Беседа 56

John 9:1–2. And as he passed, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him: Rabbi! Who sinned, he or his parents, that he was born blind? 1. Healing of a man born blind. – 2. By giving sight to a man born blind, Jesus Christ proved to the Jews that He is the Creator. – 3. Refutation of the imaginary contradiction between the ap. Paul and Jesus Christ. – The bliss of the eternal fatherland and what is necessary to achieve it. The poor create for us dwellings in heaven. - An exhortation to almsgiving. 1. “And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.” Being very philanthropic and caring about our salvation, and, moreover, wanting to stop the mouths of the wicked, the Lord does not omit anything that only befitted Him, even if no one listened to Him. The prophet also knew this, and therefore said: “So You are righteous in Your judgment and pure in Your judgment” (Ps. 50:6). That is why even now, when they did not accept His lofty teaching, and even called Him mad and tried to kill Him, He, leaving the church, healed the blind. Thus, by His absence He tames their rage, and by performing a miracle He softens their hardness of heart and stubbornness, and confirms them in His words. And He performs a miracle that is not ordinary, but one that has now only happened for the first time: “It has not been heard since the beginning of time that anyone opened the eyes of one born blind” (John 9:32). Perhaps someone has opened the eyes of a blind man, but no one has yet opened the eyes of a man born blind. And that the Savior, having left the church, went specifically for this matter, is evident from the fact that He himself saw the blind man, and not the blind man approached Him, and looked at him so intently that he drew the attention of the disciples. This is what prompted them to ask the question; seeing Him looking intently, they asked Him, saying: “Who sinned, he or his parents?” Strange question! How could he sin before he was born? Or how could he be punished for the sins of his parents? How did they come to this question? First of all, having healed the paralytic, (Christ) said: “Behold, you are healed; Sin no more” (John 5:14). So, remembering that he was paralyzed for sins, they say: let him be paralyzed for sins: but what do you say about this? Has he sinned? But this cannot be said because he is blind from birth. Or his parents? But this is also not possible, because the son is not punished for the father. Thus, how do we, when we see a suffering child, and say: what can we say about him, what did this child do? - by this we are not asking, but expressing bewilderment, just as the disciples, when they said this, were not so much asking as they were perplexed. What about Christ? “Neither he nor his parents sinned” (John 9:3). By this, however, He does not free them from sins; He didn’t just say: “neither he nor his parents sinned,” but added: “that he was born blind.” But may the Son of God be glorified. Both he and his parents sinned; but this is not the cause of blindness. Nor does (Christ) mean by these words that not this one, but others were subjected to blindness for this reason, that is, for the sins of their parents, because it is impossible to punish another for the sins of one. If we admit this, then we must also admit that (the man born blind) sinned before birth. This means that just as by saying: “neither he sinned,” he is not saying that one can sin from birth and be punished for it, so by saying, “neither his parents,” he is not expressing the idea that one can be punished for one’s parents. This opinion (the Lord) refutes through Ezekiel: “As I live! says the Lord God, “they will not continue to speak this proverb in Israel: The fathers ate sour grapes, but the teeth of the children are set on edge” (Ezek. 18:2-3). Yes, and Moses says: “fathers should not be punished with death for their children” (Deut. 24:16). And it is told about one king that he did not do this (he did not kill the children of murderers) because he kept the law of Moses (2 Kings 14:6). If someone says: how is it written: “He who punishes the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation” (Ex. 20:5)? - then we will answer this that this is not a universal definition, but is said in relation to those who came out of Egypt. These words mean this: since those who came out of Egypt, despite signs and wonders, became worse than their ancestors, who did not see any of this, then the same thing that befell their ancestors will befall them, because they dared to commit the same crimes. And that this is precisely what is said about them, anyone who delves into this place will be fully convinced. So why (the man born blind) was born blind? Let the glory of God appear, he says. Here again is a new bewilderment: as if, without his punishment, it was impossible for the glory of God to appear! But that is not at all what is said, that it should not be possible; Of course it was possible; but let (the glory of God) appear on him too. So, you say, he was offended for the sake of the glory of God? Why are you offended, tell me? What if the Lord wanted him not to be born at all? I, for my part, affirm that he even received a benefit from his blindness, because he received his sight with his inner eyes. What benefit does sight have to the Jews? They were only subjected to greater punishment because they remained blind in their sight. What harm does blindness do to him? Through her he received his sight. Thus, just as the evil of real life is not evil, so good is not good. Only sin is evil, but blindness is not evil. And Who brought (the blind man) from non-existence into existence, He had the power to leave him in this position. And some say that this particle (ίνα - yes, so that) here indicates not the cause, but the effect, just as in another place where it is said: “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). Of course, Christ did not come so that those who see would be blind. In the same way, Paul says: “what can be known about God is obvious to them... so that they are without answer” (Rom. 1:19-20), although the Lord did not show this to them so that they would be deprived of justification, but so that they would receive justification. And again in another place: “the law came after, and thus the crime increased” (Rom. 5:20), - although the law did not come for this, but to curb sin. 2. Do you see that this particle everywhere indicates a consequence? Just as an excellent house builder, having built one part of a house, leaves the other unfinished in order to protect himself with the rest of the buildings from unbelievers in the construction of the entire house, so God strengthens and corrects our body, like some dilapidated church - heals a withered hand, strengthens weakened limbs, straightens the lame, cleanses the lepers, raises up the sick, restores the paralyzed with the legs, raises the dead, opens closed eyes, gives sight to those who never had it. By thus correcting all these shortcomings of our weak nature, He reveals His power. When (Christ) says: let the glory of God appear, he speaks about Himself, not about the Father, because the glory of the Father was manifest. Since they knew that God created man by taking dust from the earth, Christ did the same. If He had said: I am the One who took dust from the earth and created man, then this would seem unbearable to the listeners; and when He showed this in practice, they could no longer be offended. That is why, taking dust and dissolving it with saliva, He thus revealed His hidden glory. It is no small glory to be recognized as the Creator of creation. And from this it was really necessary to conclude about other things: the part served as a guarantee for the whole; the certainty of the greater confirmed the less. For man is superior to all creation, and the eye is superior to all our members. That is why Christ created vision not simply, but in the above-mentioned manner. Although the eye is a small member in size, it is more necessary than the whole body. Paul also points to this when he says: “if the ear says: I do not belong to the body, ... then does it really not belong to the body?” (1 Cor. 12:16). Although everything in us serves as proof of the wisdom of God, the eye is especially important. He controls the whole body; it gives beauty to the whole body, it adorns the face, it serves as a lamp for all members. As the sun is in the universe, the eye is in the body. Extinguish the light in the sun, and everything will perish and fall into confusion; extinguish the light in your eyes, and your legs, arms, and soul will be useless. Without eyes, knowledge becomes impossible. Through them we came to know God: “For His invisible things... have been seen from the foundation of the world through the consideration of creatures” (Rom. 1:20). Thus, the eye serves as a lamp not only for the body, but even more than for the body, for the soul. That is why it is placed, as it were, in some royal place - at the top, and presides over other feelings. This is what Christ arranges for him. Then, so that you do not think that He needs substance when He creates, and so that you know that in the beginning He did not need clay (He who made higher beings out of nothing, He could much more create an eye without substance), so that, I say, you know that He does this not out of need, but in order to show that He was the Creator in the beginning, having anointed it with clay, he says: “Go, wash yourself.” Know that I do not need clay to create eyes, but let My glory appear in him (the blind one). And that He said these words about Himself: let the glory of God appear, is evident from the fact that He then added: “I must do the works of Him who sent Me” (John 9:4). That is: I must reveal myself and do deeds that could show that I do the same as the Father - not only similar, but the same. And this serves as a sign of great equality and speaks only of those of which one is not at all different from the other. Who else will contradict, seeing that He can do the same as the Father? He not only formed eyes, not only opened them, but also bestowed sight; and this serves as proof that He also breathed in the soul, because without the action of the soul even the most perfect eye can never see anything. So, He gave the strength of the soul, He also gave the members with all the accessories - with arteries, nerves and veins, with blood and everything else that our body is made of. “I must do... while it is day” (John 9:4). What do these words mean? And what connection do they have? Very tight. This is the meaning of these words: “As long as it is day,” - as long as people can believe in Me, as long as this life continues, “I must do; night comes,” that is, the future tense, “when no one can do.” He did not say: when I cannot do, but: “when no one can do,” that is, when there is no longer any faith, no work, no repentance. And that He calls faith a work is clear from the fact that when they said to Him: “What must we do to do the works of God,” He replies: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). But why can’t anyone do this work at that time? Because there will no longer be faith, but, willingly or unwillingly, everyone will obey. So, lest anyone say that He does this out of vanity, He shows that He does everything for the benefit of people, since only here they have the opportunity to believe, and there they can no longer do anything useful for themselves. That is why He healed the blind man, despite the fact that he did not even approach Him. However, that the blind man was worthy of healing and, if he had sight, he would have believed and come to Christ, even if he had heard from someone about His presence, and then would not have failed to do this, is evident from what follows, from his courage and faith. It was natural for him to think and say: what is this? He made clay, anointed my eyes and said: “Go, wash yourself.” Couldn’t he have healed him and then sent him to Siloam? I often washed there along with many others, and received no benefit. If He had any power, He would have healed now. This is what Naaman also said about Elisha. Having received the order to go and wash in the Jordan, he did not believe it, despite the great glory of Elisha. But the blind man was alien to disbelief, did not object and did not reason with himself: what is this? Was it necessary to lay the clay? It is more likely to blind. Who has ever seen the light in this way? No, he didn't think anything like that. Do you see his firm faith and spiritual valor? "Night Comes". This shows that even after the cross he will have care for the wicked and will attract many, because “there is still day”; but then he will finally reject them. This is indicated by the words: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He said the same thing to others: “As long as the light is with you, believe in the light” (John 12:36). 3. How did Paul call this present life night, and that (future) day? By this he does not contradict Christ, but says the same thing, only not in words, but in thoughts. “The night,” he says, “is past, and the day is at hand” (Rom. 13:12). He calls the present time night because of those sitting in darkness, or in comparison with that (future) day. Christ calls the future at night, because then they will no longer commit sins; and Paul calls the present life night, because those who live in evil and unbelief are in darkness. Thus, talking with the faithful, he said: “the night has passed, and the day has approached,” since (the faithful) have to enjoy that light; at night he calls his former life and says: “let us reject the works of darkness.” Do you see that, according to him, the night lies in them? That’s why he adds: “let us behave decently as in the day” (Rom. 13:13), so that we can enjoy that light. If this light is so beautiful, then think what that light will be like. As much as sunlight is better than lamplight, the future is just as much, or much more, better than the present. This is what Christ pointed to when he said: “the sun will be darkened” (Matthew 24:29), that is, from the abundance of that light, not even the sun will be visible! And if now, in order to have bright houses with healthy air, we spend a lot of money, undergoing hard labor during construction, then think, shouldn’t we sacrifice our very bodies in order to create bright abodes for ourselves where that ineffable light is? There are disputes and strife over borders and walls; there is nothing like it; there is no envy, no slander; no one will argue with us over borders. Moreover, this house will certainly need to be left, but it will remain with us forever. Over time, this inevitably undergoes rotting and numerous damages; he never gets old. This the poor cannot build; that one can be built on two mites, like a widow. Therefore, it is extremely regrettable to me that with so many blessings ahead of us, we are careless and careless. To have brilliant houses here, we are trying in every possible way; but in order to create even a small refuge for ourselves in heaven, we do not care about it, we do not think about it. Tell me: where would you like to have a home? In the desert, or in one of the small cities? Don't think; no doubt - in capitals and big cities, where there is more brilliance. But I am leading you to a city whose builder and artist is God. There, I beg you, arrange and build a home for yourself - with less expense and less labor. This house is built by the hands of the poor, and it is the best building; and those that are being built now are a matter of extreme madness. If someone took you to Persia in order to look at this country and then return, and meanwhile began to advise you to build houses there: would you not call him extremely insane for advising you to waste money on nothing? How can you do the same on earth, which you will soon leave? Yes, you say, I will leave everything to the children. But they too will leave soon after you, and often before you; in the same way - and their descendants. Thus, this also becomes a cause for grief for you when you do not see heirs after you. But there is no need to fear anything of the kind; there the gain remains constant for you, and for your children, and for your grandchildren, if they imitate the same virtue. Christ himself is in charge of that building; the one who builds it does not need to provide overseers, nor care, nor worry. When God takes over the matter, why bother? He Himself collects everything and erects a dwelling. And not only is this amazing, but also the fact that He creates it as you like, or even better than as you like and as you desire, because He is the best artist and is very concerned about your benefits. Even if you were a beggar and wanted to create such a house, it will not give rise to envy against you, it will not arouse slander, because none of those who are familiar with envy sees it, but the angels who only know how to rejoice at your well-being see it. No one will invade the borders of your house, because there is not a single neighbor there who suffers from such a disease. Your neighbors there will be the saints, Peter and Paul, all the prophets, martyrs, a host of angels and archangels. For the sake of all this, let us distribute our property to the poor in order to inherit those abodes, of which may we all be worthy by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: