John 9:34

If but one drop of deadly poison is placed in a glass of water it permeates and contaminates the entire glass. Such is the nature of sin – it permeates and contaminates each soul from conception. Scripture tells us:

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- Romans 5:12 (NIV)

Sin and death literally swept through the world’s door by way of Adam’s sin, penetrating the entire human race as a vaporous stench will permeate a room. Plunged into sin with Adam, the human race from conception on comes equipped with the sinful nature.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)

King David acknowledged his moral impotence by stating he was conceived and born a sinner and that at no time was he completely without sin and not in desperate need of cleansing – just as we all are without Jesus. He writes regarding this in Psalm 51:

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalms 51:5 (NIV)

A few verses later in the same Psalm, King David states his need for cleansing before a Holy and Righteous God – again just as each person born from Adam on has the same exact need:

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7 (NIV)

Hyssop was used in religious ceremonies to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the altar as a representation of the removal of sin by the shedding of blood – a foreshadowing of Christ’s work of redemption on the cross. We no longer have the need to be sprinkled as Christ blood was shed once and for all. Those who believe in Jesus are cleansed by His blood, healed by His stripes. Those who do not believe are not cleansed and remain unholy before a Righteous and Holy God whose wages for sin is death:

12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Heb 9:12-14 (NIV)

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23 (NIV)

Our religious zealots could not bear to take advice from one in whom they considered to be so beneath them. In their inability to reply to his argument they resort to personal abuse and violent language. Alluding to the fact that he was born blind and casting a slur that it was due to his sin, all the while these Pharisees were themselves remaining blind to their own wallowing in the mud. Jesus had made it clear to his disciples earlier in this same chapter that this man’s blindness was not due to his sin rather that the work of God might be displayed in his life:

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. John 9:1-3 (NIV)

“Inability to reply to argument is often the true cause of ill-temper in personalities. Truth can afford to be patient; error cannot.” J. C. Ryle

Proud men scorn to be taught especially by those they consider inferior to their high standing or rank. Indeed, they were appalled that one they considered so miserable and wicked would think he could teach them – how very wrong they were! We should take note of this as well. Our God is very creative and often uses many means to communicate Truth with us – sometimes through very unordinary ways. In her book A Sacred Echo, Margaret Feinberg writes:

"God often uses the repetitive events and themes in daily life to get my attention and draw me closer to Himself. Now instead of just listening for God's whisper, I am trying to recognize the sacred echoes- those moments when God speaks the same message to my heart again and again. I call them sacred echoes because I've noticed that throughout my relationships, daily life, and study, the same scripturally sound idea or phrase or word will keep reappearing until I can no longer avoid its presence. Is this mere coincidence or is it something more? When it comes to hearing from God, I firmly believe the Bible is our source and authority. God's Word is like a megaphone to His people. Throughout Scripture God speaks through kings and queens, princes and prophets, poets and pilgrims. He speaks through weather patterns, barnyard animals and even the stars in the sky. God is not only creative, but He is persistent in getting our attention and communicating with us.” Margaret Feinberg