Articles
Are We Blind Also?
In John 9, we find the story of how Jesus healed a man who had been born blind (John 9:1-7). Some who knew him and knew he was blind, when they heard of this, began to ask him questions about how it had been done, and by whom (John 9:8-12). Some of them brought the man to the Pharisees and “the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight” (John 9:13-15). The Pharisees, being the self-righteous and judgmental people they were, condemned Jesus as one not being from God “because He does not keep the Sabbath” (John 9:16). [Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath, John 9:14.]
Others then wondered how a man — if He was not from God — could do such a miracle (John 9:16). After more questioning of the man and their persistent disbelief that a miracle had truly been done [or that Jesus was from God], they then called the man’s parents and questioned them about whether he had truly been blind since birth and how he now was able to see (John 9:18, 19). The parents, fearing they would be put out of the synagogue if they even hinted at Jesus being from God, testified only to the truthfulness of him being born blind, and then pointed the Pharisees back to their son to answer the question of how he now saw (John 9:20-23).
The Pharisees again called the man to them and demanded he identify Jesus as a sinner [for having healed a blind man on the Sabbath] and asked him again how his sight was restored (John 9:24-26), but this man grew frustrated at their stubbornness and asked them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” (John 9:27); they, of course, pointed out their religious devotion to Moses and claimed they knew nothing about Jesus (John 9:28, 29). When the man told them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:30-33), they then accused him of being born in sin [a perception the disciples had earlier, John 9:2] and cast him out (John 9:34).
Jesus heard that the man had been cast out, and went to find him. When He found the man, He asked if He believed in the Son of God and, after asking who it was and Jesus identified Himself as that Man, the man then said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him (John 9:35-38). Jesus then told the man [and any nearby who would hear], “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” (John 9:39), and some Pharisees happened to be near enough to hear and they then asked Jesus, “Are we blind also?” (John 9:40); Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains” (John 9:41).
It is that last question of the Pharisees we will consider today, for many may also be just as blind as they were to the truths that are found in God’s word — the testimony of God regarding His Son Jesus Christ, and the teachings of Jesus on various topics. Sometimes, we — like those Pharisees — can’t seem to accept what are blatantly obvious truths because we don’t want to accept the consequences of believing. Like it was with the Pharisees, it was not for a lack of evidence or eyewitness testimony they did not believe. So, what was it for them, and what is it for us today, that makes us ‘blind’ to some truths?
Pride. From my experience, this is one of the leading causes for a refusal to admit belief in Jesus or His teachings. Some simply do not want to admit that what they believe and teach does not agree with the Scriptures because it would mean admitting they were wrong, or their parents were wrong, so they will persist in asking an endless string of questions with the goal of delaying to the point their disinterest becomes obvious and the one who is speaking truth will just leave them alone.
Pride can often lead to self-righteousness, which often goes hand-in-hand with pride to lead some to reject the truth. When this man logically deduced that Jesus could not have done such a miracle if he was not from God, the Pharisees arrogantly replied, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” This is not unlike the time the religious rulers sent soldiers to arrest Jesus and instead came back impressed by Jesus. To them, the Pharisees arrogantly replied, “Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?” (John 7:32, 45-47). They arrogantly believed they were right, and anyone who disagreed must be wrong — regardless of the evidence or testimony to the contrary.
Unfortunately, this is the response of many today when what they have been taught is shown to be false and contradictory to God’s word. Some will arrogantly reply, “Are you telling me my parents/grandparents/preacher were wrong?!?!” As if they are the standard of right and wrong, rather than God’s word. Let us not allow pride to stand in the way of our salvation, or prevent us from accepting some hard truths. It will be the words of Jesus by which we will be judged in the end (John 12:47, 48).
Family. As just noted, family will often be the default standard to which some will appeal when it is discovered or revealed that what they have believed does not agree with God’s word. Especially on the subject of God’s plan for salvation, many who have been misled by denominational doctrines and smooth-talking preachers will quite often fall back on what “their preacher” said or “what their family believes” when they hear something that does not agree with what they have believed all their lives. Others, when faced with some teaching of Jesus that would condemn the life and/or behavior of themselves or some beloved family member, will not state it out loud, but will steadfastly refuse to accept what the Bible teaches — and even argue against it vehemently — because it would convict and condemn a family member.
Jesus was the one who said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37). Now, read that verse again. Jesus said plainly if we seek to defend a family member, rather than accepting His teaching, we are not worthy of Him. Jesus said plainly if we seek to defend what ‘our family has always believed’ rather than what He has plainly said and is recorded in Scripture, then we are not worthy of Him. You may, like some did in the first century, “[love] the praise of men more than the praise of God” and choose to not to stand with Jesus (John 12:42, 43), but for that you will have to answer to Him in the final Judgment when you stand before Him (2 Cor. 5:10). Then, your family ties will not be able to save you from His condemnation.
Friends and brethren, don’t let pride keep you out of eternal life in heaven. Don’t let your family — or anyone — keep you from accepting the words of Jesus. Yes, it may mean accepting the truth means someone you love will be condemned; but know this: Whether you accept those words or reject them, they will not change and they will not go away. If His words condemn us, then we need to change what we believe and how we live if we truly seek to please Him.
Do you see? — Steven Harper
