John 9 … Consider the Man Who is Called Jesus

Originally posted: 11/06/2019

So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight,” (9:10-11).

Oh the hardness of hearts… placing themselves in the judgment seat to determine whether or not the Man Who is Called Jesus was a sinner. The educated religious leaders refused to believe the Man was from God, for He healed on the Sabbath. Their misunderstanding of the teaching of God led them to a misinterpretation of the truth of God.

But there was one who understood completely. Though unschooled, he knew. He could not answer all the questions, he could not explain how, but he could certainly witness as to what, and more importantly Who.

He did not need to consider others’ opinions, for the Man Who is Called Jesus had touched him to heal. The Man Who is Called Jesus had anointed his eyes and now he could see. His personal encounter with the Man Who is Called Jesus was all he needed to declare what he knew to be truth.

He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”… ²⁵ He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,” (9:11, 25).

Consider the Man Who is Called Jesus

• The Man Who is Called Jesus displays the works of God.
  • “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ We must work the works of Him who sent Me… (9:2-4).

• The Man Who is Called Jesus dispels blindness.
  • So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight, (9:10-11).

• The Man Who is Called Jesus divides opinions.
  • Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them, (9:16).

• The Man Who is Called Jesus dignifies the displaced.
  • His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue… ³⁵ Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him… (9:22, 35).

• The Man Who is Called Jesus discloses Himself.
  • Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you,” (9:35-36).

• The Man Who is Called Jesus deserves our worship.
  • And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him, (9:38).
    

• The Man Who is Called Jesus determines man’s end.
  • And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” ⁴⁰ Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains,” (9:39-41).
    

How do we respond to the Man Who is Called Jesus?

We don’t have to have all the answers. We only have to turn by faith to the Man Who is Called Jesus and receive our sight and His forgiveness of sins.

“And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus… I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me,’” (Acts 26:15, 17-18).

And when we personally encounter Him, when see Him and come to know this Man Who is Called Jesus as our Lord and Savior and Healer: the One Who displays the works of God, dispels our blindness, divides opinions by His truth, dignifies the displaced, discloses Himself to the likes of us, and determines our end…

…we will know exactly what to do:

• We will share with others what the Man Who is Called Jesus has done for us. How can we not?
  • “…one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,” (9:25).

• We will worship the Man Who is Called Jesus with all we are. How can we not?
  •  And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him, (9:38).

Lord, how grateful we are for the Man Who is Called Jesus, Who went to the cross for our sins and rose from the dead to conquer sin and death. Please Lord, may we grow in our desire to witness and worship with all that we are; for truly Lord, You deserve nothing less.

Let’s Grow Together!