John 9:24-41, The “Point” of the Miracle

(In today's post we are returning to our studies on John's Gospel.)

You have to love the response of the man born blind to the “biased” question of the Jews.  They wanted him to give them an answer that they could spin in such a way as to criticize Jesus.  Instead, the man gave clear testimony: “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 

May I say, that this is testimony every believer in Christ needs to be able to give.  Like the old hymn, Amazing Grace: “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”  One who believes in Christ has been born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3).  The thirst in his life has been satisfied (Jn. 4:14). 

The leadership was, of course, not happy with that answer from the man.  Thus, they pressed him further, asking him again what Jesus had done to open his eyes.  The man could clearly see what was going on.  So, he no longer answered their question.  He was apparently wondering why, when it was so clear to him, that the religious leadership couldn’t see that there was something significant about Jesus.  So, he chided them: “Why do you want to hear it again?  Do you also want to become His disciples?”  Their answer was to pull out the “Moses card,” if you will.

Again, before moving on, let’s remember that Jesus had previously spoken to the use of Moses as an excuse for rejecting Him.  Read it in John 5:45-47: “…there is one who accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words.”  They did not actually understand Moses accurately, even though they were the supposed experts on Moses. 

The response of the man was pure logic:

God doesn’t hear sinners; He hears those who do His will.

This Man opened my eyes.

Therefore He must be from God!

The conclusion of the investigators was the logic of pride: “we’re smarter than you are; therefore we’re right; and we’re kicking you out of the synagogue.”  No problem, because this brought the man to God’s desired conclusion.

·       9:35-39: Jesus must be the Son of God.  Jesus had remained out of the picture, so to speak, as the man considered the depths of what had happened to him.  When Jesus stepped back into the man’s life, it was time for the man to come to faith.  “Do you believe in the Son of God” “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”  “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”  “Lord, I believe!”  And the man who was healed worshiped the One who had healed him.  The desired outcome of the story was not receiving physical sight but receiving spiritual sight.  He had believed in Christ!  That is God’s desired outcome for each of us as well.  “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!”