Read:

John 9:35-41

³⁵ 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?  ³⁶ He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?  ³⁷ And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  ³⁸ And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.  ³⁹ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.  ⁴⁰ And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?  ⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Isaiah 5:21

²¹ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Exhortation:

Jesus came looking for the blind man whom He had healed, because He knew that the poor man had been mistreated and driven out by the proud Pharisees. Though persecutors and religious leaders may exclude good men from their communion, yet they cannot exclude them from communion with Christ, nor put them out of the way of His visits. Jesus Christ will graciously find and receive those who for His sake are unjustly rejected and cast out by men. He will be a hiding place to His outcasts, and the joy of those whom their brethren hated and cast out. Praise the Lord!

Another reason why Jesus came to the man was that he may receive fuller understanding of Him. Though the blind man believed that Jesus, the One who healed him, was of God, he was not sure who He was. According to today’s passage Jesus met him and granted him full understanding of His person. Now as He lifted the veil of ignorance from his spiritual eyes, he saw that Jesus is the Son of God. True faith is based on true knowledge of Christ. Faith based on experience alone is inadequate, for such is ignorant faith. Real faith involves an act of the will illumined by His grace and truth.

As for the Pharisees, they remained spiritually blind because they had hardened their hearts not to accept what they saw and heard. And for that reason, they were responsible for their sin.

The blind who come to sight are those who, admitting their helplessness and inability, trust Jesus for salvation. But those who see the truth and trust in their own reasoning will become blinder still. Their pride blinds them to the wonders of Jesus so they remain blind by rejecting Him.

Jesus, therefore, said that He came to bring judgment on mankind by revealing their sins through their responses to Him. His Gospel lays open men’s true characters!

Thought:

 Christ has come to us that we might come to Him.

PRAYER

 O Lord, may I walk in the light of Your presence, casting every sin out of my life.