Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.
In John 9, when Jesus met a man born blind, he said, “A dark night is coming when no one can work. So we must do God’s work while the daylight lasts” (v 4-5).
What work do you think Jesus did? He used spittle to make mud, put it on the blind man’s eyes, and told him to wash. He regained his sight, a miracle in mud.
Amazed beyond words, the man’s friends took him to the Pharisees for a religious opinion.
The Pharisees’ response? Confused! Only God can restore sight. And this fellow was healed on a Sabbath, a direct violation of God’s law, accordig to the Pharisees. Where was God in this strange story?
Being good Bible scholars, the Pharisees launched an investigation by interviewing the man. Conclusion: he probably hadn’t been blind after all (v 18). So he wasn’t healed on the Sabbath! Problem solved!
Then they interviewed the man’s parents. “Yes, he’s our son, and for sure he was born blind. But if you want to know why he can see now, don’t ask us, ask him. He’s a grownup.” (v 21-22).
Still not satisfied, the Pharisees brought the man back for a second interview. Not much of an interview. All they did was present their conclusion: “Give God glory, because we know the man who healed you is a sinner” (v 24).
“That’s what you know,” said the man. “Here’s what I know. Only God can make the blind see, and God sure doesn’t listen to sinners. Get it? My healer is from God” (v 30-33).
The Pharisees didn’t get it and didn’t want it. They angrily retorted, “You were born a sinner and nobody has cured you of that problem. Don’t presume to teach us about God!” They kicked him out of the synagogue.
Jesus found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Who is he, Lord? I want to believe” (v 36).
Jesus said, “It’s me” (v 37).
The man said, “I believe” and worshiped Jesus (v 38).
But Jesus wasn’t finished with the Pharisees yet. He said, “I judge the world. I make the blind see. I tell people who see, that they are blind” (v 39).
The Pharisees said, “Surely you don’t think we’re blind, do you?” (v 40).
Jesus said, “You claim to see, but you can’t see what’s right in front of you. Yes you’re blind” (v 41).
Two comments:
1. Remember the sorting hats in Harry Potter? Hats that assigned new students to one of four houses? In John’s gospel, as Jesus brings light to blind eyes and dark souls, people are sorted into those who believe and worship, and those who reject the light and sink into the coming darkness.
2. And second, what is that dark night Jesus predicted? Is it a dark night of unbelief for those who reject him? Is it the dark night of his crucifixion? Is it the darkness of A.D. 70 when Rome leveled Jerusalem? Or is it the dark night at the world’s end?
Let’s pray.
O Jesus, we think our eyes are open and we think we see clearly. We study scripture to find you, we act righteously to please you.
Still the Pharisees’ question haunts us. “Surely you don’t think we are blind?”
Send your spirit to convict us. Help us see the light. With the man born blind we say, “Lord, I believe” and with him we worship you.
Save us from the dark night.
Amen.
I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.
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