Charles W. Holt
email: cholt@gt.rr.com
Introduction: In John 9, we find people expressing serious errors in judgment that affect themselves and others. There is an interesting interaction between Jesus, the 12 disciples, the blind man, his parents, their neighbors, and the Pharisees. The fears, misconceptions and misunderstandings expressed by all except Jesus are common ones even in our day, as we intend to show.
I. WHO DID SIN, THIS MAN OR HIS PARENTS THAT HE WAS BORN BLIND? (vss. 1-4)
Belief in life before this life is nothing new. This was taught by some in the time of Jesus and it is from this belief that the disciples present their question to Jesus. The notion that there is life before one is born was a fallacy then as it is today. Did this man sin before his birth that caused his blindness? Did his parents sin before his birth that resulted in his blindness? These are very serious questions. Why do bad things happen to good people, for example. I guess it is merely human nature to want to pinpoint the cause of our problems. It is the basis for a common fallacy and misunderstanding. It is the assertion that calamity or misfortune is due to a person¡¦s sins. Either the individual suffering the calamity has sinned or someone very near to them such as a close relative has sinned. Thus, it is said, the problem exists because someone has sinned against God.
The wages of sin IS death! Sin still has its retribution. We DO reap what we sow. We must not ignore that fact. However, there are literally thousand of God¡¦s precious and beloved children who are suffering under an unbearable weight of guilt and condemnation because of a notion that they have somehow sinned and therefore God is punishing them. But when asked, they do not know what their sin is!
"God is punishing me!"
"God is punishing you for doing what?"
"I don’t know what I did!"
Whoa! What is wrong with that conversation? Is God guilty of playing some kind of cosmic game of Twenty Questions? Absolutely not! Does He punish for cause or for caprice? We know the answer to that. If He punishes for cause He will reveal the cause if we will ask. When we ask "Why?" He answers, "Because¡K" To identify sin, confess sin, repent of sin is to receive God¡¦s forgiveness and cleansing, pardon and freedom from condemnation. God forgives. Why then do so many dwell under a cloud of guilt, condemnation and even anxiety which hinders their prayer life and witness for Christ? Could the answer lie in, "you have not because you ask not?"
These verses show that God has a plan that is far beyond our ability to comprehend¡that we do not always have neat explanations that can solve life’s great puzzles. What do we do? We rest upon God’s infinite wisdom and love.
II. JESUS SPAT ON THE GROUND, MADE CLAY, ANOINTED THE BLIND MAN’S EYES. HE WASHED AND CAME BACK SEEING (vss. 6,7).
A second fallacy and misunderstanding is to think that God always works according to certain clearly defined laws of logic and decorum. It is a mistake to think that He cannot deviate from conventional, acceptable methods that are easily understood by the majority.
Scripture, and life’s experience, show God is not limited by anything. These verses are a case in point.
ƒÞ Peter’s shadow passing over people in the street and their being healed is another.
ƒÞ Cloths and handkerchiefs from Paul that brings healing to the sick and drives out demons is another.
Jesus used several "unconventional" methods to bring healing.
1. He touched a leper
2. He spoke a word while miles away from a sick person
3. He made a mudpack by spitting upon the clay soil. Placing it upon a man’s eyes he told him to go and wash it off.
4. He forgave a man’s sins to bring healing.
5. He took a dead girl by the hand and raised her from the dead
6. He stood in front of the tomb of Lazarus and called loudly for the dead to come out.
7. He put his fingers in a deaf man’s ears, spit,touched his tongue.
8. He spit on a blind man’s eyes after leading him out of town.
9. Jesus stood over Peter’s mother-in-law and rebuked the raging fever. Etc., Etc.
III. HOW WERE THINE EYES OPENED? A MAN CALLED JESUS SAID GO¡ WHERE IS HE? I DON’T KNOW (vss. 10-12).
Another fallacy is believing that only saved people, religious people, spiritual people, get things from God.
ƒÞ The blind man never saw Jesus until much later. He didn’t know who he was until much later.
ƒÞ The theological/religious question didn’t come until AFTER the healing. (see verses 35-38).
--"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"
--"Who is He Lord that I might believe on him?
--"Thou has both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee."
--AND THEN: "Lord I believe. And he worshiped him."
IV. THIS MAN IS NOT OF GOD BECAUSE HE DOESN’T KEEP THE SABBATH. HOW CAN A SINNER DO SUCH MIRACLES? (vs. 16).
It is a fallacy, a mistake, to say, "if you don’t worship or serve God as we do you are not of God." Or, "You can’t be a Christian unless you look, act, talk, believe like we do." On that occasion it was a question of Sabbath observance. In today’s language it could include any number of dogmas, doctrines, rituals, ceremonies, and observances that often tend to divide Christian from Christian and church from church instead of promoting unity among all believers.
QUESTION: When, where, and how was the problem of sin settled? When were our sins atoned for? When, where, and how were we reconciled to God?
ANSWER: At the cross of Calvary. By the atoning death of Jesus, the shedding of His precious blood (1 Pt. 1:18,19)--and his subsequent resurrection and ascension where he now reigns at the Father’s right hand and is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him.
It is amazing, but absolutely true, that Jesus died without the help or benefit of any church or denomination which exists today.
It is a fallacy to believe that people who do not observe our church forms, rituals, dogmas, and doctrines either are not now or ever will be saved unless they believe like us, chant our mantra, march to the drum beat of our spiritual approval and sanction. What the Lord says in Isa. 66:2 is relevant: ". . . but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." This is true regardless of race, creed or culture.
V. THESE WORDS SPAKE HIS PARENTS BECAUSE THEY FEARED THE JEWS (vss. 18-23).
This part of our story reveals the fallacy of the fear of men.
This is a fear which says, "Play it safe. Soft petal your experience with God."
A basic human need is ACCEPTANCE. We will do almost anything to be accepted by others. The ex-blind-man’s parents feared excommunication from Temple worship. It was a serious measure to be invoked. It involved direct consequences both socially and religiously.
a. They would be treated as one who died. The burial ceremony was used.
b. No circumcision for their children which meant being shut out from any hope of God’s mercy.
c. No mourning for anyone who died in that family.
d. No one but the wife and children could come close enough to touch or embrace the father of the family.
This fear of being dismissed from their church so paralyzed these parents that they wouldn’t admit that an obvious miracle had taken place in their son. In essence they would only give "name, rank, and serial number." They were not alone.
a. "Nevertheless among the chief rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (Jn. 12:42).
Fear of men can have serious consequences.
1. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before man, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven" (Mt. 10:32,33).
2. "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the Holy Angels" (Mk. 8:38).
3. See also: Prov. 29:25; Jer. 1:5-8; Ezk. 2:3-7.
VI. THOU ART HIS DISCIPLE BUT WE ARE MOSES’ DISCIPLES (vss. 24-29).
A sixth fallacy and mistake is not to admit the possibility of a greater revelation of truth than what we presently know or experience. Sadly, some will reject "out of hand," i.e., dismiss any possibility that they should be anything other than what they are now spiritually. In essence they say, "Mama believed in Moses, Papa believed in Moses, so I believe in Moses." A lady once told me proudly, "I am . . . (she named the denomination) from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. If I found one hair that wasn’t (she named her denomination) I would pull it out!" Oh, brother.
Thank God for thousands in all denominations who have moved past Moses and have discovered the fullness of life and joy in Jesus.
VII. DOST THOU TEACH US? (vss. 33,34).
Another mistake is to be unteachable from any source and especially if it is from an unlikely one. These Pharisees rejected the testimony of the former blind beggar because he did not meet their religious, educational, or social standards. We know that God can speak and teach us in many different ways. We have examples of two extremes:
1. The donkey spoke to the prophet (Nu. 22:22ff.)
2. In the book of Acts a more relevant example is found in chapter 18:24-28 (see Amplified Bible and Living New Testament translations of these verses.) It is wonderful to see how the Lord used Priscilla and Aquila to broaden his understanding in the things of the Lord. Sometimes the "lowly layman" may know more about a thing or two than the "powerful preacher."
VIII. ARE WE BLIND ALSO? . . . YOUR SIN REMAINETH (vss. 39-41).
The eighth and most serious fallacy and mistake made by literally millions of people is to deny the fact of sin in their life, and especially to deny that they need Jesus Christ as Savior.
"There is none so blind as he who will not see." A proverb
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rm. 3:23).
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:8-10).
