One of those conundrums the Lord presents for us to ponder.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
Joh 9:40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
Joh 9:41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
For judgement I have come into this world says Jesus. That judgement is a sword which divides. Separating, dividing asunder, cutting. God always has this effect. He brings a sword of division and the result is that some see and some do not….some hear and some do not.
If anyone has ears to hear let him hear!!
Jesus also said “….For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37b
Pilate had asked Jesus if he were the king of the Jews? Jesus replied to him..
“Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
Whether you and I realise it or not much of what we think we know “about” Jesus and about what the Bible teaches has been told us by someone else. Paul made a point of saying that the Gospel he preached he did not receive from men but from the Lord Jesus himself by revelation.
Today most of us will run to the nearest commentary to find out what famous Bible teachers said about a certain verse. Thus much of what we believe has been taught us from men. That is okay of course for God uses each of us to teach in his own way.
Is the fear of God taught you by the commandments of men or have you gotten into the face and heart of God and wrestled with Him yourself?
Because they did not receive the love of the truth that they may be saved God shall send upon them strong delusion so that they believe the lie. 2Thess 2.
Same thing happening there. If you have no love for the truth you will believe the lie. When a lie is presented to you as truth you will not see the deception for you do not love the truth. To love the truth is a very costly thing. It will lose you your reputation, it will gain you enemies among those who say they see. It will not look like you are right to those who do not love the truth….it will appear as if you are all wrong.
Paul told us that “he who thinks himself to be something when he is nothing decieves himself.” And he also said ” And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:2
Because the Pharisees said in their hearts “We see!” Jesus told them the truth. Such an arrogant attitude of heart closes the ears and eyes to the entry of the life giving word which we so desperately need.
Receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls—somewhere in Scripture it says that.
Meekness receives–pride rejects.
Beware lest you are hardening your heart and closing your eyes and ears so that the Lord cannot get through to you. I say this to myself as well for we all have heart idols which are strongholds rivalling God in certain areas.
Dont be afraid to step away from all you hold to so tightly. If your trust in His word is only intellectual then you have nothing. What do you believe in your heart? It comes out your mouth when you are under pressure or have failed again.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
Jesus is being a bit facetious here saying “and that those who see..” The Pharisees were this group he was addressing…but not just them, also all those of like attitude. Those who see. The very phrase reeks of self righteousness and primped up pompous false holiness. Those who see!? HA! What a load of twaddle. Those who see —or as Jesus said next, those who say they see…are blind!!
One of the greatest blinding instruments is self righteousness. We keep God’s laws perfectly therefore we tell ourselves we see. ‘You were completely born in sins and are you teaching us, scumbag!!?'(Jn 9:34) Not only does self righteousness blind our heart and deafen our ears to Jesus but also trust in our ancestry as a means to right standing with God. Are you of Jewish descent? Cast it away and trust only in Jesus. Are you from a Christian family full of preachers and missionaries? Cast it away and trust in Jesus alone.
The other blinding instrument is the fear of man. These men who were threatened by Jesus’ freedom and total lack of fear cast out the healed blind man from the synogogue. That blind man was excommunicated–cast out from the GROUP of people who say they see. They have all the right doctrines. They agree on every point. They have to or they too will be cast out. They fear this more than anything else. It doesnt matter if their heart is telling them something is amiss about this teaching or that —they ignore it and carry on saying amen, amen to everything that is preached.
Because they fear men they deafen themselves to God’s voice and blind their eyes from seeing Him.
Rev 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Because you say we see….you do not see…and do not know your true condition….
Something is wrong in your life but you will not see what is the cause unless you humble yourself and admit you may be wrong in your doctrinal understanding….I council you to ask God to show you –no matter what the cost- to show you where you are in darkness in your belief system. For surely there is a blockage and it is caused by “not truth”…for knowing the truth sets us free.
This is why we must have a humble broken attitude. Only sinners find God. Jesus promises to give you white garments to clothe you so that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.
There is ONLY ONE RIGHTEOUSNESS and it belongs solely to Jesus Christ…and yet even His righteousness is not his own but belongs to the Father. Jesus could not do anything of his own self. He could not see or hear or anything of Himself. But he walked and moved and had his being in Father just as we do.
Those who say we see are really poor miserable blind and naked wretches! Only when we come to see that that is what we are separate from Jesus…tghen we can receive His righteousness to cloth us completely. Then we come to the place of seeing according to the spirit our true identity as a son of God. One who is always dependant upon Him.
