Encountering Jesus ~ "Cock-a-d00dle-d00!" they crowed.

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” (John 9.24)

"Give glory to God by telling the truth!"

I can almost hear those Pharisees shouting, threatening, crowing... 

Can't you? 

The word translated summoned in the very first verse of this section is THE. EXACT. SAME. VERB. used to describe the sound a rooster makes first thing in the morning. Although it is never just first thing in the morning. If you've ever been around a rooster much, you'll know that they actually are prone to crow at just about any time. 

Ever wonder why?

Roosters crow because they hear other roosters crowing, to show that a certain place in the barnyard is their turf, to try and assert their authority over another rooster, or even to gloat when a hen cackles after laying an egg. Joe Faust, the Accidental Farmer (JoeCliffordFaust.com/chickens), says, “I think the general rule for this is that a rooster crows any time it ...feels the need. (http://www.grit.com/departments/secret-of-the-roosters-crow.aspx)

I find that explanation rather amusing as I think about it in relation to this verse. 

Ever notice how there's never just one Pharisee at a time confronting Jesus... only Nicodemus? He was one of the few Pharisees who walked away changed.  The Pharisees tended to gang up and make a joint assault any time they accosted the Lord.

In this scene, were the Pharisees:

• "crowing" because they were proclaiming that that place, that time, was their turf? How like the rooster crowing at the farmer, insisting that the barnyard is his turf while the farmer owns miles of farmland all around and including that tiny spot.
• "crowing because they were asserting their authority as the well-known and longstanding religious authorities over an upstart young rabbi who was rapidly rising to prominence in their community?
• "crowing" because because they saw what Jesus did as a threat to their position or as an insult to their pride, just as a cock might do after a hen cackles in triumph? Keep in mind that He had just performed a mighty miracle. He healed a man born blind so that the works of the Almighty God would be displayed. 

What sort of "thing" other than "crow" could those Pharisees do to draw attention away from that beautiful, gloriously-just-like-Jesus "thing?"

It creates quite a funny picture in my mind... mentally watching this scene play out while substituting in my head a bunch of roosters for those Pharisees. There they are, crowing at the blind man as they desperately grasp, seeking to re-establish their dominance and leadership and unquestionable authority in their little domain... and blind to the fact that they were fighting against the very one who had created them, gives them every moment of life, sustains them, reveals Himself to them.

But after a few moments of reflection, it is no longer funny.

Those Pharisees are really a sad sight.

If only they would have simply stopped preening and strutting and crowing just long enough to really listen, really see...

...and change.

Lord, please show me where I'm acting just as those Pharisees in this passage: 

silly, stupid, smug and supercilious, 

loud-mouthed and most often annoying, 

nothing more than simple birds...

Make plain the Pharisee in me.

Any of you praying that prayer with me?

this week's gratitude list

(#'s 4627 - 4657)
Daddy is recovering at home, but he is home from the hospital

Getting to visit with him this past weekend

birthday party with the "new" cousins

girls in driver's ed

teens filling out lots of job applications

a beautiful few days of rustic camping up on the tip of the Leelanau, right on Lake Michigan

new, thick sleeping bags

two tents for these growing bodies

piles of clothing and sleeping bags that smell like a campfire

wandering through the Grand Traverse Light - reading the history, looking at all the pictures

kiddos catching tadpoles... or "catapults" if you're M&M

big, beautiful garter snakes

Conrad the parrot-y type bird

continuing to volunteer at the ARK each week - and watching my biggers enjoy it

a big project checked off the to-do list

brand new dryer

brand new dehumidifier for the basement

a new partner on our financial support team

and the potential for another church, too!

a new job opportunity

growing herb garden (including lavender and sage!)

fresh peas off the vine

60¢ off each gallon - gas coupon

blueberry-mint lemonade

blackberry bushes starting to grow in the back yard

daddy-daughter day all day, just the two of them with a few other friends

quaint fishing villages along Lake Michigan

fireworks with new friends

actually not driving anywhere far away for a whole week

looking forward to a visit later this week from a really great guy! (and wishing he'd be able to bring his whole family with him)

mosquitoes... seriously! Although, you may have to follow the link to find out why!

  Ten most recent posts in this series: 

• Wondering at Gracious Words
• Made to stand before...
• His Traumatic Love
• Believed isn't always the same as believing
• Why?
• Why? (Part 2)
• Divine Makeovers
• Muddy Spittle Grace
• ~ when parents fear men ~ 

Click here for all of the titles and their corresponding links in the Encountering Jesus series.