This chapter contains a single narrative: Jesus healing a man who was born blind. Jesus’ healing of physical blindness is a teaching aid for His lesson on spiritual sight / blindness.
“[The healed blind man] said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him. Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.’ 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, ‘Are we also blind?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, “We see,” your guilt remains.’ ” (v38-41)
The disbelieving religious officials (Pharisees) interviewed multiple people after Jesus had healed the blind man, because they were determined to prove Jesus was a sinner and not from God. Yet, Jesus’ miracles, and all eyewitness testimony, pointed to the fact Jesus is indeed sinless and from God the Father (and ironically, this vendetta highlights sin in the Pharisees lives).
Ultimately the Pharisees begin questioning if Jesus is calling them spiritually ‘blind’, but He’s saying they’re actually worse than blind – they can ‘see’ (their own) sin, they’re intentionally ‘turning a blind eye’ and remaining willingly ignorant in their perceptions.
I strongly suggest we prayerfully look inward and see if God has / will open our eyes to any sin in our lives. I know for me, there are a few things He’s working on right now. I recommend we voluntarily ask for His help in redeeming those sinful areas because we don’t want to be willingly ignorant (ie. foolish on purpose) like the Pharisees.
Father God, our Righteous Redeemer and Compassionate Creator we praise Your holy and sovereign name. Holy Spirit we humbly ask You to open our eyes to any areas of habitual sin, and gently assist us in overcoming those strongholds. Please strengthen and uplift us, guard us from temptation, and keep us from straying off the path of righteousness. Jesus thank you for teaching and modeling the way. May we walk in Your footsteps with every word and action, every moment of every day, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training