Part 16d – John 9
Seeing Jesus (4)
We see that the blind man’s parents weren’t prepared to give much support because they were so fearful of being thrown out of the synagogue they abdicated and just said “we know he is our son and he was born blind, but for how he now sees, we don’t know, ask him he is of age.” John 9:20-22. When it comes to standing on the truth of knowing the risen Christ there are times when we will have to count the cost, this man’s parents were just not prepared to do that.
We read later on that the man himself was prepared to count the cost and categorically defends “the man”, “the prophet” and declares to the religious leaders that once I was blind now I see and he even goes as far as rebuking them for not knowing where Jesus is from, he concludes that after all they are the religious ones, they know the scriptures and yet they failed to see that unless Jesus was indeed God in man then there was no way he could have performed this miracle. The final straw was when he asks if they want to be his (Jesus) disciples and after a few more exchanges of words they throw him out of the place of worship. This man was prepared to take this stance because of his encounter with Jesus, an encounter that had radically changed his life.
As I pointed out earlier it is possible to encounter Jesus and yet not know him. In John 9:25 we find that, upon further questions, the man clarifies that he does not know if the man who healed him is a sinner (not sure how he would know that or even how the Pharisees knew that), presumably they came to that conclusion because Jesus had continually made them feel uncomfortable and had continued to engage with people whereas the Pharisees had tried to manipulate and enforce some kind of power and fear over the people and their spiritual destiny. Interestingly what the man says is “one thing I know, I was blind and now I can see”. Spiritually, of course, that is all we need to know, “once I was blind but now I see” and when I see through God’s eyes, through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit, then everything else becomes insignificant compared to the freedom and ability we have in knowing Jesus.
As we read on we find that this man becomes bolder in his response to the questions, he is able to give unequivocal answers about his healing. In exactly the same way we will be able to be bold and give unequivocal answers to those who try to demean or dissuade us that spirituality and belief in Jesus as God’s Son is futile. It may cost us as it cost this man when they threw him out of the synagogue and out of worship.
The concluding part to this great chapter is that Jesus heard that the man had been “cast out” and in John 9:35 we read “…and when He found him”, he asked him if he believed in the Son of God. The man had enough about him to respond with the words “who is he Lord that I might believe on him” (this word on, in the original Greek is the word eis which means into) so what he is saying is “that I might believe into Him”. Jesus responds in John 9:37 “you have both seen him and it is he that talks with you now”. The man’s only response was “Lord I believe” and he worshipped Jesus. What is our response when Jesus opens our eyes? Is it one of thanks but no thanks or is it one of declaring the truth of Christ and standing on the promise of salvation in order that we may enter into all that God has for us, all that He purposed at the outset of creation. Remember we are alive in order that the works of God should be made manifest in us. We are here for God’s glory not our own. It is time that we recognise that there is so much more to life in Christ and life lived by and in the Spirit. Let’s not be like the Pharisees in this passage who, after experiencing the miracle of restored sight, ask the question “are we blind also?” and by inference they remained in ignorance of sin. It is only by recognising our blindness and our need and by falling prostrate at the feet of Jesus and declaring “Lord I believe”, that we really become free and complete to live a life that makes a difference.
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