Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” (John 9:26-29)
The Pharisees, as usual only believe in following Moses and the letter of the law, but what they didn't realize was that ...the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17) Moses even acknowledged Chris Jesus' power and authority, when three of the disciples saw ...And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30) But even if the Pharisees had witnessed that, they probably still wouldn't believe and find some illogical way to justify it. The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. (John 9:30-34)
Normal reaction, don't like hearing the Truth so turn a deaf ear or get away from the person speaking it, or in this case, remove the person from your presence. An interesting comment the healed man made is, Now we know that God does not hear sinners. There was a song a few years ago that was very popular, "Sinner's Prayer". Does God hear a "sinner's prayer"? No and Yes! No, If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. (Psalm 66:18) The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29) Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord,... One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. (Proverbs 1:29, 28:9) But, Jesus came..., preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15) ...For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13) Therefore, if a sinner prays a prayer of repentance, remorse for your past conduct, which leads to turning away from sin and turning to God, dedicating oneself to the amendment of one's life, then Yes!, God does hear that prayer.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. (John 9:35-38) This man had the opportunity to not only be healed by Jesus, but to also be eye witness to Jesus and believe in Him, based on His direct contact. Jesus told one of the disciples after his resurrection, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) That would be all of us who have accepted salvation through "faith" in Christ Jesus. Faith is believing without seeing! (Hebrews 11) 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.” (John 9:39) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)
Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains. (John 9:40-41) Basically Jesus is saying He can't help or even save anyone who doesn't "see" they need help or salvation. Specifically the Pharisees and Jewish leaders problem was that, Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” [Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22] as it is written. (Romans 17:24)
Let's not remain in the same company as the Pharisees. Let's not think we're fine just the way we are, outside of a relationship with God through faith in Christ Jesus. Give Christ Jesus a chance, even if we don't quite understand what that means. Let's do like the man who came to Jesus for help and profess, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) Come as we are, and the Holy Spirit of God will help us; ...no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (I Corinthians 2:11-12) Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8)
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