The Gospel of John: Come and See Faith

Sunday we will begin our study of John 9, Jesus’ healing a blind man. The blind walk in darkness as a physical reality. Here the physical reality is used to demonstrate the spiritual blindness that Jesus has been discussing with the Jewish leaders. The text uses physical blindness to teach a spiritual truth regarding faith in Jesus. The young man is fundamentally changed and nothing can assail his faith, not even being excommunicated from his religious community.

We’ll start at the end of the chapter, where Jesus says, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” The remaining Pharisees ask Jesus, “Are we also blind?” Jesus’ answer is sobering, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

As a reader, we are challenged to ask the question, “Can I see or am I blind?” If your “seeing” is faith in Jesus, then you stand in the grace and forgiveness of God. If you believe you can see without Christ, then you stand outside his grace.

As you prepare to worship, read John 9 and consider what it means to be spiritually blind.