Saturday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time

John 9:1-41

So That Those Who See May Become Blind

We have here the moving account of Jesus healing a blind man, that man’s declaration of who Jesus must be as a result, and the persecution he endured for that declaration.  Jesus heals the man because, as he said, “I am the light of the world,” reminding us once again that Jesus’ healings, though they met human need, were first and foremost signs testifying to who he was, and is.  Using his own saliva and dirt (reminding us of where we come from), he “anoints” the man’s eyes and tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  I suppose it was nearby or else someone led him there, but anyway, he does so – and suddenly, he sees.

The main part of the passage concerns the reaction of “the Jews” (that is, the religious leaders) to this man’s healing.  And they can’t figure it out.  It is obvious that they don’t want to admit that Jesus did this.  They ask the man how it came about; then they interrogate his parents.  Is this your son?  Was he really born blind?  How then does he see?  The leaders seem desperate to prove that it was all some kind of hoax.  Finally, they approach the (formerly blind) man again.  More than anything else, they seem interested in what he has to say about Jesus – which is really their only concern.  That this man has just experienced the wonder of recovering his sight is completely lost on them.  They could care less!  But what really sends them over the edge is when this man, who was “born in utter sin” (as if they weren’t), gives them a theology lesson about what this sign must mean about the man who performed it.  That was too much!

And so the irony of all of this is that this man, who only moments before was blind, is the one who sees, and these religious leaders, who could quote Moses backwards and forwards, are the ones who are blind.  And the climax is when Jesus says, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”  (Jesus said he did not come to judge in 8:15; yet, his very presence is, in itself, an unavoidable judgment on those around him.)  These scribes and Pharisees were sure they saw all things clearly, but without Christ no one does, while the “ignorant” people did see matters clearly, because they saw Christ.  Now this is not an argument for ignorance, nor is it an argument that all religious leaders are blind, hypocritical fools.  But it is a lesson that we should be humble with what we know, and always be willing to listen with discernment.  Not everything is of the devil; but that doesn’t make it of the Lord, either.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor

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