John 9:30 "The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened my eyes."
This is the account of Christ Jesus the Lord giving sight to the blind. This man was blind from birth. Yet this man was blind for a purpose. His disciples asked the Lord, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: BUT THAT THE WORKS OF GOD SHOULD BE MADE MANIFEST IN HIM." So then Christ anointed the eyes of the blind man with clay and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam (Sent) and upon doing so the blind man came forth seeing. Upon receiving sight the man went about telling his neighbors what happened and at last he was brought before the Pharisees. Because the Lord had made this man to see on the Sabbath day many of the Pharisees accused Christ of not keeping the Sabbath. Others asked, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them."
At first the Pharisees labeled the man a liar. Then they sought his parents
concerning the matter. His parents, obviously as religious as the Pharisees
and afraid of being cast out of the synagogue, would not speak on behalf of
their son but rather said he is of age let him speak for himself. And the
man stood firm telling all that Christ had done in him. The Pharisees then
reviled him saying "Thou are His disciple; but we are Moses' disciple.
We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence
He is." When at first the sinner's eyes are opened to see Christ
our righteousness, it is as a fountain bursting forth within. That man delights
to tell anyone that will listen. But soon God's grace toward a believer is
magnified when that believer learns that not all men are given this sight
to see.
"Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is,
and yet he hath opened my eyes"-the man said. These men were religious,
devout, highly respected Pharisees. These were men who sat in the chief seats
in the synagogue. Those deeply rooted in the tradition of their fathers claiming
to believe as Moses. And yet they did not know Christ. The thing that caused
this man to marvel was that Christ did not come to these outwardly religious
men. The works of God were not manifested in them but in him-a blind nobody.
This man was given more than physical sight for this man saw the mercy and
grace of God wrought in him through Christ Jesus the Lord. He was a beggar,
but he was not begging for sight. He was begging, like all spiritually blind
men, for material, temporal handouts to sustain him for the moment. This man
was too blind to seek Christ and yet Christ came to him. This man did nothing
to merit the Lord's favor and yet Christ gave this man the riches of sight.
And now, by the works of God made manifest in him, here he was speaking to
these learned, professors of religion about the man Christ Jesus in whom they
knew nothing about. He spoke boldy, "One thing I know, that whereas
I was blind, now I see." This came as an insult and a mystery to
the Pharisees. They considered themselves to be the ones that God hears. They
considered themselves to be worshippers of God. In all their works they claimed
to do His will. Yet, by trusting in their works they counted the work of Christ
to be in vain. This man saw Christ the triumphant Son of God and he knew Christ
came to do the work that no man had done since the world began.
It irritated the hearts of the Pharisees that if Christ is Who He claims to
be then man must give up all: the chief seats, the works, the synagogue, the
traditions. How often does a true believer encounter such self-righteous hostility?
In these modern times it infuriates men when they hear that Christ alone accomplished
salvation for His elect by His life, death and resurrection and that none
will be lost. If God is satisfied with the finished work of Christ Jesus the
Lord then salvation can not be by the filthy rags of man's works. If God is
the Author and Finisher of salvation then man must relinquish all boasting.
If the triune God is set forth as holy, just and righteous then the religious,
devout, highly respected leaders run the risk of bowing. They fear, as did
the Pharisees, that they may lose the parsonage and salary, the church-provided
automobile, the large building and congregation, and the programs and entertainment
that have become their tradition. These carnal lusts were more favored by
the Pharisees than glorifying the Savior. Thus, by his parents, his neighbors
and the Pharisees this man was cast out, but far greater to be cast out for
Christ's sake than to be counted among those who deny the righteousness of
God.
"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he
said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" Christ came to this
blind helpless beggar. Christ made this man see his need of the great Physician.
Christ made the ointment and applied it to the blind man's eyes. Christ turned
him from a world of darkness to Light. God revealed to this man what great
mercy he had been shown by crossing his path with those vessels of wrath fitted
for destruction. And now as Christ comes to this man once again, God revealed
that His Son would always be near to come to him. Furthermore, God revealed
that His sheep would never be without the Word. The account of grace given
to this man was preserved in scripture that multitudes after, such as us,
could see the works of God manifest in him. How great is the work of God!
He answered, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said
unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh to thee. And
he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him. This is every blind beggar's
response when Christ reveals Himself. This man was not concerned with what
his neighbor's thought or even what his parents thought. Nor was he concerned
that he had been barred from the synagogue. He did not call God unfair in
showing mercy to whosoever He will. Instead he bowed. He marveled --thankful
for that free grace of God in Christ, which made him to differ -- and he worshipped
Him.
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