AM April 23rd John 9

April 23^rd

The seeing man questioned

13: They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14: And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15: Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16: Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17: They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18: But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19: And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20: His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22: These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23: Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24: Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25: He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26: Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27: He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28: Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. 29: We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30: The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31: Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32: Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33: If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

The Lord teaches – Blindness

34: They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36: He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37: And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38: And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39: And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40: And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41: Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

This is the inquisition of the blind man. The religious leaders, the Pharisees, ask him how Jesus did the miracle. However they discount the miracle because of a side issue. It was the Sabbath day when Christ did this miracle. They assumed that this miracle was ‘work’. However, other people said how can this man have sinned when he cured the blind man because God was in him working? They asked the blind man again. What do you say about this Jesus? His answer was simple and powerful. He is prophet, he said. Next they doubted that he had been born blind. They were trying to find a way to discredit the miracle so that they would not have to accept it. So they called his parents and they asked first is this your son that was born blind and how does he now see? They answered they knew that this is definitely their son and they know that he was born blind by they didn’t know how he was cured. Why don’t you ask him? They were afraid of the Jews because it had already been agreed that if anyone confessed Jesus as the Christ he would be thrown out of the Synagogue. So they called the man again and said, give praise to God because we know this man is a sinner. The answer they received is classic. Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know but one thing I know, I was blind, but now I see. They asked him again how did he do it. He said l have told you already but you did not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become a disciple of Jesus too? They were incensed. They cursed him and said you are his disciple but we are disciples of Moses. As for Jesus we don’t know where he has come from. The answer the man then gave is devastating into its logic and clarity. Well this is a marvellous thing that you do not know where he is from, and yet he has opened mine eyes. Now we know that God does not listen to sinners: but if any man is a true worshipper of God, and does his will, him he hears. Since the world began was it has never been heard that any man has opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man Jesus were not from God, he could do nothing. They were furious with him. They said you were altogether born in sin and you think you can teach us! And they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out he found him and said to him do you believe on the Son of God. He said who is he Lord so that l can believe on him? Jesus replied you have SEEN him. And he (the Son of God) is speaking to you now. He replied, Lord, I believe. Bowed down to the ground before Jesus and worshipped him. Then Jesus said something very interesting. He said, I am come into this world to bring judgment. In other words Christ’s presence divides men. So that those who are blind not might see and they which see might be made blind. Now this was heard by a few Pharisees and they said, Are we blind also? Jesus replied to them If you were blind, then you would not be sinning but now because you say We can see, therefore your sin remains. Deliberate refusal to recognise Jesus as the Messiah in the Miracles which he did is a great sin and it makes those who refuse to see - blind.

• How did the blind man answer those who questioned him?
• What did the parents of this man think?
• How blind were the religious leaders?