John 9:39-41 39And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, in order that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
The closing verses of this long story that has taken up all of John 9 show the polar opposite of the simple faith of the blind man. This chapter illustrates the two choices highlighted in 3:16-21: those who believe in Jesus are given the gift of eternal life, but those who refuse are destined for judgment. The blind man was on the right path to eternal life because he believed in Jesus. The Pharisees, representing the Jewish leaders mentioned throughout this chapter, follow the opposite route of spiritual blindness, with the inevitable outcome of judgment.
Evidently, Jesus had been talking to the healed man in a public place where the Pharisees could listen in and watch. Jesus’ words in verse 39 appear to address their unbelief. sometimes, a strong word is needed to wake people up from their spiritual apathy or animosity, which is what Jesus appears to do in this verse. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). The consequence of Jesus being the Light also meant he would be the judge to some. His light also revealed the darkness. While some came to believe, others rejected and thus, faced judgment. He had two effects upon people, highlighted in this verse. Those with faith experienced healing, sometimes physical but always spiritual. Those who rejected Jesus hardened their hearts more in unbelief and remained spiritually blind. They thought they could see and understand because of their protective and narrow Jewish traditions and narrow interpretation of oral teachings on the law.
The Pharisees listening in knew what Jesus was talking about, which indicates their consciences had been convicted, but they had rejected the light of revelation. The result was that they were guilty of the very thing Jesus had just mentioned. Their rhetorical question in verse 40 is full of accusation mixed with self-defense. The style of question in the Greek assumes a negative response that there were not blind. They were unwilling to humble themselves and instead, put up higher walls built of pride. Jesus’ response in verse 41 confirms this interpretation. By claiming to see but not believing in Jesus only proved their guilt. The simple lesson of faith stands out again in this passage. Eternal life is not difficult to receive but requires humility, repentance, and acceptance. We must be willing to acknowledge our blindness in order to receive the Light of life (3:36).
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