GREAT INSIGHT FROM A BLIND MAN
John 9:25, 30-34 NKJV
25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.
Maybe a better title would have been 'Insight from a Formerly Blind Man.' This entire ninth chapter is about the man born blind that Jesus healed. I am looking forward to seeing this guy in heaven. For a man born blind, who spent most of his life begging, he was sharp and pretty salty. And I mean that in a good way.
The man's (we never learn his name) answer in verse twenty-five was classic. The Pharisees had accused Jesus of being a sinner and told the healed man to give God the glory. The man gave a great answer. "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." I just love that answer. I believe that answer gives us a pattern when people ask us to explain things in the scriptures that we do not know. People ask things like, "What about dinosaurs? Why did God instruct Israel to wipe certain people out? And if God is so good, then why…?" Our answer can be like the blind man's. I don't know about all that, but one thing I do know, I had no peace in my life, and now I do. I was sick in my body, and now I am healed. My marriage was heading for disaster, and now it is blessed. My family was at each other's throats, and now there is peace. I was depressed, but now I am free. Whatever God has done for you since receiving Christ as Savior is the best answer to the questions we don't have answers for. Thank you, formerly blind man!
The man's response to the Pharisees is really good doctrine, good teaching. Verses thirty through thirty-three are great. Once again, the Pharisees were attempting to discredit Jesus. Not a smart move with a man who had been born blind and was now seeing clearly. The man states that God hears those who worship Him and do His will. Yep, that's right. And no one has opened the eyes of a person born blind. Right again. "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." Bingo! This man nailed it. And here he was a man who was not allowed into the temple. A man ostracized by the religious culture of that day, accusing him or his parents for his blindness. Yet in the middle of this put down and after years of being demeaned by these very Pharisees, this man stands up to them and declares the truth. Talk about speaking truth to power, this formerly blind man is the poster child for that. And the Pharisees threw him out of the synagogue. My guess is that the man was not that bothered by being thrown out. He had never been allowed in.
Reading the rest of the chapter, Jesus finds the man after hearing he had been kicked out of the synagogue. Which, in essence, is being shunned by Jewish society. Jesus then revealed Himself as the Son of God, something He did not often do. The man immediately responds by professing his belief in Jesus and worshipping Him. You've got to love this guy! Such a great heart.
APPLICATION
This chapter makes me think that it's too easy to judge a book by its cover. John devotes an entire chapter to this blind man. Who would have thought the man had so much going on spiritually.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to be quick to believe. Quick to worship and bold to confess what You have done for me!