John 9:39-41. Ezek. 34:1-6, The Shepherds of Israel

We noted in the previous post that the purpose of the healing of the man born blind was given in v39: 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.  In healing the blind man, Jesus fulfilled the first half of this verse, enabling one who could not see to see.  We need to be sure to recognize what that means.  Restoring the man’s physical eyesight was the picture of what Jesus meant.  The man came to see Jesus in the truth, as the Son of God, even though the religious elite did everything they could to keep the man from that conclusion. 

How do we know this?  First, there is no “judgment” for being physically blind.  Remember the disciples’ question back in 9:2: who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.  Jesus made it clear: neither of them were at fault.  But in the story, who sinned?  The Jews tried to make Jesus out to be the sinner (9:24), which would have made the man continue to be blind regarding Christ.  But it was the leaders who were sinners, liable for judgment.  That is the second reason we know this is about “spiritual” blindness: Jesus said so in v41.  In answer to the Pharisees’ in v40, Jesus said that men whose eyesight was perfect were the sinners.

Don’t miss what Jesus said.  He did not tell the Pharisees they were blind.  He actually said just the opposite.  They knew who Jesus was.  They understood His claims to oneness with the Father as well as to being the Messiah.  The reason they were sinners was because they knew what Jesus was saying, and knew the meaning of the miraculous signs.  Yet, they rejected Him.  And furthermore, they told every lie they could, spinning the truth, to try and keep the crowds on their side.

This may seem surprising to you, but to help us understand the situation, Jesus continued with what is commonly called “The Good Shepherd Sermon” (Jn. 10).  It’s a good title, as that is the subject.  But it is not a “stand-alone” sermon.  It is a continuation of the conflict Jesus had with “the Jews,” the religious leaders, beginning especially with the healing of the man by the pool in John 5.  When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (7:10), it started up again and continued throughout the feast.  As we work through the Sermon you will see that part of it was given at the Tabernacles in the Fall, but then continued at the winter Feast of Dedication (v22, Hannukah). 

This is an incredibly important sermon as it builds on an Old Testament message concerning “the shepherds of Israel” (Ezekiel 34).  In the OT God judges the current shepherds of Israel because of their failure to properly care for the flock.  He then promises to send a Shepherd of His choosing, one of the house of David, through whom God would lovingly care for Israel, His flock.  Jesus is that Good Shepherd!  That will be helpful background as we read through His great sermon.