LECTION 54 - The Examination of Him Who was Born Blind.
The Examination of Him Who was Born Blind.
1. THEN they brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the Sabbath day when Iesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
2. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them,
He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
3. Therefore said some of the Pharisees,
This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.
Others said,
how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?
And there was a division among them.
4. They say unto the blind man again,
What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?
He said,
He is a prophet.
5. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents (of him) that had received his sight.
6. And they asked them, saying,
Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see?
His parents answered them and said,
We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now seeth we know not; nor who hath opened his eyes; he is of age; ask him, he shall speak for himself.
7. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was the Christ he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents,
He is of age? ask him.
8. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him,
Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
He answered and said,
Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not; one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
9. Then said they to him again,
What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?
He answered them,
I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?
10. Then they reviled him, and said,
Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
11. The man answered and said unto them,
Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners;
12. But if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
13. They answered and said unto him,
Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?
And they cast him out.
14. Iesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him,
Dost thou believe on the Son (of God)?
He answered and said,
Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him.
15. And Iesus said unto him,
Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
And he said,
Lord, I believe.
And he worshipped him.
16. And Iesus said,
For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him,
Are we blind also?
17. AND Iesus, when he came to a certain place where seven palm trees grew, gathered his disciples around him, and to each he gave a number and a name which he only knew who received it. And he said unto them,
Stand ye as pillars in the House (of God) and shew forth the order according to your numbers which ye have received.
18. And they stood around him, and they made a body four square, and they counted the number, and could not. And they said unto him,
Lord we cannot.
And Iesus said,
Let him who is greatest among you be even [as] the least, and the symbol of that which is first be [as] the symbol of that which is last.
19. And they did so, and in every way was there equality, and yet each bore a different number and the one side was as the other and the upper was as the lower, and the inner as the outer. And the Lord said,
It is enough. Such is the House of the wise Master Builder. Foursquare it is, and perfect. Many are the Chambers, but the House is One.
20. Again consider the Body of man (which is a Temple of the Spirit). For the body is one, united to its head, which with it is one body. And it has many members, yet, all are one body and the one Spirit ruleth and worketh in all; so also in the Kingdom.
21. And the head doth not say to the bosom, I have no need of thee, nor the right hand to the left, I have no need of thee, nor the left foot to the right, I have no need of thee; neither the eyes to the ears, we have no need of you, nor the mouth to the nose, I have no need for thee. For God hath set in the one body every member as is fitting.
22. If the whole were the head, where were the breasts? If the whole were the belly, where were the feet? yea, those members which some affirm are less honourable, upon them hath God bestowed the more honour.
23. And those parts which some call uncomely, upon them hath been bestowed more abundant comeliness, that they may care one for the other; so, if one member suffers, all members suffer with it, and if one member is honoured all members rejoice.
24. Now ye are my Body; and each one of you is a member in particular, and to each one of you do I give the fitting place, and one Head over all, and one Heart the centre of all, that there be no lack nor schism, that so with your bodies, your souls and your spirits ye may glorify the All Parent through the Divine Spirit which worketh in all and through all.
LECTION 54. 1-13. -The wrangling of the Pharisees over this case of healing has its para1lels in our times in the Churches which assign to the devil all that they cannot comprehend, and cut out the Healer as a sinner and a heretic, denying the power of God in Man.
LECTlON 54. 14. -This is one of those "parables and dark sayings" of him who spake as never man spake. The words taken literally suggest to the mind a perfect crystal sphere, and by correspondence, a perfect man or woman- in modern phrase "an all rounder," one who views things not from one side only, but from every side. There are many who keep the law in one or more points, but neglect all the rest; or keep it in all points but the one which is against their own particular failing -who "compound for sins they are inclined to, by damming those they have no mind to." Cont.
LECTlON 54. 17-20. -The meaning of these words and this action is very obscure, but if we describe the magic square of 7, it seems to make it intelligible as the mystic symbol of him who regarded everything by number and by measure, and which seems to have reference to the period of his mortal life, 49 years, as well as the number of the Council, Cardinals and Priests of the Church universal, 48, presided over by its Head, 49, which the action of Iesus seemed to symbolize, and in a way, foreshadow. See square
LECTlON 54. 21-24. -Here we have the original words of Christ, from which Paul adopted his simile in Rom. xii., and In 1 Cor. xii.