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Sermon
of 06-29-02
Spiritually
Blind
By Richard Perea
June 29, 2002
"There are those who can see, but are blind,
Then there are those who are blind that can see."
Jesus left Capernaum by the Lake of Galilee. He traveled South and then Southwest past Jericho to Jerusalem, a distance of approximately 90 plus miles.
John 9:1 "Now, as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
John 9:2 "And His disciples asked Him saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Now, if this man was blind as a result of his own sin, then he must have sinned before he was born, inasmuch as his blindness had existed from birth.
Rabbinical literature hints that Jews considered prenatal sinning, on the part of the child, at least a possibility. However, a majority view was that a child could not be guilty of any misdemeanor before birth.
A historical Biblical story is that a Mother brought her son before a judge because of some offense the child had committed. When she saw the harsh punishment the judge ordered on other children, she was afraid the judge would have her son killed. When it came her turn, she changed the offense (I'm sure every Mother here this morning can identify with the following) to one where the child kicked her before birth. The judge was not too impressed and asked "Has he done anything else?" The Mother thought quickly and said no. The judge did not hesitate and ruled that there was no offense.
His decision reflects the general teaching of the Jews with regard to supposed
prenatal sin on the part of the child.
John 9:3 "Jesus answered, neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works
of God should be revealed in him."
John 8:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. The night is coming when no man can work."
John 9:6 "When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay."
In verse 6, the ancients believed that saliva contained healing powers. Here is a quote from Commentaries Volume 5 page 998, "The preparation of the clay doubtless came within the restrictions of Rabbinical laws with regard to the Sabbath. Kneading, as in dough or clay, was specifically forbidden."
However, a supposed healing virtue in saliva was not the reason Jesus made use of it, unless it was to strengthen the man's faith. In two other miracles, the use of saliva is mentioned.
Mark 7:33 and Mark 8:23.
Here is another example ... men were permitted to pour water on bran, in preparation for feeding the animals, but they were not permitted to mix the water and bran.
Another example ... vinegar was used to relieve the pain of a toothache but the person could not suck vinegar through their teeth on the Sabbath. But they could take vinegar in the usual fashion at mealtime and obtain relief in that way.
John 9:7 "And He said to him, go wash in the pool of Siloam. So he went and washed and he came back seeing." (Once blind but now could see) The command to wash in the pool was not because of any healing power in the water itself, but was because Jesus wanted to test the man's faith.
John 9:8 "Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind, said, "is not this he who sat and begged?"
Reference Commentaries Volume 5 Page 998.
The sentence structure in the original Greek shows that a positive answer is expected. Once again "Is not this he who was blind and a beggar?"
John 9:9 "Some said, this is he. Others said, he is like him. The once blind man who could not see, in a strong voice answered, I AM he."
John 9:10 "He is asked, how were his eyes opened?"
John 9:11 "He answered and said, A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, "Go to the Pool of Siloam and wash, so I went and washed and received sight."
CAN SEE BUT ARE BLIND In verse 10, they expressed doubt. The desire to see the miracle worker was natural.
In verse 13, the people who were aware of the miracle, instead of accepting it by faith and believing, chose to extend the unbelief and brought the man who was blind, but could now see, to the Pharisees. Here we encounter those who can see, yet are blind.
John 9:14 "Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes."
verse 15 "Then the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, He put clay on my eyes and I washed and I see."
verse 16 "Therefore some of the Pharisees said, this man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath. Others said, how can a man who is a sinner, do such signs? And there was a division among
them"
verse 17 "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes? The once blind man said, He is a prophet."
verse 18 "But the Jews did not believe concerning Him, that he had been blind from birth and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight."
Regarding these last four verses, once again they could see but were blind.
The Pharisees, still not wanting to believe what they had seen and heard, went a step further by bringing his parents and asking them.
John 9:19 "And they asked them saying, is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he see now?
They had been told by him that had been blind, but now could see.
John 9:20 "His parents answered them and said, we know that this is our son and that he was born blind."
verse 21 "But by what means he now sees, we do not know. Or who opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age, ask him. He will speak for himself."
What could the parents have said, other than the truth. (verse 20)
The parents, apparently in frustration, said, "Ask him..... he is of age.... he can speak for himself.
Of age, in the Jewish culture, a young boy becomes a man at age thirteen and attains the age of religious duty and responsibility. Under the guidance of a Rabbi, the candidate for Bar Mitzvah, learns all the necessary duties of serving in the Synagogue.
John 9:24..."So they again called the man who was blind, but now could see, and said to him, Give God the glory. We know that this Man is a sinner (referring to Jesus)."
Here, the demand implied that the healed man's conduct and confession had not brought glory to God. The crowd wanted him (the once blind man who could now see) to declare publicly that is was not Jesus who had healed him, but God."
"COULD SEE BUT WERE BLIND" The once blind man stated, "I don't know if He is or was a sinner, I just know one thing, I was blind
but now I see."
John 9:26 "Then they said to him again, what did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" (Could see but were blind)
The once blind man responded, "Why should I tell you again and again? you do not listen. Why do you want to hear it again?"
(Could see but were blind)
Jesus had plainly told the Jews that He had come from God but they chose not to believe Him.
(Could see but were blind)
Jesus had been active among them for over three years, performing miracle after miracle. They chose willful ignorance, refusing to believe. (Could see but were blind)
The once blind man states, "You do not claim to know where He came from, yet He has opened my eyes." Here, once again, we have those who can see but are blind and he, that was once blind but now can see."
John 9:32 "Since the world began, it has been unheard of that anyone opens the eyes of one who was born blind."
Biblical, historical records do not reveal a case of congenital blindness being healed.
John 9:33 & 34 "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing. verse 34: they answered and said to him, (who was once blind but now could see), you were completely born in sins and you are teaching us? and they cast him out." (Could see but were blind)
Let me make reference to John 3:1 & 2 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do, unless God is with Him."
John 9:35 "Jesus heard that they had cast him out and when He found him, He said to him, Do you believe in the Son of God?"
Be sure, in your heart, that Jesus is never far from those susceptible to Divine Influence. Remember the story of the LOST SHEEP.
verse 36 "The once blind man, who could now see, said, "who is He Lord? that I may believe in Him."
Let us remember that the once blind man from birth, had never seen a human face, much less Jesus.
verse 37 "And Jesus said to him, you have both seen Him and it is He who is talking to you."
verse 38 "Then he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him."
He saw, in Jesus, One whom those who had had the use of their sight throughout life, were unable to see. None are more blind than those unwilling to see.
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