Mud in the Eyes Part II What is Blindness?

John 9

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. ¹⁴ Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.¹⁵ Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

Despite the judgment, criticism or rejection of others, we are called to tell our story, His story! It doesn’t change but it COULD change the eternal destiny for any who decide to believe it. Be faithful! Speak up for God in this unbelieving world! 

¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. ¹⁷ Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

This man knew very little about Jesus, probably very little training or theology, but he knew that Jesus was a man of God who did the impossible in his life. 

Notice, the Pharisees were divided. Some were quickly dismissive, but others were leaning toward the possibility that a divine miracle had taken place, like little roots of faith emerging! We speak for those whose ears are open. Many were still not satisfied and demanded more evidence. 

¹⁸ They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ¹⁹ “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

²⁰ “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. ²¹ But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 

Have you ever blown an opportunity to speak for God? It’s easy to think first about protecting ourselves, trying to defuse a hostile situation, and get out of the pressure cooker. Personally, I’m sorry for the times I’ve hesitated. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel message. It is life to those that are perishing! Far better to risk the rejection of others and speak the truth about Jesus, knowing He will reward you in due season. 

²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.²³ That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Sometimes, the things we fear might be a blessing in disguise! It would have been better for these parents to leave the place of unbelief, no matter how comfortable it had become! Do we hang onto a job where immorality rules or a relationship that dishonors the Lord, simply because we can’t trust God to meet our needs? We need to let it go and do what’s right. It takes courage to step away. 

²⁴ A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

²⁵ He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Admittedly, this blind man still didn’t know much, but he could give a clear testimony of a God-sent miracle. When something is real in your life you can’t deny it. This is precisely how you give God glory due His Name, as they demanded! 

²⁶ Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

²⁷ He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

²⁸ Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

Spiritual truth is unattainable to their natural minds, and baffled, they try to figure out the methods of God. But standing before them is living proof that God can do anything, ANYTHING, and they don’t see it! 

³⁰ The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. ³² Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

³⁴ To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

This man born blind is standing right up to these religious leaders with uncommon boldness. What happens next is the icing on the cake of this man’s miraculous day. 

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

Don’t you love this? Jesus found him, not the other way around! 

One day soon, Jesus would stand trial before them himself, and they would hurl their insults (and much worse) against him. But on this day, a blind man was thrust into that limelight, tried and tested by the wolves. It would have been a lot easier to deny Him, and go his own way to begin enjoying life as a seeing man. Instead, he stood strong, more fearless than his parents, and spoke boldly for God. 

The Lord is compassionate to all, but I’m sure this man’s courage in the face of all the abuse he suffered, after a lifetime of humiliation and suffering, touched his heart. So much so, that Jesus wanted to meet him.

True enlightenment of the spirit is a journey, and spiritual growth, just as with our physical bodies, can come in spurts in unseen places. This poor beggar was still in the dark in his understanding in some ways, but God is faithful to reveal more light when we are ready! 

³⁶ “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

³⁷ Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”  ³⁸ Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This man had such a ready heart to receive after a lifetime of begging and stumbling around in the dark! And how fortunate for him, after just an hour of seeing, he saw JESUS face to face! 

³⁹ Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

⁴⁰ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

⁴¹ Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Jesus made it clear that the Pharisees were still in the dark.  Claiming to see and judge truth for everyone, educated and esteemed as they were, they remained spiritually blind.  

What about you? Do you consider yourself wise and educated? Yet, are you still laboring to judge the methods of God and the testimonies of how He operates? Or, have you asked Him to show you truth and open the eyes of your heart?   

Friend, don't remain in spiritual blindness when the Light of the World has already come. Ask Him to show you the truth. 

Jesus said, "I Am the light of the world."