Category: Devotional Thoughts (Page 53 of 2753)

John 9:18-23 ¹⁸Therefore, the Jews did not believe about him that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight ¹⁹and asked them, saying, “Is this man your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” ²⁰Then his parents answered and said, “We know that this man is our son and that he was born blind. ²¹But how he now sees we do not know, nor who opened his eyes we do not know. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” ²²His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already decided that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. ²³On account of this, his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 

Rather than accepting the man’s testimony and the evidence before them, the Pharisees, now simply lumped together again as Jews, did not believe. This phrase is the negative that reoccurs throughout John in comparison to the call to believe in Jesus. By denying the man’s healing, the Jews were also denying Jesus and his ability to heal. To confirm matters, they called for the parents of the man, which indicates that the blind man was not old since his parents were still living. He still had a good life ahead of him. What would he do with it now that he could see?

The Jews asked two questions: identity and instrumentality. The parents obviously knew their son and confirmed that he was indeed born blind and had been blind all his life. This answer was safe and did not get them into trouble with the Jews who seemed to have some power and authority over people. There was a lot of social pressure on the parents at this point.

They did not answer the second question of how he was healed. Instead, they tell the Jews to ask the man himself since he could answer for himself. To be of age would indicate the man was at least adolescent and above thirteen when a boy became a young man, a “son of the law.” Although they did not answer the second question, by answering the first one, they proved that a miracle had indeed happened. John, as the narrator, gives the reason in verses 22-23 for their supposed ignorance. Instead of standing up for their son and being a witness of Jesus’ identity, they feigned ignorance out of fear of being kicked out of the synagogue. Their faith seemed to be all about appearance and honor. They believed that to be identified with Jesus in anyway, especially by confessing his ability to heal, would have brought them shame.

This passage would have had a powerful effect on the readers of this Gospel, and by extension, should impact readers today. John’s audience, who may have included Jewish converts, may have been tempted to forsake their faith instead of facing rejection from their local synagogue. In the first century, a lot of Jewish life and identity were connected with the community formed in synagogues. The word “synagogue” itself means a coming together of people. To be excluded from the synagogue would have damaged their identity. By including this part of the story, John may be calling his readers to stand strong and confess their faith in Jesus when confronted by authorities like the Jews in this story. Peer pressure can trap people in the cycle of unbelief. The crucial confession (homologēsē) of faith for the Jews of that time, and for us today, is that Jesus is the Messiah.

For older posts, click here.