Episode 7: Jesus the Promised Judge (John 9:1-41)
An astounding healing coupled with both worship and disbelief from those around Jesus. Come and join us for chapter 9 of John’s gospel as we wrestle with Jesus’ own words and why he says he has come.
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What strikes you about the different responses to Jesus in this chapter?
How does Jesus' statement in v39 make sense in relation to what we've seen in this part of John's gospel?
How does this fuel our prayers for ourselves and others?
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This episode is sponsored by Crossway.
Crossway is a not-for-profit ministry, publishing gospel-centred, Bible-based content that honours our Saviour and serves his church. For information, click here.
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The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy.
Felicity: This season is sponsored by Crossway. Do not be true to yourself by Kevin de Young is a short book persuading us to look at Jesus rather than ourselves. He has in mind particularly those who are graduating from school or university. But the biblically grounded wisdom is relevant to us all. It seeks to help us intentionally orientate our lives around Jesus rather than ourselves and the world's opinions. It's one to read and then give away to those around us. Grab a copy wherever you get your books.
Sarah: Welcome to two sisters and a cup of tea. My name is Sarah. I live in the UK. This is my sister Felicity. She lives in this stage and we are in chapter nine today of John's Gospel. And it's been a busy season for both of us. And we were just saying it just feels a bit of a stretch to be back here, but also what a joy to be back here. And I know it's going to be a feast for us as we dwell on this word. Felicity. Cup of tea in hand.
Felicity: Cup of tea in hand. Classic Yorkshire. I always feel like we haven't recorded for a little while and I always feel like I need a Yorkshire to kind, like, bolster me, get me back into it, rather than a more delicate tea, I think, at this point. But I imagine that in your cup you have some kind of herbal delicacy.
Sarah: I have a lemon and ginger. Yes, without a pinch of salt. So a listener sent us in an article the other day saying that this american scientist has been weighing into the tea making debate by saying we should add a pinch of salt to a tea. What do you think about that?
Felicity: Well, it's funny, isn't it? Because even in that phrase you said an american scientist, I think what's been funny, and I had a similar reaction. It's an absolutely outrageous suggestion. And there's a kind of sense of England as a nation as that. What is anyone doing to our tea? We are in charge of how you drink tea, and that is not the way. So all in all, as, yes, not something I will be adopting in any way anytime. I wonder if anyone read that and really kind of went for, it's like, okay, I'm going to add salt and see what it tastes like.
Sarah: Put a poll out there and see what people think.
Felicity: Yeah.
Sarah: On a different note, though, so we're talking about, like, last time, we were thinking about Jesus as the light of the world, and we're thinking about that again as a theme today. And just. Felicity, share something of your experience of reading the Bible one to one with someone who has become a Christian or is kind of in that process of exploring things for themselves.
Felicity: And that is when you say that you can really, like someone who doesn't know Jesus, wants to read the Bible and actually understand that for themselves. And I think that is a big part of what's going on as we're in the word, then God is kind of giving sight. And my experience of that has been, it doesn't happen all that often, but when you are in. Actually, it's happened for me through John's gospel with a friend. And literally, as you're reading of the blind man getting sight. And I felt like with my friend, we'd been doing this for a number of weeks, really. I felt like sight was just gradually being given. To be honest, it wasn't a light bulb moment. But the clarity with which she began to understand who Jesus was was really evident. And what that seemed like was that she was just more and more accepting of, okay, this really is who he is, and what does that then mean for me and my life? And I would say with that particular person, we're still kind of on the journey. But I feel like sight has been given, and now it's a question of kind of what that looks like. What about you? What's been your experience on that?
Sarah: My experience is that when I have read the Bible with unbelievers and what I've seen is the kind of heart posture gradually change and open and shift to, as you say, kind of wanting to hear more of Jesus and accept Jesus's words. And I have actually, in one sense in particular, as I remember, it did feel like the lights were just switched on for her. And suddenly she could see what I was seeing, and I was like, wow, it was a really beautiful moment. So it's super encouraging and powerful, but let's get into it for ourselves. You're going to read chapter nine for us?
Felicity: Yes. John, chapter nine, verse one. As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. After saying this, he spat on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. Go, he told him, wash in the pool of Siloam this word means scent. So the man went and washed and came home. Seeing his neighbours. And those who had formerly seen him begging. Asked, isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg? Some claimed that he was. Others said, no, he only looks like him. But he himself insisted, I am the man. How, then were your eyes opened? They asked. He replied, the man they called Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed. And then I could see. Where is this man? They asked him. I don't know, he said. They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud. And opened the man's eyes. Was a sabbath. Therefore, the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He put mud on my eyes, the man replied, and I washed, and now I see. Some of the Pharisees said, this man is not from God. For he does not keep the sabbath. But others asked, how can a sinner perform such signs? So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man. What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened. The man replied, he is a prophet. They still did not believe they had been blind. And had received his sight. Until they sent for the man's parents. Is this your son? They asked. Is this the one who you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see? We know he is our son, the parents answered. And we know he was born blind. But how he can see now or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age. He will speak for himself. His parents said this because they were afraid of the jewish leaders. Who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah. Would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, he is of age. Ask him a second time. They summoned the man who had been blind. Give glory to God by telling the truth, they said, we know this man is a sinner. He replied, whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see. Then they asked him, what did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered, I've told you already. And you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too? Then they hurled insults at him and said. You are this fellow's disciple? We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses. But as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from. The man answered, now that is remarkable. You don't know where he comes from? Yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing to this. They replied, you were steeped in sin at birth. How dare you lecture 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? 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. Then the man said, lord, I believe, and he worshipped him. Jesus said, for judgment, I have come into this world so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind. Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, what are we blind to? Jesus said, if you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Sarah: Thank you, Felisty. Wow. A lot going on there. It follows kind of on the heels of what we just saw last week with Courtney, that Jesus declaring this massive statement that I am the light of the world. And he declares it again here in verse five, doesn't he? And then we get this extraordinary miracle that takes place and the way the scene then unfolds. There's such drama in this, isn't there?
Felicity: Such drama. I think you can almost split the passage into three sections. You have the miracle. And let's not diminish what is going on with the miracle. And then we move on to the interrogation, like this Pharisees, kind of blind man and his family interrogation. And then we get this idea of judgment. So we're going to kind of, in a short space of time, there's a lot going on. But I think the miracle itself, I really noticed how many times the word seeing and eyes opened, and there is absolutely no doubt as to what has happened here and that it is Jesus who has done it. I feel like the power, the power and in fact, the compassion of Jesus to meet with this man who's been begging on the side of the road for however long. And he comes to him and just with a simple action, gives him, like, imagine that if you're blind.
Sarah: Oh, no, it's beautiful, isn't Jesus? Yeah, as you say, the very act of Jesus seeing his need and meeting. It's really stunning. But I think it's all the more stunning in the way that John places it here. When we've just seen how spiritually blind the Pharisees are. As they cannot see Jesus for who he is. And they're kind of resolutely walking in the darkness. And then this really does act as a kind of picture. For what's going on in the surrounding people, doesn't it? As much as the beauty of the miracle itself. And I love that kind of progression from, as you say, there's lots of kind of repetition of eyes and sight in that first bit. And then as you look down, the repetition now seems to be believe, or listening, or not listening and believing. And just the connection between being able to see who Jesus is. Actually, that is a work of faith, isn't it? As he was saying back in chapter six, like, the work of God is to believe in whom he sent. And, yeah, we see that progression. Either. Well, we see the progression of the man who's been healed in one direction. And we see the progression of the Pharisees and religious leaders in a wholly different direction.
Felicity: Yeah, I think that's right. Because the focus, while it is on. Yes, this miracle of sight has been given as the main chunk of the passage. Is really the focus on, well, who is this man? That's the question that the Pharisees keep on asking, isn't it? And ultimately, it's the question which Jesus answers in those last few verses there. And that question of who he is. Isn't it just so interesting how the blind man responds to that? I think you see this kind of progression going through at the start, verse twelve. Where is this man? They asked him. I don't know. And then we get to verse 17. What do you have to say about him? The man replied, he is a prophet. Feels like we're kind of moving in the right direction at that point, doesn't it? Yeah. And then I just love the tone that the man begins to adopt in response to these questions.
Sarah: Yeah. So in verse 25, he's like, I don't know whether he is, but I do know I was blind, and now I see, like, come on. Can you see what's happened here? So he kind of defends him, doesn't he? And then it gathers momentum. Because in verse 30, he then starts to correct the Pharisees doctrine. Because he's like, come on. He's opened my eyes. Surely you couldn't make the connections for yourself. As to who this man must be. And then when you get to verse 38, this man says, lord, I believe, and he worshipped him. Wow.
Felicity: Yeah, exactly. Just amazing to have got to that point. And in a way, he's just absolutely got it right, hasn't he? It is as simple as that. Like, encounter Jesus, see who he is by his works. And that's been something we've been hearing all the way through John's gospel. The works are an evidence of who Jesus is, that he points us to God, and then we get this. That's it. And therefore, I believe in the heart level response to that. And I think I was struck. I was reading an old guy, JC Ryle. He wrote some amazing kind of expository thoughts on John's gospel. And he really pointed out the hope. Like, this blind man is the least of the least. And what we have here is just a picture of Jesus changing everything for him. And there is hope for everyone, because this is the Jesus who we see in action here. I was just really straight, even just for a moment, just dwelling on that and being like, wow, before we even get onto the right old pickle, the Pharisees are in.
Sarah: I think that's just so good to dwell on, isn't it? That actually. And the sheer miracle that it is that this man has come to faith. His sight hasn't just been healed, but actually, he's come to faith in the process. And that is possible for anyone. That gift is possible for anyone. And just that is a challenge to my own heart and to my own prayers of, like, am I praying in this way? Do I truly believe that God will grant sight to be able to see Jesus for who he is, and therefore worship him? And anytime that happens, that is such a miracle of faith. I think it's just super encouraging to remember that, isn't it? And to pray in line with that and what we're seeing. But in the other direction, we've got the Pharisees, who. Their trajectory is whole in the opposite direction, isn't it? They are finding every reason to try and condemn both the blind man, maybe his parents, and also Jesus. And they've already decided in verse, where is it? In verse 25, they've already decided that anyone who declares that Jesus is the messiah, they'd be chucked out of the synagogue. And they just cannot. They cannot contemplate that Jesus could be truly from God. Yeah.
Felicity: And that is a real thing, actually, it's back in verse 22 where we get that said, and it's in relation to the Parents, isn't it? The contrast we see between the blind man and his parents. And the reason why the parents are so afraid. Is because the Pharisees have decided before there's any kind of conversation. This interrogation is practically like the outcome has been decided before there's any movement. And so we have this contrast between them. And it's really like. It's so ironic. Again, John is just. I love the way he writes. It's so ironic, isn't it? Because they say in verse 24, give glory to God by telling the truth. Like, well, glory is being given to God as Jesus is doing this miracle. And are we open to seeing that? Are they open to seeing that? The blind man is clearly open to seeing that. And there's just a stark contrast between the two of them. Well, between them.
Sarah: It is very striking, then, as to how Jesus kind of wraps this up, though, at the end of the chapter, though, isn't it? Because he says very clearly, after the blind man worships him. He says, for judgment, I've come into this world so that the blind will see, and those who will see become blind. And it can feel a bit random that coming. I think we're kind of seeing the progression of the Pharisees and the religious leaders. And we're seeing that they deserve judgment for the way that they're treating Jesus. But it does seem kind of like, whoa, that's just kind of happened.
Felicity: I was really helped by reading Don Carson's commentary on this. Because he really helped me see that as grace comes in the light of Jesus, then sin is uncovered. That is just the nature of light being brought to bear on things. And in that, then sin is really evident. And we have the choice to run to the light, to the grace, or to seek, to hide in the darkness. And I think what we have here, Jesus is showing his grace. He is giving grace by giving this blind man sight. And as he does, we then have the response. The gospel brings light to him, brings salvation. He runs towards it. He's ready to believe. He worships. On the flip side, we have the Pharisees scurrying into the darkness, in fact, trying to align themselves. Well, we're with Moses. We're not with you, almost trying to keep themselves back in Exodus, rather than what is happening here. And so the judgment, actually, it's so stark, those last words, your guilt remains because they are sticking with the darkness rather than running towards the light. And it's stark and it's sobering, but it also makes sense. That is what happens.
Sarah: Yeah, no, it does make sense. And I think it should spur us to pray ever more, shouldn't it? Even more for those who we know are hardened to Jesus and those who we know at the moment, their guilt remains and they need the mercy. They need this miracle, don't they? For eyes to be opened that they may see Jesus and run towards him rather than choosing to run away.
Felicity: Yeah, and I think that's helped. I totally agree that it prompts us to pray and pray with hope, with genuine hope, because we know that Jesus does bring sight. But also it helps me see that the world does kind of play out like this. People are going to reject Jesus, people are going to scurry for the darkness. My natural inclination is to run that way. And so I need to just keep running towards the light myself and just expect that that's not going to be the case for everyone.
Sarah: Yeah, no, that's really helpful. Will you pray for us, listy, on that theme?
Felicity: Yeah. Father, thank you so much for this clear picture of Jesus being the light of the world, the one who does give sight. Thank you. That as we see it here in John's gospel, we can be all the more convinced that Jesus is the light. He is grace and truth, and we're just really aware that as he brings that truth, as he shines light, that that means that sin is really evident as well. And so we pray for those we know who are scurrying for darkness rather than running for light. Pray that you would have compassion. We pray that our friends, our family, those people we know would be like the blind man here rather than like the Pharisees. And we pray this in your name. Amen.
Sarah: Amen. Well, as ever, just the starter of a conversation, there's so much to get you talking there. We just wanted to say a big thank you to those who are continuing to donate through our website. We really appreciate every gift that enables us to keep doing what we're doing. Whilst the podcast is and always will be free. It's not cheap to produce and so every donation is such a gift. If you're interested in giving towards the podcast, do head to twosistersonacupertee.com partnerwithus and we look forward to seeing you next time as we jump into chapter ten together. We'll see you then.
Felicity: See you then. Goodbye. This season is sponsored by Crossway.
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