JOHN 9:35–41
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains”
(John 9:41).
Jesus’ statement in this passage, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may sec, and that those who see may be made blind,” is reminiscent of His comment that the healthy do not need a physician, and that He came to save sinners, not the righteous. If you believe that you are a “good person.” you will not seek a savior. As a result, you will remain in your sinful condition. This was the point Jesus wanted to get across in this passage. If you think you know everything, then you will not seek to know God. if you think you can see, you will never realize that you are blind. This man, however, who had been blind physically also realized that he was blind spiritually, that he was in need of God’s grace.
This man’s confession of spiritual blindness comes in his response to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The man responds by saying, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” He admits his ignorance, his blindness to the truth. Unlike the Pharisees, who questioned Jesus concerning His identity, the healed man wanted to know the Messiah so that he might believe and have eternal life. He realized his need and confessed it.
People never see for themselves they need a savior. They think they have been good enough to get into heaven, that they aren’t any worse than anybody else, that nobody’s perfect so God is obligated to give everyone eternal life. People who think this way are blind to the truth, deceived by their own self-righteousness. Jesus says that those who continue in this delusion will remain in their sin and under the condemnation of the Law.
The Pharisees who thought they knew so much were blind to their sinful condition. They had much theological training, and like so many today, they had been in “the church” for years. They were raised in it, leaders in it, and experts in religion. But they were blind. We must never assume that because we are religious we are redeemed. It is too easy to think that we can see when we are really blind. It was easy for the Pharisees, and it is all too common in the church today. Do not let the Light of the world pass you by. Confess your blindness, believe in Him, and see His light.
CORAM DEO
2 Chronicles 34–36
John 19:1–22
Read the passages below. According to Jesus’ teaching in these passages, what is required for you to be saved? What must you realize? If you realize your own blindness, what will your attitude be toward others? What was the attitude of the Pharisees? As a Christian, what must you do to avoid spiritual pride?
For further study: Matt. 9:9–13 • Mark 2:15–17 • Luke 5:27–32
thursday
june