Can you remember times when you pretended you hadn't seen or heard certain instructions, because you didn't want to obey them! Just as a child might ignore his parent's instruction, or a person ignore the commandments God has given, or a driver ignore the road signs. You saw what should be done but didn't want to do it!
This is a kind of self-inflicted blindness that can be very serious - and can end up incurable! This was a "blindness" that we discover the Lord Jesus did NOT heal in this true story! But please listen on for there is good news too!
There was something that the Pharisees did not want to "see". They became furious with the blind man whom Jesus had healed, because he insisted that the person who had healed him was a true servant of God. They did not want to see, and believe, that Jesus was from God. (John 9:16,22,29.)
They said to the healed man, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture to us! And they threw him out."
"Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?'" (verse 34-35.) The name "Son of Man" was a special title for the glorious Messiah whom the Jews were waiting for God to send as the Saviour. (Daniel 7:13-14. 1st John 4:14.)
"'Who is He, sir?' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in Him.'
"Jesus said, 'You have now seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you.'
When the man realised that Jesus was the promised Messiah he worshipped Him and said, 'Lord, I believe:"
"Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.' (verse 37-39.)
Did Jesus mean He had come to make some people become blind? NO! that is not what He said. We must realise that all mankind is already blinded by the darkness of sin in their lives. (Ephesians 4:18. 1st John 2:11.) Jesus came as the Saviour so that people would be able to turn to Him to have that awful sinful darkness removed from their hearts.
God wants you to trust in His Son to forgive your sin and to free you from its darkness. (John 8:12.)
When you do that, you will no longer have to stumble through life in the blindness and darkness of sin. You will "see" and enjoy the light of God's forgiveness and favour. (1st Peter 2:9-10. Colossians 1:10-14.)
But maybe you are one of those who think they can see all right, because they believe their religion has been able to remove the darkness of their sin. Such people have a self-inflicted blindness! They are refusing to see what God has clearly made known - that only the Messiah whom He sent can take away their sin. (John 1:29. Acts 4:12.) They think they can see, but they are choosing to remain blind to God's Gospel. (2nd Corinthians 4:4.)
Read about the only One who can heal our self-inflicted blindness in John's Gospel chapter 9, verses 34-41.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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