Jesus Opens Our Eyes
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewJesus heals a blind man. His work and authority are doubted by many, but after the blind man receives his sight, He sees the Son of Man for who He truly is.
Notes
Transcript
TITLE: Jesus Opens Our Eyes
TEXT: John 9, Jesus Heals a Blind Man
INTRODUCTION:
Happy Mother’s Day
Today’s message is not about mothers, but I do want to take a minute to praise our great God for all of you here at COTV that our Lord has blessed and will bless with the high honor of being a mom. I do not speak from personal experience since I am not a mom, but I know that from that moment you welcome your first baby into the world begins a life of great love and sacrifice for your children.
Day after day you give of yourself to provide for them and ensure they have everything they need. Even further as disciples of Christ, you give of yourself to raise your children in the instruction of the Lord. Please know this morning from your pastors that your love and your labor for both your kids and the rest of the kids at COTV is evident and cherished.
Work hard in the faith both inside and outside of your home! Keep sowing the seeds of the Gospel in faith, and let God give the growth. Your labor is not in vain.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
LAST WEEK: John 8.31-39, I AM Who I AM
Last week, we concluded John 8 together with a pinnacle moment in all of John’s gospel. Some of the Jewish people who had in some way expressed their belief in Jesus still questioned our Lord while also appealing heavily to their heritage in Abraham.
They did not think themselves in need to be freed from anything (Jn 8.33). As the physical offspring of Abraham, surely they bore his righteousness before God by birthright (Jn 8.39).
As Jesus began to correct their understanding, their hostility and the true position of their hearts began to show.
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Jesus’ claim here to be Yahweh, the God of the OT who spoke to Moses as the eternal existing God of all things that has no beginning and no end, the God who would free His people from the slavery of Egypt… this claim was perfectly clear to all who heard it.
The people picked up stones to kill him in accordance with the Law, but His time had not yet come. There was yet more to be done before than day came.
THIS WEEK: John 9, Jesus Heals a Blind Man
That brings us to the beginning of John 9 this morning.
This is a longer narrative than usual for us this morning, but it seemed best to cover it all together since the main focus of Jesus’ work comes full circle at the end of the chapter.
ILLUSTRATION: Blind Taste Test
I have many faults as a person, but one of them that comes back around to bite me sometimes if the fact that I am over confident. Yes, having high confidence can be beneficial, but sometimes I tend to have high confidence where I really have not reason to.
To date, I have done the Coca Cola vs Pepsi Blind Taste Test at least 4 times, and I still have not gotten it right. At this point, I would think that shear randomness would be on my side, but instead I have failed each time.
With my eyes open and holding each can, the tastes are so distinct! But with them closed, something happens and things just become less clear.
In a more serious manner, we certainly take for granted how much we truly rely on our sight each day. I cannot imagine the difficulties that come with physical blindness and how long it would take to get used to life in that manner, but still people learn how to live perfectly fine in that manner over time.
Today’s narrative and Jesus’ miraculous work to heal a blind man is hopefully going to open our eyes to a stark reality - We are naturally spiritually blind people. We are born into this world with a nature that rebels and opposes God in every way. Even further in our spiritual blindness, we have no idea which way to turn.
Thanks be to God that He has not left us in this darkness, but instead He came to us as the light of the world to open our eyes to our sin and our need for Him - the only name under heaven than Has the power to overcome sin and death.
Fix your eyes on Him today and be saved.
MAIN IDEA:
Jesus’ ministry was purposed to glorify God by opening the eyes of the spiritually blind and equipping His disciples to join in doing the same.
OUTLINE:
A Testimony Concerning His Works (v.1-12)
A Clear Rejection of the Truth (v.13-34)
A Gift of True Sight (v.35-41)
PRAYER
***We are going to read this in sections this morning since the narrative is long***
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
Behold A Testimony Concerning His Works (v.1-12)
Behold A Testimony Concerning His Works (v.1-12)
This narrative likely picks up shortly after the Feast of Tabernacles which comprised all of John 7-8 in Jerusalem. Jesus passes by and encounters a blind man. In comparison to the other Gospel accounts, this is not the only time our Lord comes across the blind.
Numerous times across the Gospels of Matthew (Matt 9.27-31, Matt 12.22, Matt 15.30, Matt 21.14) and Mark (Mark 8.22-26, Mark 10.46-52), Jesus gracious restored the sight of blind people.
This narrative is slightly different. Not only is this man blind, but he has been blind from birth which sparks the theological curiosity of His disciples.
2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
What is the problem? —> A man is blind and has been from birth.
What is His disciples’ presumption? —> This man’s blindness is due either to his own sin or the sin of his parents.
Where does this thought process come from? The Law
Example - Moses Makes New Tablets
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
The disciples believed that personal sin or that of your family was the primary or exclusive cause of personal suffering. Now… to be clear for us this morning, sin is certainly a cause of suffering.
Example - Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.
10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.
Jesus Heals at the Pool of Bethesda
13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”
That being clear as a possibility, it is not always the case. Though sin (rejection or ignoring God and His Word via thought, word, or deed) can certainly bring about consequences in our lives, the error made here in the presumption is that all suffering is tied to specific sin (the man or his parents).
From the moment of the Fall (Gen 3), sin and death changed everything in this world as the Lord said it would (Gen 2.16-17). Suffering exists due to the general effect of sin that started in Adam and has passed to everyone since (Gen 6, Gen 8)… which is exactly where Jesus’ answer begins.
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Jesus’ response actually undercuts their entire presumption. He does not deny the general connection between sin and suffering, but Jesus certainly says that is not the case for this man.
Jesus’ answer also highlights the blindspot in their perspective —> Though this man’s suffering has been great in life, God would use it to display His goodness and glory through His working among the people.
God Glorified Through Lazarus’ Sickness
4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
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QUICK APPLICATION:
We do not often think in this manner —> My present suffering is ultimately purposed for the glory of God. No, in our flesh we do not often consider a more grand purpose than our own well being. BUT… as we open God’s Word we learn more and more that this universe does not revolve around us, and our eyes are opened to truth concerning the will of God in our lives.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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(v.4) “We must work the works of him who sent me…”
With God being sovereignly at work in humanity so that His great name might be known, Jesus then turns to His disciples and says “We must work…” (v.4)
I think this statement can be understood both in their present context and for disciples of Christ from any age since. The disciples have a shared responsibility in His ministry. While He was still on earth, many walked with Him, learned from Him, were sent out by Him… doing the “works” of the Lord.
Define works —> ἔργον (ergon). n. neut. work, duty, task, workmanship. Refers to a task, or set of tasks, that is accomplished by someone. “This word may refer to the duties that a servant is required to perform”
For example, in Mark 13:34, a master goes away on a long journey and puts his servants in charge, each with his work (ergon)—indicating that each one has a certain task to accomplish while the master is away. This parable is used to describe the second coming of Christ; in a like manner, the apostles and Christians have duties.
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QUICK APPLICATION: Join in working the works of the Lord!
Christian, let us no longer be passive in our faith! Let us spur one another on to love and good works that He has prepared for us before the foundation of the world that we would walk faithfully in them.
Let us work hard here, in Hazel Green / Meridianville / Huntsville. Let us contend for the faith together, sow gospel seeds all over this community together, and gather regularly to continually be encouraged to this end.
Let us also work hard among the nations. At some point, I would love to have the problem of our annual team visiting our brothers and sisters in Nepal to fill up too quickly and we have to consider a second trip. Our Lord is doing such amazing things over there that I greatly desire for you all to be a part of.
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(v.5)
“As long as I am…” —> Jesus did not cease being the light of the world when He ascended back to the Father. Just like the sun does not cease to exist when it becomes night, neither does the Son cease to be who He truly is when His departure back to the Father’s right hand came.
Even after his departure, He is still the light of world (Jn 8.12) and the life of men (Jn 1.5), but now His church indwelled by His Spirit shines His light brightly in the darkest areas of this world.
(v.6-7)
Jesus anoints the man’s eyes with mud made from using His spit and commands his washing in the Pool of Siloam.
DEFINE - “Pool of Siloam” —> An artificial pool that received waters from the Spring of Gihon through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. During the Feast of Booths, water for the water pouring rites was drawn from this pool (John 7.37-39, Jesus the living water)
He obeyed the Lord as commanded, washing and He was healed. His sight was restored.
(v.8-12) The Blind Man’s Testimony
Some marvelled at what had happened. The known, blind beggar was now seeing! But others doubted or even remained in their unbelief at his miraculous healing.
“It is not him” they theorized because it just could not be true. Such a miracle could only be done by God himself. They do ask him what happened, he gives them his testimony of personal experience with the man called Jesus.
His testimony —> I am the man! The now healed blind man spoke concerning his healing, and they questioned him further instead of marvelling at the impossible. He spoke specifically concerning the name of Jesus. He obeyed the word of the Lord, and the Lord was faithful to restore his sight.
The blind man could now see, and he knew that this miraculous work came from the hands of a man named Jesus, regardless of those who doubted. He did not know much more or even where Jesus had gone afterwards, but initially… this man knew who was responsible for His physical renewal.
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”)
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
See A Clear Rejection of the Truth (v.13-34)
See A Clear Rejection of the Truth (v.13-34)
(v.13-17)
Those who doubted this man’s testimony brought him to the Pharisees, for they could not make sense of what they had seen. John’s wording here is wonderful, describing him as the “formerly blind” man. When our Lord works, He accomplishes the purpose He sets out to complete.
By no surprise, the Pharisees take issue with Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath once again. We have mentioned previously in John’s gospel that Jesus purposefully healed on the Sabbath… not because He wanted to provoke them to anger… but to show them His authority.
The Pharisees follow suit with the people asking how he received his sight. He answered them honestly. Instead of marvelling at this man’s restored sight, some of them held firmly to their distorted view of the Sabbath (v.16), while others seemed to honestly consider the greatness of Jesus and His works.
In asking for the man’s testimony of the person of Jesus, he concludes him to be a “prophet” (v.17)
DEFINE - The Greek term used here for PROPHET (prophētēs) means “A person inspired by God to reveal God’s purpose or will.” - Lexham Theological Workbook
In the NT, this term is usually used to speak of the prophets of the OT and their writings (Matt 1.22, 22.40). It is even used by the Jewish people to describe John the Baptist.
In a more general sense, it is also used for prophets of other false gods (Titus 1.12).
The formerly blind man certainly elevates Jesus beyond what many of the religious elite considered Him. In seeing the works of the Lord, the formerly blind man unknowingly begins his pursuit of what is true! (Acts 17:26-27)
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
(v.18-23)
How do the religious leaders and the people respond?
The term used for “Jews” here does not mean the people in general, but instead it focuses on the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders of this time. They rejected this man’s testimony.
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APPLICATION: Being Intellectually Honest
Illustration - Holding to a Position
The coming response of the Jewish people in v.18 reminds me of many times in my best when I would rather cling to my position I knew to be incorrect to save myself the embarrassment of saying “I was wrong.”
I do not recommend this approach in anything. It is a position that lacks humility and does not show love for your fellow believer or unbeliever.
We must be intellectually honest on our pursuit of what is true, most importantly in what is true concerning God. We revere God and His word given to us so that we might see and believe.
We are like faithful Bereans (Acts 17.10-15) who when they recieved the Word with eagerness, then began to examine the Scriptures to determine if what Paul and Silvanus taught was actually true.
This also comes with an openness to being wrong. Instead of clinging to something about God based on tradition or desire for it to be true, let’s approach the Word with open hands, holding certain theological positions firmly (Who is God? Who is Jesus? What is the Gospel? How are sinners saved?) while other we hold loosely, letting what we believe be shaped by His Word instead of our wants.
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To prove out their position, they seek out the formerly blind man’s parents who in turn confirm that this is their son and that he was certainly born blind.
His parents even say “let him speak for himself”, but John gives us some further insight to the social dynamics perpetuating from the Jewish religious leaders.
Firstly, the formerly blind man’s parents were fearful (v.22a). Similarly to what we saw at the Feast of Booths (Jn 7.13), the people were fearful to speak openly of Jesus bc with that would come great consequences.
Specifically, rejection and exile from the synagogue came to those that confessed Jesus as the Christ (Romans 10.9)
What are the implications of such a confession?
To confess Jesus as the long awaited King and Deliverer spoken of by the Patriarchs, the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalmists would completely disrupt the religious landscape of first century Israel.
If Jesus is the Christ, no longer would the people turn their eyes to the Pharisees for wisdom and truth, but instead they would look to the One where wisdom and truth find their origin.
Said more simply - the Pharisees had great incentive to no believe the formerly blind man and to reject anyone who professed Jesus as the Christ because it was in their personal, sinful, worldly best interest to do so.
(v.24-34)
“Give Glory to God” - A statement by the Pharisees intended to draw a distinguishing line between Yahweh and this Rabbi whom they deemed a sinner. They classify our Lord in a category that only belongs to us - “We know that this man is a sinner.”
The religious elite take a step that the formerly blind man is unwilling to take. He does not pretend to know or even speak of Jesus’ position before God, but his testimony still reigns true - I was blind, but now I see… and it is all because of this man, Jesus.
(v.26) Again… they ask him to speak about what happened? How was his sight restored?
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APPLICATION:
Do not be like the Pharisees, finding every excuse to remain in your unbelief today. You can join the millions throughout the ages who have brought their doubts and critiques against the person of Jesus or His Word.
Isaiah 55:10–11 “10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
You can remain in your present position before the Lord as one who suppresses the truth (Rom 1.19), who ignores his eternal power and divine nature that have been clearly revealed ever since the creation of the world (Rom 1.20).
You can remain in the darkness, with foolish hardened hearts, blinded by all the excuses and objections that Satan wants us to cling so tightly to.
I’ve been there… loving the world and hating the truth… there is no hope to be found there. Come to the Lord today!
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(v.27)
The formerly blind man criticizes them, for they are not pursuing truth but are looking for theological escape routes instead of dealing with the matter at hand.
“And they reviled him…” - For the truth, they verbally abused him (Greek) just like what our Lord recieved (1 Peter 2.22-23).\
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
They elevated their position as disciples of Moses above the formerly blind man. They appeal to what is known about Moses, but not known about Jesus, though it is fair to said that their “not knowing” is purposeful.
What are they missing - Jesus is better than Moses (Hebrews 3.1-6)
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
(v.30-33)
A testimony that is theologically rich and saturated, not be preference or purposeful unbelief, but by the Scriptures. Simply, the formerly blind man defends Jesus as being from God based on God’s word alone.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
(v.34)
The ultimate rejection of truth accompanied by self exaltation. Instead of seeking truth, they drove him out of the synagogue. In their position of great pride, they conclude that this lowly man could have nothing to teach them.
From the religious leaders of the Jewish people, we see a continued, purposeful rejection of truth that was right in front me them. Instead of pursuing truth, the clung tightly to their comfortable positions of ignorance. Meanwhile, the formerly blind man’s understanding of Jesus becomes more clear saying the One who healed me must be from God.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
Receive A Gift of True Sight (v.35-41)
Receive A Gift of True Sight (v.35-41)
(v.35-41) A Gift of True Sight
Jesus pursued the rejected, formerly blind man. Cast out by the religious leaders, Jesus came again to man to solve his greatest problem that still remained.
ILLUSTRATION: If there is one thing you would change about yourself, what would it be?
We naturally think of something that can be physically changed. This is not a surprise because we live in a physical world where there are physical problems, and if some of these physical problems could be vanquished, we would consider ourselves that much more satisfied.
Our greatest problem is a shared human problem: SIN
We Are Sinners, Unable to Do Spiritual Good
Romans 3:9–12 “9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.””
Our Guilt in Sin Separates Us From Him
Isaiah 59:1–2 “1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”
Because He is Just, His Condemnation Rests On Unbelievers
John 3:16–18 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Jesus’ Question
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The Greek verb used here for BELIEVE (pisteuō), like Joe has mentioned a number of times already across John’s Gospel, does not simply mean to agree that something exists. It means to entrust, “the act of believing or trusting something on the basis of its truthfulness and reliability.” - Lexham Theological Workbook
The object of entrusting here?
The Son of Man
Jesus’ use of this phrase here is purposeful. The “Son of Man” was a phrase frequently used by Jesus to describe Himself and His ministry. And Jesus uses it here among a primarily Jewish crowd because the “Son of Man” was an OT apocalyptic figure that influences Jewish expectations of the Messiah.
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Influence of Daniel 7
The phrase “one like a son of man,” denotes a human-looking figure who is given privileges normally reserved for God: authority, glory, sovereign power, the worship of men of every language, and an eternal kingdom (Dan 7:14).
Now we see that for the Jewish people, Jesus calling Himself the “Son of God” would not have been met with the same response as Him referring to Himself as the “Son of Man”, the long awaited One with the highest authority and an everlasting kingdom.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
The formerly blind man respond, “Tell me who he is so that I may believe.”
Jesus points to Himself, and the formerly physically blind man, now formerly spiritually blind man confesses Jesus as Lord and worships Him. A truly amazing example of what true repentance and faith looks like and produces in us.
Jesus came to give of himself freely to the world, for He is salvation to all who would receive Him. BUT… to those who are wise in their own eyes, only judgment will befall them. All judgment has been given by the Father to the Son (Jn 5.22).
Are we also blind? (v.40)
Such an ironic question.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
APPLICATION: Today is the Day
Like the Pharisees in v.41, your guilt due your sin does not have to remain today.
The Light of the World came that we might not longer remain guilty, enslaved to our sin and unable to make our way back to Him.
The answer to your greatest eternal problem is not found within you or external to you somewhere in this world. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15.56-57).
Today, the He is calling us out of the darkness of our sin into His marvelous light.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
