Jesus found the man who the Pharisees threw out of the synagogue and preaches on spiritual blindness. Some of the Pharisees heard this lesson and begin to wonder if they are blind too for they cannot seem to understand that Jesus is the Son of Man.
John 9:35-41Thoughts about serving others
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This is a short and yet rather complex passage. Jesus hears the commotion about the man being tossed out of the synagogue and finds him. John doesn’t say that Jesus went looking for him, though it seems to be implied. I suspect the man who was born blind had exceptional hearing and could distinguish voices quite well.
Now face to face with Jesus he is eager to hear what Jesus has to say. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Do you believe in the Messiah? The long awaited one to come? This man had just explained to the Pharisees that Jesus was a prophet, that he must be from God, now he is back in the presence of Jesus and has the chance of a lifetime, “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so I may believe in him.”
Jesus explains that he is indeed the Son of Man, he is the Messiah. He proclaims this truth in the presence of others, though perhaps not standing on the table and shouting, even some Pharisees overheard. In my mind, there were some of the Pharisees that heard the testimony and were interested to learn more, to find out who Jesus was. Now they’ve heard the words; now they have to decide for themselves.
One of the major themes in the New Testament is the high standard required for those who step up to leadership in the church, especially those who teach the Gospel. The Pharisees were greatly respected by the people and expected to uphold the highest standards. As a group they were leading the Jews down the wrong path–Jesus constantly tries to rectify that problem.
The Pharisees cannot see that they cannot see. They are spiritually blind and they have no idea. No one in the community would dare speak these words to them. They have no accountability partners outside of their tightly closed society. No checks and balances. Jesus pierces through this veil and confronts them on many occasions. Here we are again. “Your guilt remains.”
Jesus doesn’t beg them to believe, he simply lays the truth out before them. In the scene we see a man who was born blind restored and worshiping Jesus openly and without reservation while the Pharisees scratch their heads. Lord forgive us when we mount our high horses of self-proclaimed wisdom. Keep us humble and heal our blindness.