JOHN CHAPTER NINE: SEEING THE LIGHT

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is John Chapter Nine. The thing I find so fascinating about it is how the man who received his sight progresses in his understanding "the Light" standing before him (v. 5). The incident happens with Jesus initiating the meeting; Jesus saw a man who had been born blind; we are not told how Jesus knew that (v. 1). The blind man knew only that the person who healed him was a Man named Jesus (v. 11).

The man's neighbors were not satisfied with the man's answer, so they took him to the Pharisees (v. 13), who debated over whether or not his healing was done by a sinner, or that it was the work of God (v. 16). When they ask the man his opinion of Jesus, he responded this time by saying "He is a Prophet" (v. 17).

The Jews, not believing the man's testimony, asked his parents to verify that their son had been born blind, and how it was that he could now see (v. 19). Out of fear of retribution if they told the Pharisees that they believed Jesus was the Christ (Israel's Messiah), the parents told the Pharisees to ask their son (v. 20-23).

When the Pharisees asked the man again how he was healed by a sinner, he replied that he didn't know if Jesus was a sinner or not (Israel's Messiah was thought to be a man like all men, and therefore one capable of sin), but he knew that whoever had healed him, now had him for a disciple (note that he responded by saying, "will ye also be His disciples?" (v. 24-27).

The man's sarcasm was not appreciated, and after they had rebuked him, he responded by saying, "If this man were not of God, He could do nothing" (v. 28-33). He was confirming Jesus was a Man of God. They again rebuked him, and, as his parents had predicted, they cast him out of the synagogue (v. 22, 34).

When Jesus heard about what had happened, He went to the man and asked him, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (v. 35). The man replied, "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?" (v. 36). Jesus identified Himself as the Lord by saying, "Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee" (v. 37). The man replied to the Lord that he believed He was the Son of God, and he worshiped Him (v. 38)!

This man went from being blind, both physically and spiritually, to receiving "seeing the Light!" To him, Jesus went from being just a man, to being a prophet, to being the Christ, to being his Teacher, to being a Man of God, to being both Son of God and Lord! The result, whenever a person "sees the Light," is he worships Him!

Have you seen the Light?
Then become His disciple, allow Him to be Lord, and worship Him!