Day 18 - The Blindness of Knowing | February Devotional in the Gospel of John
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 who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
...24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
Something very simple caused a big stir. The entirety of John Chapter Nine is devoted to the story of a man who was born blind, whom Jesus healed, resulting in the religious establishment losing their minds!
The Pharisees were founded as men dedicated to the Scriptures and nurturing the spiritual heritage of Israel. Sadly, in their self-importance they lost sight of God's power. One of the negative aspects of religious practice without the living God and Christ, is the hardening of the heart and the darkening of understanding.
It is amazing that the Pharisees could not accept the miracle of the blind man becoming healed, or even rejoice about his happy outcome, because it was beyond their understanding and control. They questioned the authenticity of Jesus to the man, who could only say, “One thing I know: I was blind, but now I see.”
Jesus came to disrupt the status quo, reveal the Kingdom of God, and humble self-important people. The same Scriptures which the Pharisees had read often plainly predicted Jesus and His works.
The irony of the story is this: A man received his sight, but the Pharisees proved their blindness to God.
Jesus described the Pharisee’s condition, “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.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” (v. 40)
With all of our learning from God and standing on what we know, do not stop learning, embracing truth, and remaining open to the works of Christ.
Reflection Question: In your life, is there anything you have embraced that stands in the way of moving forward in God's power?
Action Item:
