Trouble with the Jewish Leaders
February 24, 2020
Commentary
Because of Jesus’ compassion and healing of this blind man, He soon found Himself in trouble with the Jewish leaders (v. 16). His act of deliberately healing the man on the Sabbath Day caused the Pharisees great concern. In their eyes He had broken the Sabbath in three ways (vv. 13-16):
1. He spat on the ground and made mud: His spitting on the dirt violated the Sabbath because, as to them, making mud was work. A man could not even cut his fingernails or pull out a hair of his beard on the Sabbath.
2. He healed on the Sabbath: The Jewish rule was not to heal on the Sabbath. Medical attention could only be such as to keep the patient from getting worse, not to make him any better. For instance, a man with a toothache could not suck vinegar through his teeth.
3. He used spit: Instruction in the rabbinical literature stated that spit could not be used because spit was medicine.
The Pharisees knew Jesus had broken the Sabbath. Since He had broken the Sabbath, He could not be of God the reasoned. Others argued that it was impossible for a sinner to perform miracles. Since He performed a miracle, maybe He was not a sinner. They asked the man his opinion of Jesus. The beggar was not intimidated by their threats. He boldly responded that Jesus was a prophet (v. 17). The Jews still refused to admit the miracle and said that he probably wasn’t even born blind. These religious leaders did not want to see Jesus given this kind of high recognition. Then they talked to the parents, who confirmed that he was born blind, but they didn’t explain how he was healed (vv. 18-21). They were afraid of the Jews, so wanted their son to speak for himself (vv. 22-23).
Application
I can never please God by obeying a set of rules but only by obeying my Lord who gave His life on the cross of Calvary to cover my sins. I never want to be intimidated by the questions of others.
John 9:13– 23 (NET)
13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. 14 (Now the day on which Jesus made the mud and caused him to see was a Sabbath.) 15 So the Pharisees asked him again how he had gained his sight. He replied, “He put mud on my eyes and I washed, and now I am able to see.”
16 Then some of the Pharisees began to say, “This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such miraculous signs?” Thus there was a division among them. 17 So again they asked the man who used to be blind, “What do you say about him, since he caused you to see?” “He is a prophet,” the man replied.
18 Now the Jewish religious leaders refused to believe that he had really been blind and had gained his sight until at last they summoned the parents of the man who had become able to see. 19 They asked the parents, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 20 So his parents replied, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But we do not know how he is now able to see, nor do we know who caused him to see. Ask him, he is a mature adult. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders. For the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is a mature adult, ask him.”)
Illustration: Prayer to Move the Mountian
A woman lived in a small house built at the foot of a tall mountain. The mountain obstructed her view and made the inside of the house dark. She had read Jesus’ promise about faith moving mountains. (Matthew 17:20) Taking it literally, one night she prayed that the Lord would remove the mountain. The next morning the mountain was still there. “Humph!” she replied. “Just as I expected!” (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).