Jul 4, 2022
1KINGS 19-20:
The
story we read yesterday in this book is one of the most dramatic in
all of Scripture: The time the prophet Elijah confronted King Ahab.
Remember that in the New Testament James used this story to
encourage us that we are no different than Elijah and that we
should pray fervently like him.
PSALM 121:
This
is another psalm that is frequently sung, even today. Often this
whole psalm is set to music. As Olsen says, this psalm lifts the
fog from our eyes.
Re-reading JOHN 9:
Remember that in John 8 there was a tense
standoff between Jesus and the religious leaders. The people took
up stones to kill Jesus. John places this story here to illustrate
again the opposition to Jesus.
One of the hardest verses to translate is the very last one in this chapter. That is Jesus’ answer when the Pharisees give this incredulous or rebuking response, “Surely you don't mean that we are blind, too?” The Greek can be translated as in literal versions, “If you were blind, you would have no [sin//guilt]...” To say someone has no sin, in English, would mean that they are totally sinless, and that is NOT what Jesus was meaning.
GNT/NLT translation note:
John 9:41 NLT Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty [of still sinning], but you remain guilty because you claim you can see.//GNT Jesus answered, “If you were blind, then you would not [be sinning now//be guilty]; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are [still guilty of sinning//still guilty].”]
GNT Translation
notes:
John 9:7 and told him, “Go and wash your face
in the Pool of Siloam.” ([The name of the pool//This name] means
“Sent.”) So the man went, washed his face, and came back
seeing.
22
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish
authorities, who had already agreed that anyone who said he
believed that Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the
synagogue[s].
33
Unless this man came from God, he would not be able to do [such] a
thing.”
34
They answered, “You were born and brought up in sin—and you are
trying to teach us?” And they expelled him from the
synagogue[s].
41
[based on NLT: Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be
guilty [of still sinning], but you remain guilty because you claim
you can see.//GNT Jesus answered, “If you were blind, then you
would not [be sinning now//be guilty]; but since you claim that you
can see, this means that you are [still guilty of sinning//still
guilty].”]