Let's move on a bit more into the area of judging and new life.
Jesus' final comment, "For judgment I came into the world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind," is his assessment of the whole story (that of the blind man). In the first place Jesus has carried out no active judgment at all. The only judgment related in the story has been that of the Pharisees, casting the man out. This is part of the ironic Johannine recasting of judgment: it is by being crucified that Jesus is the real judge of his judges. So because Jesus is the cause of the former blind man's expulsion, the former blind man shares Jesus' role as judge of those who have expelled him. It is not that Jesus simply abolishes the notion of judgment or is merely much more of a judge than the other judges: the sense in which Jesus is a judge is a subversion from within of the notion of judgment. The judgment that excluded the former blind man is revealed as the judgment (also discernment) that the expellers are really blind.
Once again, I don't plan to move off of this piece from "The Joy of Being Wrong" for a least a few days. When we judge. When we judge because we have come to the understanding that we are right and the ones we are judging are wrong - the world never moves beyond judgment. We leave ourselves in a circle of judgment - never ending - always repeating itself - not movement into a new world - the same-old, same-old. So, does Jesus come into the world to put this 'judgment' stuff to an end? Is it as if he is saying, "I've come to put an end to this world crashing, life breaking, division creating judgment that cannot and will not be able to bring people into the living Reign of God's love."? Unfortunately, there are always victims within the process of judging. There are always reasons for casting people out and putting people up high. Usually we paint those reasons with pious and holy words and images that make those who judge feel real good about what has been judged like this and like that. It is quite important to note that -as Alison writes- Jesus has carried out not active judgment at all. That is worth comment tomorrow.
Connection: I'm always thinking that my judgments are good ones. It doesn't matter what the arena might be - I find myself to be a good judge. Ha! The lie of lies and the hoax that kills. And yet - there I will go again and try to put everyone in a place - their place. It is so ugly - it is funny in a sick way. And yet, onward. Ahhhhh!
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