Jesus at first corrected his disciples by assuring them that his condition was not a result of the man's sin or family's sin. He states in verse 3- 5,
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Is not our lives' purpose to glorify God? How many times are we bitter or unbelieving in our circumstances when we should be focused on the Lord and how He will be glorified in our situation? Jesus again tells His disciples that He is indeed the one true God. So Jesus heals the man, and naturally the man goes and tells everyone- I would imagine His parents first! He had been reduced to a beggar because of His condition- this was truly a miracle and life changing event! I wonder how many miracles we miss out on or miss seeing because we're too busy focusing on our circumstances and all the negative surrounding us?
In walks our Pharisees, possibly you and me in some situations, looking for fault. Perhaps it's a person we know the past of that can't possibly be sincere in their faith. A person whose personal convictions make us uncomfortable. A pastor of a church that we feel is not up to standard. While I am not suggesting we accept all teachers as true, but compare their lives and their teachings to the Word of God, how many times do we compare people or leaders to our personal convictions or our personal church culture? (Before you think I'm picking on the more conservative, a legalist can be a "liberal" or "conservative" believer if they think they are the only ones who are right- Legalism is about attitude, not a comparison of personal convictions) If something matches up with the Scripture, we have no right to find fault. If the Almighty God is approving of this person's character or teaching, it should be good enough for us.
The Pharisees would not accept Jesus for many reasons, but the ones we see here are that they believe he is a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath. In verse 16 we see the Pharisees say,
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
So to the Pharisees, because Jesus did not keep the rules, the ones they held dear that had nothing to do with salvation, he was a sinner and so completely discredited the miracle as a hoax. Although this healed man was obviously of age where he could give an account of what happened (which he had to do repeatedly), the Pharisees even called in the parents of the man. Their issue was fear. Fear of religious leaders and their influence and how contradicting them would effect them. We see in verse 20-23
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
How many times are we afraid of speaking the Word of God because we may lose a relationship or be made uncomfortable? Maybe we will make less money, maybe lose popularity, maybe lose a friend from a long time ago because we can't go where they go anymore. Fear is not of God. He has given us as Christians the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind!
Now we see a beautiful picture of faith from our healed man. Listen to his words in verses 27-38
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
The pharisees technically were more educated than this man, and the man's parents were fearful of them, so he had every excuse in the world to deny that Jesus had truly healed him, or that perhaps He wasn't of God and was of the devil. He didn't though- he defended His faith because He knew the truth and He didn't let anything- ridicule, intimidation, parental example, anything dissuade him from that. Then he comes face to face with Jesus- Jesus says He's the Lord and immediately the man puts his faith in Him and worships Him. He doesn't question the Lord, and he doesn't compare Him to the beliefs of His childhood. The Lord's word was enough for Him.
Oh to have a faith like that! Regardless of outside or inside circumstances, let that be my cry Lord! Lord, I believe! I will worship You and You Alone!
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