As we conclude our examination of John 9, we begin to see the story is a lot more than just one where Jesus healed a man born blind. We begin to see that there are those who are spiritually blind even though they have 20/20 physical vision. We looked at the man who was born blind having his spiritual eyes open as well. But a good portion of this story is about the Pharisees, those religious leaders and experts in the Scripture, whose spiritual eyes are blinded.
Here are the Pharisees – separated from the world and devoted to God – yet they were blind as bats to spiritual truth. The origin of the name “Pharisee” has been debated, but most scholars agree that it derives from the Hebrew root meaning “to separate.” This makes sense, because the Pharisees were separatists. One such group of Pharisees were known as the "bruised and bleeding" Pharisees. This was because in the attempt to avoid lust they would walk about with their eyes covered - and as a result fall into holes or walk into walls. Their bruises became their proof of spirituality and commitment to God. The Pharisees were those people who set themselves up as the religious leaders of the people while being separate from them and better than them. [1]
What scares me about the Pharisees (whom Jesus never had a kind word about), is when I examine my own life, I see that I’m more like them than I care to admit.
We conclude this 9th chapter today, we’re going to be looking at spiritual sight and spiritual blindness and more important, we will see what Jesus has to say about it.
John 9:35–41
In 1995 Jane’s International Defense Review reported that Norinco of China was offering to export a weapon that used laser beams to damage the eyes of enemies. The weapon is called the ZM–87 portable laser “disturber.” According to the Chicago Tribune, “Jane’s said the company states ‘one of its major applications’ is ‘to injure or dizzy’ the eyes of an enemy combatant with high-power laser pulses, and ‘especially anybody who is sighting and firing … [by means of] an optical instrument, so as to cause him to lose combat ability or result in suppression of his observation and sighting operation.’ ” The ZM–87 is effective to a range of two miles. Blinding a soldier renders him worthless for battle. Satan knows that, and so he too has weapons to blind the eyes.[2]
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
In fact some of the most blinded spiritually are those who claim to be “enlighten,” who know far more than us ordinary people.
Just to review, we remember that Jesus gave sight to this man who was born blind. This has never happened before and the people were amazed and also bewildered. “What does it all mean? What is the spiritual significance of all this?” So they brought the man to the Pharisees who had all the answers.
One little detail John added to the story:
John 9:14 (NKJV) Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
This changed everything. The Pharisees ignored the miracle of the healing and concentrated on their traditions of keeping the Sabbath. They claimed Jesus was a sinner.
John 9:24 (NKJV) So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
The Pharisees knew a sinner when they saw one, because after all, who kept the Law as well as they did? But the man born blind could not be made to speak evil of the One who gave him His sight. That uneducated man born blind stuck to his story and began to teach the Pharisees a thing or two.
John 9:33 (NKJV) If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
The pharisees had quite enough, they could not argue with this man as he was confusing them with the facts. So the penalty for receiving his sight, something that had never happened in the history of the world to that point, for receiving it on the Sabbath, was excommunication. He was casted out of the temple.
John 9:34 (NKJV) They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
What a blow, what humiliation, what a disgrace. They threw this man out of temple. But the Lord of the temple finds the man.
John 9:35 (NKJV) Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
I want you to notice something here. The man who was born blind did not go looking for Jesus. He didn’t know what Jesus looked like. It was Jesus who came looking for him. Men may “cast” out but Jesus will not:
John 6:37 (NKJV) All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Jesus had heard what happen, and like the Good Shepherd that He is, Jesus went to care for one of His sheep.
John 10:14 (NKJV) I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
Isn’t interesting that the Chapter on Jesus being the Good Shepherd follows this chapter?
How common our terminology when we talk about “finding God” or “finding Jesus.” But neither the Father nor the Son was ever lost. We are lost ones, and God finds us.[3]
When Jesus found the man He asked him a question of commitment: “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The phrase “Son of God” was one that was well acquainted with the Messiah, the Christ. The man knew what Jesus was talking about. And the man replies out of ignorance which he freely admits.
John 9:36 (NKJV) He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
This man was ready. He was searching. And there was His answer standing right before him.
John 9:37–38 (NKJV) And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
Don’t miss this, the formerly blind man worshipped, not because of what Jesus did for him, he worshipped because of who Jesus is. And the man knew that this was same Jesus who healed him for he had heard His voice.
John 10:4 (NKJV) And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Now Jesus makes a summary statement that sums up all that had transpired.
John 9:39 (NKJV) And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
This may seem to contradict what Jesus back in Chapter 3 verse 17:
John 3:17 (NKJV) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
But on close examination we see that it is not. Yes Jesus came to save, and to say that Jesus saves also implies that there are those who will be lost, yes, condemned. Those that are condemned do so by refusing to see. Remember the old saying, “There are none so blind than those who will not see.” The fact is, people condemn themselves.
John 3:18–19 (NKJV) “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The fact is, those that are blind spiritually, have blinded themselves. But the Pharisees claim that they of all people have spiritual sight.
John 9:40 (NKJV) Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
Obviously, where Jesus met up with the formerly blind man was a public area, and there were a few pharisees standing around to see what Jesus would say and do.
Jesus’ presence divides the world into those who come to the light and allow it to change, heal and direct their lives, and those who resist the light and choose to remain in darkness—even while, in some cases, declaring boldly that they see everything clearly.[4]
Jesus had previously had answered their question in the statement he made about the pharisees when He was in Galilee.
Matthew 15:14b (NKJV) They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
The Pharisees were blinded by pride, by self-righteousness, by their traditions. Jesus calls others blind also. Others who fail to see their real condition before God. Talking to the church in Laodicea, Jesus says:
Revelation 3:17 (NKJV) Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Jesus called these Pharisees blind then and He explains it to them again:
John 9:41 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
Jesus comes to give sight to those who know they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
If the Pharisees knew their spiritual condition before God and freely admit them, Jesus can heal and forgive them. But because they claim to see, they claim to be without sin, because they are self-righteous, Jesus cannot help them. Their sin remains and they are truly blind, spiritually.
The blind who come to sight are those who, admitting their helplessness and inability, trust Jesus for salvation. Those who see and become blind are those whose self-trust and pride blinds them to the wonders of Jesus. He does not condemn them by making them blind; they blind themselves by rejecting Him and Satan contributes to that blinding.[5]
This is a warning to “Professional Christians” We can be so wrapped up in being Christian that we forget having a relationship with Christ! We forget that we must examine ourselves and remain humble before God.
The plain fact is, we can never be good enough for God. God is so much higher and holier than we. The Bible tells us that our best righteousness is nothing but filthy rags before Him. The only way we could ever stand before the throne is to except the forgiveness that Jesus offers and to take on His righteousness over our own.
The question in verse 40 is one we must ask also, "Are we blind also?" To see we must keep our eyes off the world and solely upon Jesus.
[1] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/20-20-vision-and-blind-as-bats-rick-stacy-sermon-on-leadership-general-70093?ref=SermonSerps
[2] Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 41–42.
[3] Kenneth O. Gangel, John, vol. 4, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 185.
[4] Tom Wright, John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-10 (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 145.
[5] Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 309.
