John 9:26-27

In our verses for today our ex-blind man begins to get a little testy with his interrogators – his patience has begun to wear thin. Why did they keep on with the same questions over and over again? I think he clearly saw through to the duplicity of their unending questions and sought to get them to fess up to their actual motivation. What was all the commotion about concerning his Healer – why was it they were so insistent of attaching an evil slant and slur on such a miracle worker as Jesus? I feel certain our healed man knew these Pharisees held more against Jesus than simply His healing on the Sabbath. They had it out against our Lord and I have to believe our healed patient was not blind to this fact. These Pharisees simply did not like the way Jesus was shaking up their world – He made them look bad and perhaps even worse than that, feel bad about their actions. No one wants to feel conviction unless they are willing to change. That’s why so few people remain faithfully in the Word of God – it is so convicting. We either change or we quit opening ourselves up to its Truths.

“Every sermon, every Bible lesson, every word of testimony, and every verse of Scripture is a warning, calling us to repentance and revival. Our God is a consuming fire, and a day of judgment is coming. We must not neglect the warning, and today’s church must not forget that our message includes the ministry of warning.” Robert J. Morgan

We see here how much wiser our beggar was than the proud Jewish rulers. Interestingly, our blind guy now sees clearly while the Pharisees remained in the dark – they could not see because they would not receive the Truth. He now had eyes yet the Jewish leaders were blind. His ears were now opened to the Truth while theirs remained stopped up. Jesus constantly stated in Scripture:

15 He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 11:15 (NIV)

It is true that oftentimes the Words of our Lord are received by those of low means and little learning rather than those of high standing and education. Our Lord Himself states:

25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. Matt 11:25-26 (NIV)

“How strong is truth, and how weak is falsehood! Truth, though she take hold only of ordinary men, maketh them appear glorious; falsehood, even with the strong, makes them appear weak.” Chrysostom

Paul writes of this to the Corinthians:

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 1 Cor 1:26-29 (NIV)

If God had chosen His children on the basis of human wisdom, influence and nobility or high standing, many of us would not have made the cut. Yet Jesus turned the world’s standards upside down (as was His normal way) by choosing the ordinary rather than the outstanding to do His bidding. God does not look at the outside of the cup when choosing His vessels for use rather He looks at the heart – He deals from within. I am reminded of God’s Word to Samuel when he was sent to anoint the next King of Israel – King David:

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Sam 16:7 (NIV)

9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)