39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
No doubt the teaching for which Christ came into the world was very great. His doctrine would be and ever remain a division among men - effectively revealing their hearts. This was prophesized over Him by Simeon when Jesus was but eight days old. We find in Luke:
33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:33-35 (NIV)
Jesus came as a Revealer and His Gospel remains a Revealer of the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart of man – laying open man’s true character. Those who humbly accept His light are made able to see while those who harden their hearts to the Truth of His Word remain in the darkness. Of Scripture, Scripture states the following Truth:
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:12-13 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)
We are all spiritually blind prior to our belief in Jesus as Savior yet some remain unaware of their darkness. Jesus’ intention in coming was to give sight to the spiritually blind enabling many precious souls to come out of the darkness and enter into His marvelous light. Those who were prideful of their own wisdom, knowledge and abilities thought His preaching foolishness. Sadly, this remains the case among every subsequent generation and will until Jesus returns. Paul writes of this in 1 Corinthians:
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 1 Cor 1:18-25 (NIV)
“Pride alienates man from heaven; humility leads to heaven.” Bridget of Sweden
The Gospel was and remains divisive. When preached, men promptly show themselves as desirous of the darkness or of the Light. Jesus came as a Light for the whole world being the True Light that gives light to every man. Unfortunately, Scripture tells us that men love the darkness rather than His light because the darkness enables them to hide their evil from man, failing to realize that nothing is hidden from God. Earlier in his gospel John tells us:
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 1:6-9 (NIV)
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:19-21 (NIV)
“Confidence in the natural world is self-reliance; in the spiritual world it is God-reliance.” Oswald Chambers