Category: The Gospel of John

“If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” (John 9:33-41).

It has been quite a journey for a man who was born blind and now is able to see. The Apostle John records in John 9 a passage which began with a question about the relationship between suffering and sin, Jesus healing of the man resulting in the man testifying of the miracle and eventually defending Jesus as the One, True Messiah before the religious hypocrites of the day.

One thing remains: and this is for the man who now can see to meet the One who not only gave him physical sight but who alone provides spiritual sight to those blinded by their sin.

Following his defense of Jesus, the Pharisees condemn the man and cast him out of the synagogue. They socially and religiously purge themselves of this one who has so boldly spoke in defense of Jesus Christ. One commentator explains that, “despite the proper Jewish argument he gave in 9:31–33, the authorities expel this man on the premise that he was born in sin—which the reader knows to be false (9:2–3). How formal excommunications were in this period is unclear, but he is certainly expelled from participating in the local center of religious life.”

However, the man will come to worship the One, True God in spirit and in truth. Jesus, after hearing that the Pharisees had excommunicated him, seeks out the man born blind and upon finding him asks “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” This Messianic title was Jesus’ most frequent self-designation and refers us to Daniel 7.

The man responds, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” The man is not simply stating about acknowledging the existence of the Son of Man, but rather wants to commit, depend, trust and worship. Jesus says, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.” The man’s healing is now complete. He can see both physically and spiritually. He is a man who can see both with his eyes and with his soul. The blindness which dominated his life has vanished.

However, contrast this with the blindness which conspicuously remains in the Pharisees. The irony is that those who profess to see most clearly are those who are blind most severely and completely.

The text concludes, “Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Dr. John MacArthur states, “Not that his (Jesus’) purpose was to condemn, but rather to save (12:47; Luke 19:10); saving some, nevertheless, involves condemning others (see notes on John 3:16, 18). The last part of this verse is taken from Isaiah 6:10; 42:19 (cf. Mark 4:12).Those who do not see refers to those who know they are in spiritual darkness while the statement “those who see” ironically refers to those who think they are in the light, but are not (cf. Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31).”

Pastor Burk Parsons explains, “We see, then, an ironic contrast between two groups of people. Some people are born blind and know they are blind. Jesus is quite willing to open the eyes of these individuals, not merely physically, but spiritually, so that they may see and believe. The man born blind represents these individuals. Others, however, think that they can see, not only physically but spiritually. The Pharisees, who are actually blind to the things of God, represent this second group. Jesus came into the world for judgment, to give sight to the blind and to show how blind are those who trust in themselves spiritually. This is not at odds with His purpose to bring salvation (3:17) but is its secondary and necessary result. Condemnation attends salvation—those who reject the dazzling light of Jesus as He is offered in the gospel are blinded to the things of God by His glory. John Calvin comments, “Since Christ is, by his own nature, the light of the world (John 8:12), it is an accidental result, that some are made blind by his coming.”

There is an old English proverb attributed in 1546 to a John Heywood which says, “There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See.” It resembles Jeremiah 5:21 which says, “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.” The full content of Heywood’s quotation is “There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know”.

May we live today in the light of the glorious truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we live and speak as people who once were blind, but now can see.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:28-33).

John 9:28 says, “And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”

The word in the Greek for revile (λοιδορέω; loidoreo) means to abuse, to slander, and to strongly insult. Within the grammatical context, the Pharisees revile the man born blind who Jesus had healed. They did so with their entire being. They did so intellectually, emotionally and willfully. They did not do this ignorantly. Certainly, they were ignorant of who Jesus was and is, but they were not ignorant of what they were doing in speaking so insultingly to the healed man.

Part of their reviling included their condescending speech to their fellow Jew. They said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”

Dr. John MacArthur states, “At this point, the meeting degenerated into a shouting match of insults. The healed man’s wit had exposed the bias of his inquisitors. As far as the authorities were concerned, the conflict between Jesus and Moses was irreconcilable. If the healed man defended Jesus, then such defense could only mean that he was Jesus’ disciple.”

Therefore, if the former blind man was Jesus’ disciple he was not worthy, in the Pharisees estimation, of either their time or attention. He was to be shunned and attacked as they endeavored to shun and attack Jesus.

However, the now physically seeing man displays an even greater sight and vision of soul. He displays an understanding of biblical truth and consistent logic which the religious leaders, for all of their ostentatious and outward display of religious righteousness, cannot begin to fathom. He says, ““Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

The nameless man echoes the words of the Pharisee Nicodemas from John 3. “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:1-2).

One commentator explains that, “Miracles were not unknown to first-century Jews, for they had the Old Testament Scriptures to tell them about the wonders associated with the work of prophets such as Moses, Elijah, and Elisha (for example, Ex. 14; 1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 6:1–7). So, the simple fact that Jesus performed miracles did not in itself distinguish Him from others who came before Him. What did set Him apart was the kind of miracles He did. First and foremost, our Lord’s exorcisms distinguished Him from other prophets, for the ministry of Jesus was characterized by supernatural conflict: the kingdom of God was manifest as He cast out demons (Luke 11:20). But our Lord’s healing of the blind man also set Him apart, for there are very few instances of blind people receiving their sight in the Old Testament. Moreover, the healing of the blind was prophesied as a sign of the messianic age (Isa. 42:1–9). So, Jesus’ opening of the eyes of the blind was a proof of His messianic office.”

“That seems to be at least one reason why, in today’s passage, the man born blind insists that Jesus has been sent by God (John 9:32–33). Before Jesus came, some people who became blind during their lives were healed, but no one who had been born blind received sight. Thus, His healing of the man born blind proves His divine authority and points to His messianic anointing. The man may not have fully understood Jesus’ identity when he was first healed, but he knows enough that the miracle he experienced means that Jesus cannot be an emissary of Satan. God would by no means answer the prayers of Jesus and give Him such re-creative power if He were the devil’s servant (v. 31).”

Do not be intimidated by people who present themselves as super-spiritual. They may outwardly appear to have it all together, like the Pharisees, but rather consider the conduct of their lives, the attitudes of their hearts, and the speech which proceeds from their mouths.

I Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

You may have been, or will be, insulted for the name of Jesus Christ. Like the man born blind, do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling. Rather, bless that you may obtain a blessing from God.

Soli deo Gloria!  

 

“So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” (John 9:24-27).

Oh the obstinacy of unbelief! Obstinacy means stubbornness, determination, wrongheadedness, pigheadedness and/or inflexibility. It is the unwillingness to accept or believe what is real and true but rather to accept or believe what is a lie.

The obstinacy of unbelief is illustrated in John 9 by the Pharisees who refuse to accept and believe Jesus is the Messiah following His healing of the man born blind. They refuse to accept the cause and effect circumstances which are plainly before them. A man born blind is now to able see. That is indisputable.

What is at issue is whether Jesus, who healed him, was wrong in doing so because He performed this miracle on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, rather than give glory to God and accept and believe Jesus is the One, True God they should give glory to, refuse to do so.

Why? It is because Jesus does not fit their cause and effect philosophy within their legalistic works righteousness religion. For you see, Jesus healed the man born blind on the Sabbath. The Pharisees considered this act of healing, done on the Sabbath, as a breach of their long held tradition of ceasing from any activity on the Sabbath. Their misinterpretation of God’s Word would not allow them to either accept Jesus as God or rejoice in what He had done.

Compare this to the man born blind’s growing acceptance and faith in not only what Jesus had done but also Who He is. In response to the Pharisees accusation that Jesus is a sinner, the man replies, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

The Pharisees once again interrogate the man hoping to find some inconsistency in his testimony of how Jesus healed him. They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

The man consistently continues to give these people the same facts and concludes with a subtle criticism of their obstinacy of unbelief. He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

Hardly! They do not want to follow Jesus. These religious leaders want to do whatever they can to kill Jesus (John 5:16). They do not want to praise Him for He exposes before them their obstinacy of unbelief in the One, True God in spite of the superficial religiosity. Rather, they follow their father, the devil (John 8:42-45).

What about the occasions when we perhaps have displayed our own obstinacy of unbelief? These are the times when we failed to trust, commit, depend and worship Jesus as our Lord and Savior. These are the times when we chose to dwell in the valley of doubt and despair rather than follow the Lord’s leading us through and out of the valley.

Unlike the man born blind at this point in his personal journey, who did not know whether Jesus was a sinner or not, we know Him to be the One, True God of heaven and earth along with being our Lord and Savior. May we ever trust Him as we follow Him.

Pray today for those you know who wallow in the obstinacy of unbelief. Pray that God would bring the light of the glorious truth of the Gospel and let it shine into their blind and darkened souls. Take time today to also thank and praise God for bringing sight to your blinded soul and giving you sight unto salvation.

Soli deo Gloria!

“The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” (John 9:18-23).

A young pastor once went to the grocery store in order to pick up a couple of items his wife needed for dinner. As he approached the store entrance he was met by a dear friend of both he and his wife. Following a warm greeting, the friend told the pastor of a situation in which some other acquaintances expressed a degree of fear in being involved in an activity. The activity in question was a Bible study. The leader of said Bible study was to be this young pastor.

I wondered what would propel a person to fear and resist attending a study of God’s Word by someone who’s teaching ministry they had sat under for some time. What were they afraid of, or who? The young pastor will probably never know the answer to this question. Perhaps the individuals in question won’t either.

In John 9, we do know that the man who was formerly blind had a set of parents who were still living at the time of his healing. One wonders what joy they must have felt in their son being the recipient of Jesus’ gracious and miraculous act of giving their son sight. Their son could now see!

However, instead of rejoicing they were scared. They were afraid. They were fearful.

What were they scared of? The Apostle John comments that their fear was about being put out of the synagogue for confessing Jesus was the Christ. The Pharisees made this punishment common knowledge among the common people. If anyone spoke well of Jesus, or even suggested that He might be the Messiah, they would be removed from one of the most important social and religious centers of first century Judaism: the synagogue.

So the former blind man’s parents bailed when the Pharisees asked them if their son was truly blind from birth and if so, how he could now see? They both confessed ignorance as to what happened and who was responsible. They twice told the religious leaders to ask their son since he was of legal age and could speak for himself. Their son might speak well of Jesus, but they wouldn’t.

Often people are scared, not because of what other people will do but rather what other people might do. They fear the unknown consequences. The parents of the former blind man were concerned they would be excommunicated from the synagogue if they confessed Christ. Today, people perhaps are scared they may be ostracized if they attend a Bible study.

The solution is to rest in the providential sovereignty of Almighty God. He alone is in control. We can rest in this and no longer fear what men may do to us, say about us or conspire against us.

Psalm 27:1 says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Don’t be afraid any longer my friends. The LORD, Yahweh, is our light and our salvation and deliverance. He who delivered us from the penalty of sin is also delivering us from the power of sin. This includes our fears.

Soli deo Gloria!

“They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” (John 9:13-17).

When a person tells the truth about an event in their life, or some event they have witnessed, the facts pretty much stay the same. The core truth of what occurred does not change. It is when a lie is being told that the words spoken vary and change with each passing moment.

When the Pharisees asked the man who Jesus healed what happened and how he now could see he told the same story he had shared with the common people earlier. “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

We should pay attention to the particular detail John adds to this account. The healing occurred on the Sabbath. Therefore, the Pharisees dismissed Jesus as a law breaker because He healed the man on the Sabbath. This unbelieving response is reminiscent of the Jewish religious leader’s reaction to Jesus healing the paralytic man in John 5:9-16. Their conclusion now, as then, was ““This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

However, others were not so willing to reject this miracle outright. They reasoned, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them.”

One commentator explains, “This charge of breaking the Sabbath comes from His (Jesus) not waiting until the next day to do a work of healing, but it might also be related to the tradition that kneading dough is a work that cannot be done on the Sabbath. After all, Jesus mixed saliva and dirt to make mud, which would have involved a type of “kneading” (vv. 6–7). Other Pharisees, however, doubt that Jesus really is a sinner (v. 16). Clearly, these Pharisees are not enslaved to their oral traditions but are willing to reevaluate them when new evidence presents itself.”

What follows is an interesting admission by the Pharisees who again ask the former blind man to tell them what happened. “So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” The Pharisees admit that Jesus did the miracle. They acknowledge by their own words the facts before them. What they reject is the significant meaning of the miracle, which is that Jesus is God.

What is the now seeing man’s response? He said, “He is a prophet.” Dr. John Macarthur explains, “While the blind man saw clearly that Jesus was more than a mere man, the sighted but obstinate Pharisees were spiritually blind to that truth (see v. 39). Blindness in the Bible is a metaphor for spiritual darkness, i.e., inability to discern God or his truth (2 Cor. 4:3–6; Col. 1:12–14).”

Dr. R. C. Sproul states, “Over the course of John 9, the man born blind goes from only knowing Jesus’ name to calling Him a prophet and then confessing Him as Lord (9:10, 17, 38). This progression indicates a growth in the man’s understanding and faith. We should see the same growth in ourselves. The longer we follow Jesus, the more we should know Him and the more committed we should be to Him as our Lord.”

Is your understanding and commitment to Jesus growing with each passing day, week, month and year? 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

My prayer is that this daily blog will assist you in your progress.

Soli deo Gloria!

“The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” (John 9:8-12).

How many times have you heard the old adage “seeing is believing?” The sense of the axiom is that one only has to see an event to acknowledge that it is a reality. However, this is often not the case.

Take for example the people who knew the man born blind. They saw him, perhaps each day, presumably begging at the Temple for money or alms. There was little else for a blind person to do in order to financially support themselves in this historical context (see Acts 3:1-7),

However, in spite of this obvious fact that this man was indeed the blind beggar they had seen so often, the people argued among themselves about whether this man was truly the man born blind who now could see. Here is the issue: it was not that they could not believe he had once been a blind beggar but rather that this one who had been a blind beggar could now see. There had to be some reasonable explanation as to how this man could see. One reasoning was he was not the man born blind. He only looked like him.

The former blind man continued to tell the people that he indeed was the blind beggar they had known. His testimony as to the circumstances leading to his healing is straightforward and truthful when the doubtful people asked him how we now able to see. He said, ““The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.”  The man did not even know where Jesus had gone nor what He looked life (John 9:35-37).

Dr. John MacArthur contributes some thoughtful insight regarding the circumstances surrounding the people’s reaction to what they were now seeing. “This section in the story of the healing of the blind man reveals some key characteristics of willful unbelief: 1) unbelief sets false standards; 2) unbelief always wants more evidence but never has enough; 3) unbelief does biased research on a purely subjective basis; 4) unbelief rejects the facts; and 5) unbelief is self-centered.”

I vividly recall my mom’s reaction to my testimony after I had received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I shared how He had changed my life and its direction from one of sinful rebellion to one of dedicated service to Him. This would even include becoming a pastor. She responded, “You’re not giving yourself enough credit.” You see that she had to come up with an alternative explanation for the changes which occurred in my life. She couldn’t accept that my repentance and faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ was the reason my life had changed. For her, seeing the changes in my life did not result in her believing the reason for those changes was personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As we will see later on in this text, people’s disbelief in what they knowingly see reveals their own inner blindness. It is a blindness of soul and spirit which can only be overcome by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you recall the lyrics to the southern gospel song composed by the late Hank Williams.

[Verse 1]
I wandered so aimless life filled with sin
I wouldn’t let my dear savior in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

[Verse 2]
Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

[Verse 3]
I was a fool to wander and a-stray
Straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

[Chorus]
I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

Soli deo Gloria!

n like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

 

“Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” (John 9:6-7).

I do not know if John Newton was thinking about the man born blind when he wrote those famous lyrics to the hymn Amazing Grace. But as we will see later on in this text, Jesus’ act of giving physical sight to the man born blind illustrates the giving of spiritual sight by the Holy Spirit to sinners blinded to the gospel due to having been born sinners.

Why did Jesus spit on the ground, make mud with the dirt from His saliva, anoint the man’s eyes with the mud and then tell him to go wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam? Certainly, Jesus could have simply spoken and the man would have received his sight. Much as He spoke to the storming wind and waves and they became calm (Matthew 8:23-27), Jesus could have spoken to the man’s non-functioning retinas and corneas and said, “See!”

But He didn’t. Remember, Jesus had a purpose for anything and everything He did. He didn’t waste time or effort. Dr. John MacArthur speculates that, “As he had done when he originally made human beings out of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7), Jesus may have used the clay to fashion a new pair of eyes.”

What do we know about the Pool of Siloam? The term “Siloam” is Hebrew for “Sent.” The pool of Siloam was southeast of the original city of David. Its water source was through a channel (Hezekiah’s tunnel) that carried water to it from the spring of Gihon in the Kidron Valley. It was called the “lower pool” or “old pool” mentioned in Isaiah 22:9, 11.

Water for the water-pouring rites at the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, was drawn from this pool (see John 7:37–39). Remember, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles featured water-drawing and lamp-lighting rituals to which Jesus referred to in John 8:12 when He stated, “I Am the light of the world.” How appropriate for Jesus to send the man born blind to receive his sight at the exact pool used for the Feast of the Tabernacles which illustrated that God is the light of the world. He who had lived in darkness all his life would now see light.

Imagine for a moment if you will what it must have been like for the man who had been blind since birth to suddenly see. Imagine the joy which must have filled his mind, emotions and will.

Imagine the man seeing the Sun for the first time after only feeling its heat. Imagine him seeing a rose for the first time after only feeling its thorns or smelling its fragrant aroma.

I wonder if he said, “So that’s the sky! It’s so blue! I can see blue!” Finally, imagine the man finally seeing the faces of his parents after years of only feeling their touch, hearing their voices and smelling their scents. There’s a song from the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof entitled Wonder of Wonders, Miracles of Miracles. The song’s title could certainly be applied to this fantastic event in this man’s life.

However, something even more significant was about to occur. While the reality of receiving physical sight would have been monumental, the man born blind was about to also receive spiritual sight and understanding who Jesus was and why He came. The man born blind would come to understand that Jesus came to not just to heal his dead eyes, but to also raise his dead soul. The joy of seeing Jesus would pale in comparison to the joy of believing in Jesus.

Can you identify yourself with this man? Were you once, like John Newton wrote, “blind but now you see?” For those converted by the gospel, there is nothing like the wonder of wonders and the miracle of miracles of understanding who Jesus truly is, and what a sinner becomes when they receive new life in Christ. Praise the Lord, I see the light!

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5)  

John Calvin points out three errors in presuming that difficulties are the direct result of an individual’s specific sin. Believers would be wise in observing these principles.

First, Calvin observes that people are inconsistent when it comes to trials. When we observe other people in their pain and suffering, homelessness for example, we are quick to acknowledge the judgment of God. But when we evaluate our own problems, we wink at our own sins and cannot fathom how God could ever judge us. Calvin states, “In considering punishments, every man ought to begin with himself and to spare himself as little as any other person. Wherefore, if we wish to be candid judges in this matter, let us learn to be quick in discerning our own evils rather than those of others.”

Secondly, Calvin also notes that we tend to exaggerate another person’s sin while dismissing our own as inconsequential. We turn other people’s small offenses into big crimes, and our own aggravated crimes into small offenses.

Thirdly, Calvin observes that many people equate trials with corresponding sin: such as the disciples did toward the blind man. However, while our distresses arise from the existence of sin, God sometimes afflicts His people for various other reasons. In the blind man’s case, it was to bring God glory when Jesus miraculously healed him and gave him sight.

Jesus’ healing of the man born blind was in keeping with the will of God the Father. It was the Father’s will to heal the blind man through Jesus. The purpose in doing so was to bring God glory.

As one theologian explains, “The disciples had a poor theology of sin and suffering, but unsurprisingly, Jesus does not. Blindness in this case is not a consequence of an individual’s sin but an occasion for the works of God to be manifested (v. 3). The man’s blindness will create an opportunity for healing that will reveal the goodness of God and the identity of Jesus.

When Jesus said to His disciples, “night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” He was not saying that He would cease to be the light of the world when He left the world at His ascension. Rather, He meant that the light of His holy nature shone most brightly among men when he was on the earth doing the Father’s will (cf. 8:12). The phrase, “night is coming” may specifically refer to the period immediately prior to and during the crucifixion (John 1:4-5; I John 1:5-7).

There is a two-fold significance in Jesus’ statement that He is the light of the world. As Dr. John MacArthur explains, “Not only was Jesus spiritually the light of the world, but he would also provide the means of physical light for this blind man.”

One pastor explains that, “Nothing is more important than to do the works of the Lord. Jesus is particularly conscious of this, knowing that the time is short for doing these works, for He will not always be in the world (vv. 4–5). Here our Savior is not speaking absolutely, for after departing the world He will be present by His Spirit to empower His people to do the works of God (Acts 1:8). Rather, He is speaking of the coming ordeal of His crucifixion and the immediate aftermath before Pentecost when the disciples will not be ministering openly.”

While we cannot perform the miracles Jesus performed, we can reach out to hurting people in order to assist them in their time of need. We must be careful and discerning as we do so but ever ready to all we can to minister as Jesus would.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3)

Often when we read Scripture we tend, when moving from one chapter to the next, to forget what we have just previously read. For example, John 9 begins with these four words: “As he passed by.” If we fail to take into account what the Apostle John recorded in John 8, we would not know the who, what, where, why and when of John 9.

The subject in question is Jesus. He has exited the temple immediately after the Jewish religious leaders picked up stones to throw at Him (John 8:59). They did so because Jesus had called Himself Yahweh (John 8:58). The Jews did not accept Jesus’ claim to be God but considered it blaspheme. Therefore, they sought to stone Jesus as a blasphemer, as prescribed by the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 24:16; John 10:31; Matthew 26:65).

It was at this precise moment that Jesus saw a man blind from birth. We do not know how old this man was, only that Scripture says he was of legal age (John 9:21), or in other words, an adult. It was also at this precise moment that Jesus’ disciples asked Him a pertinent question: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?”

A friend of mind experienced an unfortunate initial encounter with evangelical Christians many years ago. It seems that a couple of believers were making calls on people within their neighborhood for the purpose of witnessing for Christ and inviting people to their church. Not a bad thing to do. I have done it myself on many occasions.

However, did I mention that my friend uses orthopedic crutches? Upon seeing this, these believers promptly informed my friend that if she would repent of her un-confessed sin, she would no longer need her crutches. It seems that these believers were of the conviction that physical ailments, or some other misfortune, were God’s punishment for some specific sin. Suffice to say my friend was offended and hurt by such a presumption.

Such was also the case in first century Israel. Jesus’ disciples’ first inclination was that either the man, or his parents, had committed a sin resulting in the man’s blindness. For the disciples, it was a simple explanation of cause and effect.

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains that, “with a congenital affliction, the explanation could be that the sin had been committed in the womb, or by the parents whose sinful act victimized their child.”

Jesus, however, presented a third possibility for the man’s blindness. Jesus stated that neither the man nor his parents sinned but rather that the works of God might be displayed in him: that is in the blind man.

We must acknowledge that all suffering is a direct result of original sin, also known as the fall (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21). Suffering, including physical pain and disease, is a consequence of our corporate sin and rebellion in Adam. Yet, it is most unwise and insensitive to suggest that physical aches and pains are in direct proportion to a sinner’s sin and guilt.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

I Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Trials are never easy. They may be even downright difficult and painful. However, God has promised to provide sustaining grace (2 Corinthians 12:9-11). While the immediate purpose of our trials may not be fully known by us, the ultimate purpose is for each believer to glorify God.

What trials are you presently enduring? Is it one you have had since birth, or one more recent? Is it a physical trial or some other kind? Regardless, we have God’s assurance that His purpose is good (Romans 8:28).

Soli deo Gloria!

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:57-59)

As our study of John 8 comes to its dramatic conclusion, the Jews present one more question to Jesus: ““You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus’ response is one of the most definitive statements of His deity: “Before Abraham was, I am.”

As we have previously noted, the phrase “I am” is a declaration of the most personal name for God. It refers to His eternal preexistence. Therefore, since this is a statement and title only God possesses, Jesus was affirming to the Jews that He was God. The present tense of the title indicates the perpetual present of God’s eternal existence. The statement also reminds us of God personal declaration to Moses in Exodus 3:14.

We should also note that prior to issuing this personal identifying statement, Jesus said, ““Truly, truly, I say to you.” This statement indicates two truths. First, by using the familiar phrase “Truly, truly” Jesus was placing emphasis that what He would say would be a true truth or an absolute truth. Second, by saying, “I say to you” Jesus was invoking His own authority as God.

Dr. John MacArthur says, “Here Jesus declared himself to be Yahweh, i.e., the Lord of the OT. Basic to the expression are such passages as Ex. 3:14; Deut. 32:39; Isa. 41:4; 43:10 where God declared himself to be the eternally pre-existent God who revealed himself in the OT to the Jews.”

The Jews had no more questions of Jesus. They finally understood what He was saying, and they hated Him for it. They grasped the concept that Jesus was declaring Himself to be Yahweh.

What was their response to this understanding?  “So they picked up stones to throw at him.” They were following the instructions from Leviticus 24:16 that anyone who claimed to be God should be stoned. However, because of their hatred towards Jesus that they did not attempt to take Him out of the city/camp as Leviticus 24:14 directed. They also failed to understand that Jesus’ claim to be God was true.

Dr. R.C. Sproul explains, “When the Jews responded with incredulity, asking how He, a man younger than fifty, saw Abraham, who lived a millennia earlier, Jesus made an even bolder claim: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:57–58). Christ was saying more than that He preexisted Abraham, for He did not say, “Before Abraham was, I was.” Instead, He was drawing from the Old Testament and God’s covenant name revealed therein. As we have seen, the Greek construction behind the English translation “I am” (egō eimi) is the same one used when God revealed Himself to Moses. Thus, “Jesus claimed for Himself equality with the Father by clearly using the divine name that God revealed to Moses (Ex. 3:14). Jesus identified Himself as eternal deity, declaring that He was alive as the second person of the Trinity before Abraham was born” 

Jesus escaped this impromptu execution by miraculously hiding Himself and then leaving the temple. He did so because His hour of execution had not come (John 7:30-44; 18:1-6). Jesus remained in complete control of all the events in His life on earth.

Pastor Burk Parsons states that, “Some people are willing to put Jesus on the same plane as other renowned religious leaders such as Buddha or Muhammad. In light of Jesus’ claims about Himself, however, we cannot do that. Jesus is not just another religious sage—He is God incarnate. God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus, and He retains that flesh forever. This claim separates Christianity from other world religions, and we must not be afraid to declare it.”

Soli deo Gloria!