"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1) Excellent words for any time in history. It seems that anyone who professes to believe in Jesus becomes a target. A target for derision. Such was the case for the blind man in John 9. By the time we get to verse 24 he has been raked over the coals by the Pharisees. This all begins in verse 13.
From the look of things, his neighbors and those who had seen him blind took him to the Pharisees. Right off the bat they don't like that this man's sight was restored on the Sabbath. Some said that this could not be the work of God because he didn't keep the Sabbath. Healing is a no-no on that day. Others wondered how such a miracle could take place if it wasn't from God.
Anything the blind man said to them was to no avail. The conclusion must be that this man could see already. They call the parents in, they're scared but they do testify to the fact this is their son and he was born blind. The Pharisees ask them why it is that he can now see. They pass the buck and tell them that their son is of age and to ask him.
The Pharisees called him in again. "Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner." (John 9:24) They're calling Jesus a sinner. The blind man responds that whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, he knows that he was blind and now he sees. The Pharisees begin to grill him again. His response is that he has already told them and since they refused to believe it the first time, why should he tell them again unless they also want to be his disciples.
Then things get ugly. It says reviled in the Bible (John 9:28) which is a mild description for saying that they threw a fit. They ranted and raved at the man. They go so far as to say that they're disciples of Moses. Jesus says in Matthew 5:11, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
This man, blind since birth, healed on the Sabbath by a man called Jesus. He didn't see the man who healed him, he only knew his name. But he wasn't going to change his story for anyone. Why? Because he knew that whoever this man was, he was greater than Moses. After all, he had been blind until Jesus came along. All those other years the Pharisees had done nothing for him. And now they want to persecute him for being healed by a man called Jesus. If you have a story to tell, tell it. Give Jesus the glory.
From the look of things, his neighbors and those who had seen him blind took him to the Pharisees. Right off the bat they don't like that this man's sight was restored on the Sabbath. Some said that this could not be the work of God because he didn't keep the Sabbath. Healing is a no-no on that day. Others wondered how such a miracle could take place if it wasn't from God.
Anything the blind man said to them was to no avail. The conclusion must be that this man could see already. They call the parents in, they're scared but they do testify to the fact this is their son and he was born blind. The Pharisees ask them why it is that he can now see. They pass the buck and tell them that their son is of age and to ask him.
The Pharisees called him in again. "Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner." (John 9:24) They're calling Jesus a sinner. The blind man responds that whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, he knows that he was blind and now he sees. The Pharisees begin to grill him again. His response is that he has already told them and since they refused to believe it the first time, why should he tell them again unless they also want to be his disciples.
Then things get ugly. It says reviled in the Bible (John 9:28) which is a mild description for saying that they threw a fit. They ranted and raved at the man. They go so far as to say that they're disciples of Moses. Jesus says in Matthew 5:11, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
This man, blind since birth, healed on the Sabbath by a man called Jesus. He didn't see the man who healed him, he only knew his name. But he wasn't going to change his story for anyone. Why? Because he knew that whoever this man was, he was greater than Moses. After all, he had been blind until Jesus came along. All those other years the Pharisees had done nothing for him. And now they want to persecute him for being healed by a man called Jesus. If you have a story to tell, tell it. Give Jesus the glory.
