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b) The Jews interrogate the healed man (John 9:13–34)
JOHN 9:13-15
13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.”
Jewish life was a prison of legalism; they were more concerned about Sabbath-breaking than the joy of healing. The neighbors and spies brought the cured man to the Pharisees to decide whether the healing was of God or by satanic agencies.
So began the interrogation and discussion on Jesus. The young man who was cured described the way the healing had taken place. He shortened his statement as his joy in healing had been muddied by the hatred of Jesus’ foes.
JOHN 9:16-17
16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them. 17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
After hearing his testimony, the legalists began to argue. Some said that Jesus has no power from God since he has broken God’s commandment. They thus passed judgment on Jesus by legalistic reasoning.
Others saw the connection between the blind man’s sin and his cure and pardon. They commented that the healing must have a deeper meaning, because it relates to God’s pardoning ability. It was therefore impossible for Jesus to be a sinner because he forgave the sin and resolved the cause of the affliction.
The two parties could not find a compromise. Both sides were blind, like many in our day who discuss Jesus superficially and pointlessly. Then they questioned the healed man to find out if Jesus had said anything else, and what did he feel about Jesus. Such inquiries are useful for folk who know something about Jesus; it is good to question those who are born again, for they know how to be freed from sin and God’s wrath. Apart from our spiritual rebirth we cannot see God.
The healed man began to think, "Who then is Jesus?" He compared Jesus to men of God in the history of his people. During that historical age many miracles were performed, but no one had ever cured a man born blind. From Jesus’ actions any thinking person could see that here was a unique savior. So the man called Jesus a prophet, who not only discerns the future but decides the present in God’s power. He searches hearts and expresses God’s will.
JOHN 9:18-23
18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”
The Jews refused to concede the logic of comparing the Old Testament’s miracles with God’s works of Christ that were marvels. They did not believe he was a prophet or God’s sent One, otherwise their position would have been faulty and would be blameworthy.
They fell back on a fallacy to the effect that the miracle was a delusion and that the man had not been blind at all. They were willing to allege the impossible to decry the happening of a miracle at Jesus’ hands. To heal one born blind seemed an impossibility to them, an affliction resulting from hereditary guilt.
The parents were brought around who had heard of their son’s problems with the police. These parents spoke cautiously for fear of the Pharisees, and denied what they had earlier heard from their son. They abandoned him, so as not to be entangled in the crisis. So the son was left on his own, responsible for himself. Expulsion from the Council was a grave matter; it means separation from society like a leper. It would also mean denial of rights and the chance of marriage. Jewish hatred for Jesus had reached this extent that they wished to destroy his followers too.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank you because you are God’s authority made flesh. Keep us in the hour of trial not to cling to our security and comfort more than to you. Lead us to deny ourselves and to courage and loyalty, to prefer death rather than forsake or neglect you.
QUESTION:
- Why did the Jews deny the possibility of the healing of the man blind from birth?