how the situation is affecting me.
Trouble breaks out when we do not correctly play our roles. Imagine what
would happen if teachers started to act like students. Chaos would rule in the
classroom until some force took over. Tell me what would occur if a chemical
worker randomly opened and closed valves in the plant. At the very least, the
worker would be fired for this malicious action and it is completely conceivable
that something much worse might happen: death and destruction. Allowing chil-
dren to run around without discipline is harmful to both the child and the society.
The child never learns the difference between right and wrong. The community
is then forced to take on the role of parent and correct the child using the judicial
process. This costs us an enormous amount of money.

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 That is what is happening in today’s Gospel lesson. People are not playing
their parts correctly. More importantly still, Jesus is not acting like God.
The confusion over roles starts right away and it starts with a group that should
have known better. The disciples ask the teacher, “Who is at fault: the man or his
parents?” (John 9:2). In asking this question of Jesus, they hope to show Him
their great knowledge of the Old Testament where God’s part seems to be one of
vengeance (Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9; Tobit 3:3-4).1 Jesus
quickly reminds them that they are trying to force fit a role on God because this
blind man will show how God really acts (John 9:3).
What happens next also shows us that even today we do not understand God’s
part in our life of faith. Jesus does not ask the bind man if he wants to be healed,
if he has ever repented of any sin, or even if he believes in anything at all. Instead,
Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud, and without permission applies it to the
blind man’s eyes (John 9:6). Then Jesus commands the blind man, who must have
been surprised by all this commotion, to go and wash off the mud (John 9:7).
It seems as if the blind man knows what to do. He goes and washes and re-
turns seeing (John 9:7). Unfortunately, this action seems to be completely out of
character for him. No one, except for his parents, believes that the formally blind
man and the man with sight are the one and the same (John 9:8-9).
Now the narrator gives us an important fact that he neglected to tell us earlier.
This work performed by Jesus happened on a Sabbath (John 9:14).
According to the Pharisees’ logic, this little nugget of knowledge completely
rules out the option that Jesus is playing the role of Messiah. In their minds they
think, we know the law and who gave it to us. God cannot and will not break
the law because this action undermines the law’s stated purpose to separate those
who love the Lord from those who do not. From testimony, we all know that Jesus
broke the law by working on the Sabbath (John 9:16). Therefore, Jesus cannot be
from God nor can He represent God because He is nothing more than a sinner.
It is clear to them that Jesus must be removed from the show because He is
playing the wrong part.

John 9:1 blind from birth – The narrator gives us this key point about the man’s
background.

John 9:2 His disciples asked him – There is nothing out of the ordinary for stu-
dents to ask their teacher a question.
1
S.D.B. Francis J. Moloney; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor, The Gospel of John, Volume 4,
Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1998), p. 291.

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John 9:3 Neither this man nor his parents sinned – Here is a Jesus who tells us
that one cannot associate sin with evil or suffering in the world. Contrast this
with the thought in the following references where God does punish chil-
dren for the sins of their parents (Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18; Deuteron-
omy 5:9; Tobit 3:3-4)2
he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. – Who
would expect that God deliberately created a blind man?

John 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day – The plural
(we) is attested in several manuscripts and so it should be used.3
Jesus states that the Christian community (The “we” in the sentence) must
do the Father’s work while there is light. This statement shows that the
Church does the Father’s work. This also shows “limits” on what Jesus’
actions.4 Jesus only does what the Father has asked Him.

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. – Every time
that the Word is proclaimed, light remains in the world showing people what
promise the darkness holds. Note that in the Greek (ἐγώ εἰμι) this is not the
“I am” formulation.

John 9:6 made mud with the saliva – There are other accounts in ancient literature
about spit and blindness.5
spread – The Greek verb is ἐπιχρίω, which literally means “to anoint” (from
χρίω) with the prefix “on” ἐπι. In the New Testament, this verb is used only
here and in 9:11.

John 9:7 Siloam (which means Sent) – Siloam mean “discharge (of waters)” and
not sent.6
The consonants of the verb “to send” are found in Siloam.7
Then he went and washed and came back able to see. – This short sentence
with its verbs shows the absolute response to the Word of Jesus.8
2
Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 291.
3
Ibid., p. 297.
4
Ibid., p. 291.
5
Ibid., p. 297.
6
Ibid.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid., p. 292.

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John 9:8 began to ask – The transformation so changes the man that his neighbors
cannot believe their eyes.
John 9:9 No, but it is someone like him. – The work of Jesus has divided the
community into two groups. One recognizes the man and the other does
not. Where do we see Jesus separating the world?
John 9:10 Then how were your eyes opened? – The constant response to this
question is “The man called Jesus” (ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ λεγόμενος ᾿Ιησοῦς).
John 9:11 Where is he? – For what reason do they want Jesus?
John 9:12 I do not know. – There are many different things about God and God’s
will that have not been revealed to us. The only appropriate answer is “I do
not know.”
John 9:13 They brought – In the mind of the author of John, the Jews and the
Pharisees are the one and the same.9
John 9:14 Now it was a sabbath day – It is only now that the audience is given a
fact that the narrator knew. The healing happened on a Sabbath. This detail
will cause problem with the leaders because Jesus performed work.
John 9:15 how he had received his sight – As if the blind man could see all the
details.
John 9:16 This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath. – Some
of the pharisees assume the following logic. We know the law and who gave
us the law. God cannot and will not break the law because this undermines
the law’s purpose. Jesus broke the law. Therefore, He cannot be from God
nor can He represent God.
How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs? – There is a group that
holds a different opinion. This One, who went against our understanding of
the Law, has done something amazing.
John 9:17 What do you say about him? – The opposition is looking for ammuni-
tion.
John 9:18 they called the parents – The Pharisees are not willing to believe the
testimony of the man so they call his parents onto the scene.
9
Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 297.

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John 9:19 Is this your son – First, the Pharisees need to establish that this man is
related to this couple.
who you say was born blind – In order to explain what has happened, the
Pharisees are willing to plant the assumption that the parents have been
lying about their child. He really was not blind. They only thought that he
was.

John 9:20 We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind – Here are
the facts as know by the parents.

John 9:21 they were afraid – The parents did not want to leave the synagogue.
This story was repeated over and over in the life of the early followers of
Christ because the believers were “forced” to leave behind what they held
dear. Where do we see this happening today?

John 9:22 for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to
be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue – Jesus divides the Jews
into two groups. Those who follow Him and because of this are not in the
synagogue and those in the synagogue (John 9:22; 12:42; 16:2).

John 9:23 He is of age – Rather than inditing themselves, the parents let the brunt
of the witness fall on their son.

John 9:24 Give glory to God! – This doxology is used before confession (Joshia
7:19; 1 Chronicles 30:6-9; Jeremiah 13:16).10

John 9:25 I do not know – Once again the man answers that he does not know
specific details about Jesus. This attitude can be contrasted with the Phar-
isees who are fairly certain about what they know.

John 9:26 What did he do to you? – Are they interested in the power or in con-
trolling it?

John 9:27 Do you also want to become his disciples? – The man is asking a ques-
tion that the narrator of John has already told us. Jesus is giving “signs” that
point to the Father and this work influences the belief of His followers. (John
2:11) Are Christians willing to ask this question of hostile individuals?
10
Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 294.

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John 9:28 You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. – The Pharisees
are united in this assertion. They know clearly they follow Moses but this
other One is someone that they do not know.

John 9:29 we do not know where he comes from – In a dramatic turn around, the
seeing do not recognize the light.

John 9:30 You do not know where he comes from – Connecting the dots should
be easy, but far too often it is difficult if not impossible.

John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners – The underlying assump-
tion is that God’s holiness prevents Him from approaching the unclean in
any way.

John 9:32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the
eyes of a person born blind. – The man attempts to show the uniqueness of
this situation.

John 9:33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. – Miracles like
this do not come every day. The cause and effect are plain the man who was
blind.

John 9:34 And they drove him out. – The aside given to us by the narrator has
been illustrated in this story. The man because of his confession had been
sent away from his tradition. And ironically this happens after when he has
been made “whole” because before he was always outside with all the other
imperfect men.

John 9:35 Jesus heard – Notice that Jesus stayed out of the scene until now. Can
any conclusions be drawn from this statement? Perhaps, Christians all are
called to give our testimonies in the courts of the world and this occurs after
Jesus has healed us.
It also could be that the author uses this text to teach the church about the
time that Jesus is “away” from us. Even though the specific directions are
missing from this lesson, it is clear that the author is trying to tell us that
Jesus has clearly set the church’s mission: give the light to others so that they
know that God is here with them and eternal life starts now. Jesus returns
on the scene to see what has transcribed since He left.

John 9:36 And who is he, sir? We can see God and yet not know Him.

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 John 9:37 You have seen him – Jesus finally reveals to the man that He is the
“Son of Man.”

John 9:38 And he worshiped him. – The formally blind man gives Jesus thanks.
In this specific case, faith follows healing.

John 9:39 I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may
see, and those who do see may become blind. – This is especially important
to remember in our day because so many people are forsaking the church.
But the world has not descended into total depravity. Instead, many of the
actions that we would normally associate with the church are now found in
the world. Do they see the light and we do not?

John 9:40 Surely we are not blind, are we? – The powerful of every age find it
hard to be challenged.

John 9:41 you say, ‘We see’ – The testimony that the Pharisees know what is
coming is the indictment against them.

References
Francis J. Moloney, S.D.B.; Harrington, S.J., Daniel J., editor, The Gospel of John,
Volume 4, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press,
1998).

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