Seeking a Contradiction

Lesson #159

With this lesson we will start the fifth section of chapter 9, which is defined by John 9:24 – 34. In the last lesson the Jews called on the parents of the man who claimed to have been born blind, who Jesus gave sight to for the first time, and asked if this was their son and if he was indeed born blind. The answer given by the parents satisfied the Jews that this was indeed the man. We enter this lesson with the Jews, for the second time, asking the man how he gained his sight.

“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.” (John 9:24 ESV). The character of two people is referenced in this verse. First, the phrase, “Give glory to God” is a form of oath in telling the truth. The Jews are implying that the man is not being truthful with them in some way and that he should confess his falsehood to God and ask to be forgiven. To encourage him to do that they claim Jesus to be a sinner. This is based on the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath and thus broke the Law and that he is not the Son of God as he claims, but is in fact an impostor.

The man then answers, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25 ESV). At this point the man does not know Jesus well enough to know that he is without sin. He honestly answers that he does not know. The one thing he does know, which is the point of the inquiry, is that he was blind and now he sees. His answer does establish focus again. “They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”” (John 9:26 ESV). I don’t believe they are looking for new information as much as they hope to draw him into a contradiction with his previous testimony. The Jews are bearing down on this man, hoping to get him to say something that would discredit this miracle, but God isn’t going to let that happen and gives the poor man grace and strength to make a bold confession and exasperate the Jews.

“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?”” (John 9:27 ESV). With grace and strength from God, the man steps up and delivers a strong punch. He asks the Jews why they would want to hear again. It is clear that they are not listening because their minds are blind to any worthy thing Jesus does. The statement the man made that will really set the Jews off is, “Do you also want to become his disciples?” As you can well appreciate, this statement will incur their wrath against him because in no way do the Jews want any relationship with Jesus. Their response will be covered in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, as I read testimonies of prisoners of persecution, I see the same process being used by the persecutors that the Jews were using. Pressure is used under some form of physical or emotional pain to get the persecuted person to confess to something that is not true or to deny their belief in something. Father, I pray that you will provide me with the grace and strength if I one day I am faced with similar circumstance.