Eyes to See John 9:1-41
We are studying “prejudice” as it reveals itself among the Jews and Pharisees in John 9.
PREJUDICE CAUSES BLINDNESS – 9:13-17:
For the first time in the text, we have the religious leaders, the Pharisees, appear on the scene. Please note the statement about the Sabbath day that John brings up twice (vss 14, 16). That is at the heart of the Pharisee’s criticism of Jesus. Not the teaching Jesus gave. Not the fact that Jesus healed the man. It’s because He violated the Sabbath Law, in their eyes.
You and I deal with religious prejudice. People don’t accept faith in God because they are prejudice against Him. Despite the fact that no one can give a logical argument that concludes: “Therefore I know that the God of the Bible does not exist.”
People don’t accept our conviction that Jesus is the Savior, that He is God in the flesh. Despite the fact that no one can give a logical argument that concludes: “Therefore I know that Jesus is not God in the flesh.”
People don’t accept our conviction that the Bible is the Word of God in human language. Despite the fact that no one can give a logical argument that concludes: “Therefore I know that the Bible is a document written solely by human beings.”
When it comes to religious prejudice, logic is not the motivation. Emotions are. As with the Pharisees…
CONVICTION BRINGS PERSECUTION – 9:18-34:
The heat is first directed at the man’s parents, then to the man himself.
The parents are brought into the discussion – 9:18-23. That’s what happens with prejudice. It leads to persecution. They were trying to be tactful and save themselves some headache but their reasoning – “We can’t say or they’ll excommunicate us” – shows that they had heard if not believed that it was Jesus who healed their son. There is no end to the intimidation that people will do in order to shut the mouths of believers. It worked with this man’s parents; let’s make sure it doesn’t work with us.
Then, the Pharisees turn back to the man himself and unleash their prejudicial wrath on him – 9:24-34. While this “excommunication” did not really mean much spiritually, it was social ostracism. Yet, the man who personally experienced Jesus has more courage than his parents who only had contact with Jesus (on this occasion at least) indirectly through their son. But this is a tremendous example of courage and conviction!
What we have illustrated here in this miracle is this argument about Jesus:
- No one can do miracles unless God is with Him.
- Jesus performed miracles.
- Therefore, God is with Him.
- The corollary truth to #3 is that whatever Jesus teaches is from God!
TRUTH LEADS TO INSIGHT – 9:35-41:
Throughout this whole interaction, we have seen contrasted the “sight” (understanding) of the blind man and the “blindness” (willful ignorance) of the Pharisees. We have one of the key words of the Gospel of John pop up here in this brief paragraph and conclusion to the text: believe.
The coming of Jesus into the world has the effect that it makes people blind to be able to see and those who think they can see (such as the Pharisees) to become blind in ignorance and their own prejudice.
We need to have the integrity and the honesty to pursue Truth, listen to Truth, and obey Truth. Jesus Christ is the Truth who will set us free.
Paul Holland