True Vision and True Blindness

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 9:24-41

 

John 9:39

And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

(NKJV)

 

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that true worshippers of God worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Worship of truth without spirit may have correct theology academically but lacks the empowerment of the Spirit of God for its application in our lives (Acts 1:4, 8). However, worship in spirit without truth can become emotionalism and feeling instead of faith-based worship, deviating from biblical truth. There are times when one worshipping God is caught up in the emotion of God’s deep love for them, based upon what Jesus did for them on the cross, and restoring their relationship with God, severed by sin. This is a balance in the worship of God in Spirit and Truth.

 

The Pharisees call in the man healed from blindness and demand he give glory to God for the miracle because they know Jesus is a sinner (John 9:24). The man responds by saying he does not know if Jesus is a sinner, but does know that he was once blind and now he can see (John 9:25). This is not the answer the Pharisees were seeking so they ask the man once again what Jesus did to him and how He opened his eyes (John 9:26). Frustrated at the Pharisees asking the same question again, the man responds by saying he had already told them, but they do not listen. The man then asks the Pharisees if they want to become disciples of Christ (John 9:27).

 

The man’s response causes the Pharisees to revile him, telling him he is a disciple of Jesus, but they are disciples of Moses. They tell the man that God spoke to Moses, but they do not know where Jesus is from (John 9:28-29). The man wonders why the Pharisees are focused on wanting to know where Jesus is from when an unheard-of miracle of one born blind healed of his blindness has occurred (John 9:30-32). The man tells the Pharisees that if Jesus were not from God, He could do nothing (John 9:33). Not liking the answer given by the man, the Pharisees cast him out of the synagogue (John 9:34).

 

Jesus finds the man who has been cast out and asks him if he believes in the Son of God (John 9:35). The man asks Jesus who the Son of God is so he can worship Him, and Jesus tells him He is the Son of God (John 9:36-37). The man healed of blindness confesses he believes and worships Jesus (John 9:38). Not only has this man received healing from physical blindness, but he has also experienced the restoration of his spiritual vision.

 

Referring to spiritual vision, Jesus says He has come to the world for judgment so those who do not see may see with those that see becoming blind (John 9:39). Understanding that Jesus was speaking of their spiritual blindness, the Pharisees ask Jesus if they are also blind (John 9:40). Jesus tells the Pharisees that if they were blind or had no knowledge of God, they would have no sin. Still, since they claim to know all and see, their sin remains (John 9:41). The sin of the Pharisees is having knowledge of scripture that should point to Jesus as Messiah and not seeing it.

 

The people have witnessed an unheard-of miracle performed by Jesus, and the Pharisees are threatened. To save face and maintain their hold over the people, the Pharisees must refute the man’s testimony about what happened by grilling the man. Their incessant grilling is useless, with the man telling them that if Jesus were not of God, he could do nothing. The Pharisees end up excommunicating the man from the synagogue (John 9:34).  However, this is not the end of the story because Jesus seeks the man out and asks if he believes in the Son of God. The man asks Jesus to let him know who the Son of God is, and Jesus tells him it is Him. The man confesses his belief and worships Jesus, having his spiritual eyes now opened (John 9:35-38). Jesus came to open the eyes of those spiritually blind, with those who should have true spiritual vision, and recognize who Jesus is, being spiritually blind. This is the sin of the Pharisees, who have seen prophesies regarding the Messiah fulfilled in Jesus and yet remain blind to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.

 

Like the Pharisees, the Church must not become so caught up in its traditions and become blind to God working in its midst. Like the Pharisees who were trapped in their Sabbath traditions and blind to a miracle of a man born blind receiving his sight, we must not be blind to one coming to know Jesus as savior in a non-traditional manner. Suppose a gay or transgender person comes to one of our services and, after hearing the message from the Word of God, has conviction in his or her heart and accepts Jesus as their savior. Would we be like the Pharisees and grill the person about their conversion out of fear that they might promote wokeness in the Church or pray with them and encourage them to abandon their sinful lifestyle? The Great Commission commanded the Church to take the Gospel message to the nations and make disciples, which would include those caught up in today’s woke culture. I pray the Church remembers Jesus does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief like the man born blind, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.