H- Highlight

If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

John 9:33

E- Explain

The Blind man who had been healed made the statement that a “man called Jesus” healed him.  When asked about a position on him, he stated “He is a prophet.”

The blindness of the “jews”, these pharisees, is put on full display.  They refused to believe that Jesus had anything to do with the healing.  They were passionately looking for some other explanation as you see in verse 18.

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.

John 9:18

Their solution was to call the parents, and to grill them.

19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

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.

John 9:19-21

They were quick to say the obvious, that this was there son.  Yet the scripture tells us that they had a motivation.  There answer was influenced by the blindness and the blind position of the pharisees.  

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.

23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

John 9:23

Think about the illogical thinking to question the man’s position to get information that they did not have.  They were not asking him these questions because they wanted to genuinely find out if Jesus had really healed the man.  They were questioning him to get him to say that Jesus wasn’t really who he claimed to be.

You may ask, “How do you know that?”.

Well first, because they had already taken a position of excommunication of anyone who believed in Jesus.

Secondly, because of how they questioned this healed, formerly blind man, and dismissed his testimony based on their faulty theology.  Look at verse 24.

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. 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.

John 9:24-25

This was the purpose of the miracle.  The fact that he stood seeing in front of them was undeniable.  Again, look at their willful blindness.  They ask the same question again with different wording, and the blind man answers them very clearly.

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 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? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

John 9:26-29

These pharisees tried to pit Moses against Jesus.  Remember that Moses is who wrote Genesis through Deuteronomy.  He was a hero and patriarch to these Jews.  They were saying that to believe Christ was to go against Moses.

Jesus said something to some Pharisees about this very issue in John 5:46-47.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 5:46-47

The pharisees that spent all this time in study of the Old Testament, in memorizing the text, in debating the text, in endlessly using it to assert their own authority are now not even able to see God work right in front of them.  This unlearned “sinful”, formerly blind man was beginning to understand who Jesus was.  Read how he stood up to them and spoke sense to them.  

30 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. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

John 9:30-33

Here is the third statement about Jesus the man has made.

• The first one was true, but not complete.  “A man called Jesus healed me”.
• The second one was also true, but not complete.  “This man is a prophet”.  A prophet speaks on behalf of God.
• This third statement is true, but not complete.  “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”  

This statement sums up the entirety of his argument against the blindness of the jews.  Their blindness was of their own making as we shall see.  

Here you have a formerly blind man, detested by the Pharisees, marveling at their own blindness.  He was speaking clearly on who Jesus was.  His position?  He is of God.

A- Apply

The blindness of these pharisees is remarkable, but if we are not careful we can become blind ourselves.  The issue with Christianity not being believed is not a lack of evidence.  The Bible is replete with fulfilled prophecy, historical truth, natural truth, internal consistency, and wisdom.  It is obviously infallible and inerrant.  Most people are unbelieving not because they have looked at the evidence and come away unsatisfied.  Most people are unbelieving because they have not seen the evidence, or do not want to look at the evidence because to believe has implications for how they will live.

We should declare Jesus to anyone who will listen.  We should be studied and prepared to give our own testimony, the scriptures testimony, and “evidence that demands a verdict”.  There will be some who hear and respond.  There will be others who refuse to respond.  

R- Response

God, help me to be a faithful witness for you when people are responding in faith, and when people are responding in rejection.  I’m forgiven because you were rejected and died for me.  I pray that I would be a good example of a personal evangelist to my family, friends, and church.  Show me blind spots in my own life so that I can think the way you want me to think.  In Christ’s name, Amen.