Watch Out for Your Blind Spot? - Jesus 9:35-41

Spiritual Blindness - John 9:35-41

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 

Jesus reconnects with the man, after learning he had been kicked out of the temple. Though there was some level of belief in the man, especially as he attributed the miracle to Jesus, he had not fully come to understand who Jesus was.  Note Jesus, "found him"! Jesus cared about him and wanted to make sure the work of salvation he began in him came to completion. 

Jesus asks him if he believes in the "Son of Man?" The man's response shows he did not completely understand who Jesus was. Jesus is asking this in less of an intellectual question, as much as a personal question. The word "believe" John's gospel has more to do with experience than intellect. It is driven by the will more than an intellectual assent to a set of propositions. The man had already shown his courage to defend Jesus in the midst of intense hostility and insults from the Jewish leaders. 

The fact that Jesus accepted his worship shows once again that he equated himself with God. 

The formerly blind man showed an increasing awareness of Jesus. (Guzik)

· Jesus is a man (John 9:11).

· Jesus is a prophet (John 9:17).

· Jesus is my master, I am His disciple (John 9:27).

· Jesus is from God (John 9:33).

· Jesus is the Son of God (John 9:35-38).

· Jesus is who I trust (John 9:38).

· Jesus is who I worship (John 9:38).

Jesus then teaches on the connection between the man's physical healing and his spiritual healing. First the man was able to trust Jesus' word for his physical healing, when he obeyed him by going to the pool of Siloam. Now he trusts in who he is as the Son of God. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were the true "blind ones". They didn't believe in the man's healing, and they certainly did not believe Jesus was the Son of God, and the Son of Man. (Note: These two phrases are used interchangeably and mean the same thing!)

The Pharisees overhear the conversation between Jesus and the man, get defensive and ask Jesus if they are blind as well. I think they are saying this way in a sarcastic tone. 

"The Pharisees sneered at Jesus, confident in their own spiritual sight – which was blindness, because they could not see the Son of God right in front of them." (Guzik)

Jesus calls them out on the root cause of their sin. They think they can see (they think are righteous), but their pride (self righteousness) prevents them from seeing their need for the true righteousness which is a gift from God. Like those who are sick can only get well when they go to a doctor for help, the Pharisees will die in their blindness if they don't realize that Jesus is the Son of God!

Can you see the evolution of your faith moving from simply knowing about Jesus to "knowing" him in a biblical sense? Where do you tend to have pride in your life? How can not being aware of one's pride become a blind spot?