John 9:32-41 Blind Faith or Just Blind?

John 9:32-41 Blind Faith or Just Blind?

"Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything like this. They retorted, You were wholly born in sin [from head to foot]; and do you [presume to] teach us? So they cast him out [threw him clear outside the synagogue]."

"Jesus heard that they had put him out, and meeting him He said, Do you believe in and adhere to the Son of Man or the Son of God? He answered, Who is He, Sir? Tell me, that I may believe in and adhere to Him. Jesus said to him, You have seen Him; [in fact] He is talking to you right now. He called out, Lord, I believe! [I rely on, I trust, I cleave to You!] And he worshiped Him."

"Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be separation between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind. Some Pharisees who were near, hearing this remark, said to Him, Are we also blind? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. [If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see clearly, you are unable to escape your guilt.]"

I have to make a comment "ex silencio" or out of the silence...actually I believe it is not mentioned because it is understood. I see that the Bible never mentions that the blind man saw Jesus after washing until Jesus confronts Him in verse 35. The 'blind faith' of this man is what shows the confidence that this man placed in Jesus. It was this simple step that changed this man's life forever. Something that of course seemed so trivial... Just go and wash your face. Such a simple act of faith. It is much like when we obey through repentance... You mean that's all I have to do? To confess and believe? I have heard a lot of controversy about praying a simple prayer of repentance; however, what else do you think that Jesus would require if He were here? He spat in the dirt and put mud on this man's eyes and then told him to go and wash it off, I'm quite sure that He can accept a simple prayer of repentance and confession as an act of true faith and confidence!

The next step that the blind man took was to stand up and testify of the power of Christ. This man, quite literally, never met Christ. (Yes, he heard His voice and felt His presence, yet he never actually saw Who Jesus was. I guess his faith, really did come by hearing?!?) He was challenged by the Jewish authorities about what had actually transpired that caused him to regain his sight. His testimony was even doubted and he was accused or rather condemned and reminded that he was nothing but a sinner. All of this sounds remotely familiar. This sounds like what Satan loves to remind me of! It sounds like the battle that so many new believers go through during the early stages of their conversion. Doubt, accusation and condemnation... All familiar tactics for new believers who have placed their full faith and confidence in Jesus Christ! Never the less, the blind man stood up and professed the power of Jesus in his life... He even pushed back on the Jewish authorities and asked them why they would doubt that this man had the power to do what He did.

Just like in my own life, Jesus continued to reveal Himself to the blind man. After the blind man stood up and professed what Jesus had done in His life and was reviled by the Pharisees, Jesus came and revealed Himself to the blind man. This is where our passage actually picks up. The blind man's understanding was fully developed and Jesus became very real to him. His natural response was to worship Jesus! He affirmed his faith in Christ and worshipped Him.

The passage then changes to the Pharisees. Here I see a little tension. Blindness during that day was attributed to sin or sinning. Just like the disciples asked at the beginning of the chapter... In effect, "Who sinned to cause God to blind this man?" Jesus sees the unbelief of the Pharisees and establishes that they are the real sinners in this situation because they refused to acknowledge The power of Jesus. Jesus speaks to them on terms that they would understand to mean sinfulness... He called them blind. Because they think that they are in the right, but are actually not believing... They are sinners. Because they think they can see, they are actually blind! That's bold! True, but bold!

There are so many out there who believe they are in the right... That they can "see", but in fact they are wrong... They are blind. My heart cries out for those people. I know that I sat in a pew for a long time as a religious type just like the Pharisees. I thought I knew, but I never really placed my full faith and confidence in Jesus Christ. I was a "cultural Christian" at best. I'm not sure that I would have even stood up with as much boldness as the blind man did. I'm not really sure that I had exhibited as much blind faith as the blind man had.

My prayer today is that I can have as much faith as the blind man did... That I too will boldly stand up for the works of Christ in my life. My hope is that just like with the blind man, that Jesus will continue to reveal Himself to me and show up to augment my faith after the trials of life are complete. My concern is that if I have areas of my life where I am a Pharisee... Where I claim to see, but am actually blind... That the Holy Spirit will reveal those deficiencies to me and that I will be humble enough to amend my blindness so that I can actually see.

Created 12 months ago