Scripture
Vs 2 … his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
VS 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
VS 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “(Jesus) is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
Vs 25 (The beggar) answered, “Whether (Jesus) is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
VS 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
VS 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen.
VS 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
VS 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”
VS 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners …
VS 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”[c]
Vs 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
VS 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.”
VS 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Observation
This is one of the more fascinating stories in the gospels.
So many contrasts between human nature and the supernatural.
False presumptions … false certainties … false knowledge …
The disciples presume a “defect” (blindness) is a result of someone’s “sin”.
The Pharisees know “Jesus is not from God”.
The Pharisees “know that God does not listen to sinners”
A lot of “We know” happening in this story … false “truths”.
Perhaps, the most honest statement comes from the previously blind man … “I do not know”.
And ultimately … “Lord, I believe”.
Application
Two big thoughts come to mind this morning for me …
- Knowing “WHO Jesus is” is infinitely more important than knowing “HOW Jesus works”.
And …
- The self-righteous are rarely self-aware.
I love that the beggar in this story is so brutally honest …
“I do not know” how this happened.
“One thing I do now” … I was blind, now I see.
I also love that the disciples were willing to ask Jesus a question about their “belief system”.
“Who sinned that this man is blind?”
The blind man didn’t know “how” Jesus works.
The disciples didn’t know “how” much of anything works. (sin & consequence, cause & effect)
The Pharisees were convinced of WHAT they know … “we know that” … “we know that” …
The Disciples were convinced of WHO they know …. “Rabbi”!
And the beggar was ultimately convinced of WHO he knows … “Lord”!
They both know Jesus was Who He said He was. …. And this made all the difference.
They knew Who to bring their questions to.
They knew Who to bring their “presumptions” and “certainties” to.
And a beautiful thing about Jesus is … He ACCEPTS THEM!
“Them” being individuals. (“cast him out”, but Jesus “found him”)
What a beautiful statement of Who Jesus is! … and this is MY story, too!
And “them” being their “questions”.
(“not that the man sinned … but that the works of God might be displayed in him”)
Another beautiful statement of who Jesus is! … and this is MY story, too!
Prayer
Thank You, God, for your Word
May I trust it more than myself
May it help clarify WHO you are
More than the WHAT I want to know
Where I am blind, help me see Holy Spirit
In Jesus name
Amen