The Gospel of John #54
/by Robert E Guenther
Continuing our review of the Gospel of John, Chapter 9:17- 25:, the debate on whether or not the rulers should believe that Jesus is indeed the Christ of God even the great I AM. The Lord also heals the blind man
Vs John John 9:17 “They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.” They asked another question hoping for an answer to find a way to charge our Lord with a crime or at least have Him brought before a judge.
Vs John 9:18 “But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight” The Jews did not like the blind’s man answer so they ask his parents if he was truly blind.
Vs John 9:19 “And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?” These parents knew that they had to be careful how they answered these questions as there was a good chance that they could be charged with a crime.
Vs John 9:20 “His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:” They answered the two questions by stating that this is in fact their son and that he was born without sight.
Vs John 9:21 “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.” The parents have no idea how their son was healed. Their response was that he can answer for himself because of his age.
Vs John 9:22 “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.” Being kicked out of the synagogue meant that an offender who believed that Jesus was the Christ would lose any benefits that the Jewish religion had to offer. This would be like us losing our social security and medical health care benefits.
Vs John 9:23 “Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.” This answer about their son left only the son to be held accountable for his being healed.
Vs John 9:24 “Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.” The son knows now that if he answers their question in the wrong way he will be cast out of the synagogue himself. I feel confident that this blind man, who had the gift of sight given to him, wanted to rejoice and did not desire to be judged and then be rejected.
Vs John 9:25 “He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Great Testimony!
