Jesus, the Light of the World
Study No. Seventeen John 9:1 - 41
In our previous study (chapter 8:12) while in the temple Jesus was heard saying:
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Here in 9:4 Jesus says:
4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Near the end of the chapter (v 39) He says: "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."
A lesson ‘in passing’.
As Jesus and the disciples leave the group who attempted to ‘stone Him’, they pass a blind man, begging by the wayside.
The disciples ask, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” They seem to have some pre-conceived assumptions.
Jesus gives them a third consideration; neither.
He shows them (and us):
To Never rule out the sovereignty of God (His will, His plan)
God’s purposes have a ‘timetable’.
The ‘day of grace’ is not indefinite.
He takes the time to heal the blind man.
We have no record of a conversation that Jesus may have had with this man. Except for the command to go to the pool of Siloam, He may not have spoken with him at all.
What follows ‘the healing’ is a very detailed account. If this were a present day story we would say this was written by a journalist who checked with all the sources and quoted them accurately. John himself was not present to hear any of the following conversations … but the Holy Spirit was. Read verses 8 – 34.
Jesus ‘finds’ the ‘healed’ man, now cast out of the synagogue.
Jesus asks a direct question – Do you believe in the Son of God?
Jesus ‘helps’ this man to a point of faith or belief.
Then Jesus uses this entire event to make a bold statement.
John 9: 39 ¶ And Jesus said, "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."
The desired effect was to bring both conviction and hope. The Jews (Pharisees) got the point. This is one more step in the escalation of the Pharisees’ rage and their commitment to put Jesus to death.
40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"
41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind (Jesus looks for an admission), you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
In our previous study (chapter 8:12) while in the temple Jesus was heard saying:
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Here in 9:4 Jesus says:
4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Near the end of the chapter (v 39) He says: "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."
A lesson ‘in passing’.
As Jesus and the disciples leave the group who attempted to ‘stone Him’, they pass a blind man, begging by the wayside.
The disciples ask, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” They seem to have some pre-conceived assumptions.
Jesus gives them a third consideration; neither.
He shows them (and us):
To Never rule out the sovereignty of God (His will, His plan)
God’s purposes have a ‘timetable’.
The ‘day of grace’ is not indefinite.
He takes the time to heal the blind man.
We have no record of a conversation that Jesus may have had with this man. Except for the command to go to the pool of Siloam, He may not have spoken with him at all.
What follows ‘the healing’ is a very detailed account. If this were a present day story we would say this was written by a journalist who checked with all the sources and quoted them accurately. John himself was not present to hear any of the following conversations … but the Holy Spirit was. Read verses 8 – 34.
Jesus ‘finds’ the ‘healed’ man, now cast out of the synagogue.
Jesus asks a direct question – Do you believe in the Son of God?
Jesus ‘helps’ this man to a point of faith or belief.
Then Jesus uses this entire event to make a bold statement.
John 9: 39 ¶ And Jesus said, "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."
The desired effect was to bring both conviction and hope. The Jews (Pharisees) got the point. This is one more step in the escalation of the Pharisees’ rage and their commitment to put Jesus to death.
40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"
41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind (Jesus looks for an admission), you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.