SPIRITUAL SIGHT AND SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

Passage: John 9:35-41

Key verse: 35

NIV

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe(A) in the Son of Man?”(B)

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”(C)

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”(D)

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.(E)

39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment(F) I have come into this world,(G) so that the blind will see(H) and those who see will become blind.”(I)

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”(J)

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.(K)

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Footnotes
  1. John 9:39 Some early manuscripts do not have Then the man said … 39 Jesus said.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in (A)the Son of Man?”[a] 36 He answered, (B)“And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and (C)it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, (D)“For judgment I came into this world, (E)that those who do not see may see, and (F)those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, (G)“Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, (H)you would have no guilt;[b] but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

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Footnotes
  1. John 9:35 Some manuscripts the Son of God
  2. John 9:41 Greek you would not have sin
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Do you believe in the Son of Man? (35-38)

To be thrown out of the synagogue was a social and religious tragedy. Because this man held to his convictions, he was cast out. He was cut off from his people, even cut off from his own parents. Jesus went to see him. Jesus did not offer him a job or an apartment. He planted faith in his heart. He opened his spiritual eyes to see the Christ, and thus find the one worthy of his worship. It was worth it all.

2. Are we blind too? (39-41)

Jesus did not come to judge or condemn, but men judge themselves by their response when they confront him. So he said, 'I came into this world for judgment.' When men deliberately suppress the truth, they become spiritually blind. The Pharisees were guilty because their rejection of truth was deliberate. A man who deliberately closes his eyes is blind--and he is responsible.

Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God. Help me to walk daily in the light of your truth.

One Word: Lord, I believe