John 11:1-6 ESV

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Noon ay mayroong isang tao na maysakit, si Lazaro na taga-Betania, ang nayon nina Maria at Marta na kanyang mga kapatid. 2 Si Maria ang siyang nagbuhos sa Panginoon ng pabango, at pinunasan ang mga paa nito ng kanyang buhok. Ang kanyang kapatid na si Lazaro ay may sakit. 3 Kaya't ang magkapatid na babae ay nagbalita kay Jesus, “Panginoon, siya na iyong minamahal ay may sakit.” 4 Ngunit nang ito ay marinig ni Jesus ay sinabi niya, “Ang sakit na ito'y hindi tungo sa kamatayan, kundi para sa ikaluluwalhati ng Diyos, upang ang Anak ng Diyos ay luwalhatiin sa pamamagitan nito.”

5 Mahal nga ni Jesus si Marta, at ang kanyang kapatid na babae, at si Lazaro. 6 Nang mabalitaan niya na si Lazaro ay may sakit, siya'y nanatili ng dalawang araw pa sa dating lugar na kinaroroonan niya.

THE INSCRUTABLE WAYS OF CHRIST

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [see Luke 10-38-42] Many passages in the New Testament suggest Jesus visiting their home (Matt 21:17), speak of Mary lavishing Jesus with expensive oil (John 11:2), and showing the sisters referring to Jesus as their "teacher" (John 11:28).

Unexpectedly, Lazarus got terminally sick. The sisters knew Jesus could help him so that they sent messengers to let Him know immediately. Jesus’ answer and action seeemed strange, even indifferent. He delayed for two days and sent a message to the sisters, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”[v.4] How did they react when their brother was dead already when this message arrived?

Similarly, in the Old Testament, God's command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac would have been difficult to understand without the benefit of hindsight (Gen 22:1–2, 12–14). Jesus' response shows that God's love is not condescending or indulgent. He knows everything and is not in a hurry. Pain still happens, and we will not always understand. And yet, despite our ignorance, God works out everything for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). He allowed them to undergo pain for a moment. He knows what He is doing and the loss was part of the process in revealing His greater glory in the next few days.

Should you and I are in a urgent and perplexing circumstance right now, we should always give the benefit of the doubt to God who couldn’t commit mistakes. He is not in a hurry. His delays are not signs of His indifference and unconcern. It could be blessings in disguise. If he won’t give us what we desire, it means He wants us to wait for something better.

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John 10:31-42 ESV

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

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JESUS WAS ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY

These men cornered Jesus and brought the rocks with them when they first surrounded Him. In short, John is saying these men "had picked up" stones, anticipating violence. Jesus that He and His father are one claim had given them all they need to justify following through on their threats (John 10:30).

In order to direct them to be sensible and reasonable, Jesus asked, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” Now, they acknowledged Jesus is sinless except for blasphemy because for them He was just an ordinary man so that He shouldn’t claim Himself as equal with God.

In order to outwit them, Jesus cites Psalm 82:1–8 as His tactical - scriptural defense. A reference to the Old Testament will anchor His claim in something these men claim to take seriously: the Word of God. In this passage, God's own Word referred to human beings using the same literal word as used for God Himself: elohim. In other words, Jesus knows the scripture that well.

Moreover, Jesus also made a point of accepting the Word of God that it can not be "broken." By this, he meant that the verses He quoted could not be dismissed as an error. They could not be written off as a mistake. This manifested it’s inerrancy, which says that Scripture is perfectly accurate in everything it intends to say. In this moment, He not only implies inerrancy but He established His argument in it.

Jesus, then, turned their myopic eyes to the truth by challenging them, “Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” This fell to their deaf ears so that they arrested Him instead. But, Jesus escaped. He went to the other side of Jordan. Unlike the Jews, many believed Him there because of the testimony of John, the Baptist.

John 10:28-30 ESV

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

28 Sila'y binibigyan ko ng buhay na walang hanggan, at kailanma'y hindi sila mapapahamak, at hindi sila aagawin ng sinuman sa aking kamay. 29 Ang mga ibinigay sa akin ng aking Ama ay higit na dakila kaysa lahat, at walang makakaagaw ng mga ito sa kamay ng Ama. 30 Ako at ang Ama ay iisa.”

I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE

Towards ‘His sheep’, Jesus gives eternal life. Jesus made it unmistakably crystal-clear, to be both permanent and irrevocable. In His conversation with Nicodemus, He emphatically declared, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”[John 3:16] Anyone who believes in Jesus should in no way perish, condemned and judged in hell.

”His sheep” are safe from being stolen away, as a wolf might ‘snatch’ a sheep in the wild (see John 10:12). In the same way, Jesus described the impossibility of somebody to "snatch" His own away from His hand. Jesus, the good shepherd, is also the powerful preserver to eternally protect them.

Moreover, Jesus linked His power and authority with that of God the Father. That, those who are saved through Jesus Christ are saved because they are "given" to Jesus by God and also protected by God the Father. This implied that the hand of Jesus is identical to the hand of the Father, so that he said, “I and the Father are one”. Their oneness aren’t just in purpose and power but in essence.

Our salvation received by grace through faith alone is secured also by the grace of Jesus’ preservation also. In fact Jesus, sitted at the right hand of the Father, is interceding for us eternally now.[ see Heb 7:25]

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John 10:22-27 ESV

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

22 Nang panahong iyon, sa Jerusalem ay kapistahan ng Pagtatalaga. Noon ay tagginaw, 23 at naglalakad si Jesus sa templo sa portiko ni Solomon. 24 Kaya't pinalibutan siya ng mga Judio, at sinabi sa kanya, “Hanggang kailan mo kami ilalagay sa alanganin? Kung ikaw ang Cristo, sabihin mong maliwanag sa amin.” 25 Sinagot sila ni Jesus, “Sinabi ko na sa inyo, at hindi kayo naniwala. Ang mga gawang ginagawa ko sa pangalan ng aking Ama ay siyang nagpapatotoo sa akin. 26 Subalit hindi kayo naniwala, sapagkat hindi kayo kabilang sa aking mga tupa. 27 Pinapakinggan ng aking mga tupa ang aking tinig, at sila'y aking kilala, at sila'y sumusunod sa akin.

UNBELIEF AND TRUTH

A few months ahead, this narrative happened during the Feast of Dedication, which occurs in early winter. The Feast of Dedication is not one of Israel's mandatory celebrations, but it has become one of its most symbolic. Today, it is more commonly referred to as the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah.

It was during this festival that once again the Jews had shown to Jesus their adamant attitude toward Jesus. They cornered Him and asked pretending they would listen to Jesus’ claim, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus in plain words rebuked them, saying, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.” It is really hard to wake up somebody who is already awakened. They couldn’t believe because they were not Jesus’ sheep. Only His sheep would know His words, listen and follow Him.

Do they need more confirmations? They saw Jesus’ miracles. And all these confirmed His claims. But they won’t believe because they chose not too. Their continual rejection to the truth led to the hardness of their hearts. Truth like the sun rays could either melt the wax or harden the clay. What kind of hearts do we have? Simply said, our attitude towards the truth matters greatly. Continual rejection to Christ may cause one to plummet into so much unbelief. Thus, we should check always our hearts, to keep it tender and teachable before God.[see Prov 4:23]

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John 10:16-21 ESV

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

16 Mayroon akong ibang mga tupa na wala sa kulungang ito. Kailangan ko rin silang dalhin dito at kanilang papakinggan ang aking tinig. Kaya't magkakaroon ng isang kawan na may isang pastol. 17 Dahil dito'y minamahal ako ng Ama, sapagkat ibinibigay ko ang aking buhay, upang ito'y kunin kong muli. 18 Walang nag-aalis nito sa akin, kundi kusa kong ibinibigay. May kapangyarihan akong ibigay ito, at may kapangyarihan akong kunin itong muli. Tinanggap ko ang utos na ito mula sa aking Ama.” 19 At muling nagkaroon ng pagkakabaha-bahagi sa mga Judio dahil sa mga salitang ito. 20 At marami sa kanila ang nagsasabi, “Mayroon siyang demonyo, at siya'y nauulol, bakit ninyo siya pinapakinggan?” 21 Sinasabi naman ng iba, “Hindi ito ang mga salita ng isang may demonyo. Kaya ba ng demonyo na magbukas ng mga mata ng bulag?”

I HAVE OTHER SHEEP

The present “fold," as Jesus means it here, is the nation of Israel. There are sheep, however, that belongs to Christ and yet are not of that group. Jesus made a reference to the Gentiles—the non-Jewish nations—having been made part of the flock of God. Later, Paul wrote, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”[Eph 3:6] This body is the church.

For many Jews, this claim of Jesus was a major stumbling block to belief, even within the Jewish Christian community after Jesus rose from the dead. (see Acts 11:1–18) These particular group of Gentiles will come to faith in Jesus.(Gal 3:27–28) For Jesus is claiming to be the sole legitimate means of salvation for mankind was not acceptable to them(John 10:1–13), specially the indication that He will bring "other sheep," meaning Gentiles, into this intimate relationship with God (John 10:14–16). These had been tough for His critics to digest.

Jesus continues to explain His role as "the Good Shepherd," which includes His determination to die for the sake of His sheep. This sacrificial love is a reason why He has special favor with God the Father (see John 10:17; Phil 2:9). In some sense, those who heard Him might have thought that His statement was just an assumption. That is Jesus was "willing" to die, not that He "would die" actually. The subject of Christ's death was something Jesus' closest followers often struggled to accept (see Mark 8:31–33).

What Jesus said was so outlandish that it implied two other possibilities. That is, the audience seemed torn between two opinions. Either Jesus was being demon possessed, a reference to insanity or being legitimately verified as God’s Messiah. (John 10:19–21).

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John 10:11-15 ESV

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

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11 Ako ang mabuting pastol. Ibinibigay ng mabuting pastol ang kanyang buhay para sa mga tupa. 12 Ang upahan at hindi pastol, at hindi may-ari ng mga tupa, nang makitang dumarating ang asong-gubat ay pinababayaan ang mga tupa at tumatakas. At inaagaw sila ng asong-gubat, at ikinakalat. 13 Siya'y tumatakas sapagkat siya'y upahan, at walang malasakit sa mga tupa. 14 Ako ang mabuting pastol. Kilala ko ang sariling akin, at kilala ako ng sariling akin. 15 Gaya ng pagkakilala sa akin ng Ama, at ng pagkakilala ko sa Ama, at ibinibigay ko ang aking buhay para sa mga tupa.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Previously, Jesus pointed out that sheep only follow the voice of "their" shepherd, not the voice of a stranger. Those who reject Christ do so because they don't belong to Him. In another metaphor, Jesus claimed to be "the door," referring Himself as the only legitimate entrance or exit for the sheep fold. Thus, Jesus, and He is alone, is the means and measure of man's salvation. Either you are "in" or "out” depending upon your reception or rejection of Christ, respectively. Thus, only those who are in Christ are saved.

Then, Jesus without equivocation claims, “I am the good shepherd.” This is His fourth claim, which has an allusion to God’s revelation of Moses. In contrast to the selfish and ungodly Jews, Jesus is the only good shepherd. There is no one else who put His life on the line for His sheep. Simply put, He gave His life for His sheep, for us believers.[see v.11, Rom 5:8] John writes, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us.”[1 John 3:16] Paul said He gave himself as a ransom for all.[1 Tim 2:6]

Unlike a hired shepherd, He is not inclined to run away when the sheep are under severe threat. Hirelings are only interested in the sheep so long as he benefits personally from them. That is, when serving means personal risk, he abandons them. They purposefully take advantage of others using spiritual deception. Also, this applies to others who take advantage, by ‘lording over’ or abusing the privilege without the service or sacrifice that position entails.

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John 10:7-10 ESV

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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7 Kaya't muling sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, “Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, ako ang pintuan ng mga tupa. 8 Ang lahat ng nauna sa akin ay mga tulisan at mga magnanakaw, subalit hindi sila pinakinggan ng mga tupa. 9 Ako ang pintuan. Ang sinumang pumasok sa pamamagitan ko ay maliligtas, at papasok at lalabas, at makakatagpo ng pastulan. 10 Ang magnanakaw ay dumarating lamang upang magnakaw, pumatay, at pumuksa. Ako'y pumarito upang sila'y magkaroon ng buhay, at magkaroon nito nang may kasaganaan.

THE ABUNDANT LIFE

As wild animals climb over the folds, robbers and thieves come with one purpose – to loot and destroy lives. They use lies but those who are truly Jesus’ sheep t listen to them. Instead, they only heed to Jesus voice. In contrast, Jesus emphatically claims that He is the only door, where in the sheep can going and out to find pasture.

David, picturing himself as somebody led by the Lord shepherd, wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” [Psa 23:1,2] David, being a shepherd himself, knew how he took care his flock by bringing them to where they would be fed, nourished and refreshed.

Nourishment and refreshment in life are in Christ only. He is the bread and water of life. We should ‘not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give us’. [John 6:27] For He said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”[John 6:35]

Definitely, ‘this abundant life in Christ’ transcends material blessings. Everything here in this world is of temporal nature, is it not? Thus, regardless of circumstances, His sheep does find life abundantly blessed. As Paul testified, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” [Phil 2:11-13]

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John 10:1-6 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

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“Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, ang pumapasok sa hindi pintuan ng kulungan ng mga tupa kundi umaakyat sa ibang daan, ang taong iyon ay tulisan at magnanakaw. 2 Ngunit ang pumapasok sa pintuan ay siyang pastol ng mga tupa. 3 Pinagbubuksan siya ng bantay sa pinto; at pinapakinggan ng mga tupa ang kanyang tinig. Tinatawag niya ang kanyang mga tupa sa pangalan, at sila'y inihahatid papalabas. 4 Kapag nailabas na niya ang lahat ng kanya, ay nangunguna siya sa kanila at sumusunod sa kanya ang mga tupa, sapagkat kilala nila ang kanyang tinig. 5 Ngunit hindi sila susunod kailanman sa iba, kundi lalayo sila sa kanya, sapagkat hindi nila kilala ang tinig ng iba.” 6 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila ang paghahambing na ito, subalit hindi nila naunawaan ang mga bagay na sinasabi niya sa kanila.

THE SHEPHERD-SHEEP RELATIONSHIP

Jesus had used the metaphor of the shepherd-sheep relationship to show the unique relationship He has with His own. In that era during the night, multiple flocks of sheep are kept within a single walled-in enclosure, with walls high enough to prevent sheep from getting out, and wild animals from getting in. It has a single opening— for the sheep to come in or out.

Thus, anyone attempting to get into the pen apart from the door, by definition, "is a thief and a robber." On the other hand, the true shepherd is recognized by the gatekeeper, heard and followed by the sheep alone. In fact, sheep will only recognize and follow the voice of their true shepherd and flee from strangers.

The reason why the Jews and His critics cannot, or won’t respond to Him is because they are part of another flock. Would the children of the devil desire to follow Jesus? Only His true sheep will hear Him. And, they had the pleasure to follow their shepherd.

Christianity is more than a religion. It is having a relationship with Christ. He is the shepherd and we become His sheep. If you are His sheep, do you have the pleasure to follow Jesus? Is there a joy in obeying Him? His flock is so careful not to follow the voice of the impostor by embracing the truth. As Jesus has said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”[John 8:31,32]

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John 9:35-41 ESV

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

35 Nabalitaan ni Jesus na siya'y pinalayas nila at nang kanyang makita siya, ay sinabi niya, “Sumasampalataya ka ba sa Anak ng Tao?” 36 Sumagot siya, “Sino ba siya, Ginoo, upang ako'y sumampalataya sa kanya?” 37 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, “Siya'y nakita mo na, at siya ang nakikipag-usap sa iyo.” 38 Sinabi niya, “Panginoon, sumasampalataya ako.” At siya'y sumamba sa kanya. 39 Sinabi ni Jesus, “Pumarito ako sa sanlibutang ito para sa paghatol, upang ang mga hindi nakakakita ay makakita, at upang ang mga nakakakita ay maging mga bulag.” 40 Ang ilan sa mga Fariseo na kasama niya ay nakarinig ng mga bagay na ito, at sinabi sa kanya, “Kami ba naman ay mga bulag din?” 41 Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila, “Kung kayo'y mga bulag, hindi kayo magkakaroon ng kasalanan. Subalit ngayong sinasabi ninyo, ‘Kami'y nakakakita,’ nananatili ang inyong kasalanan.”

BLIND YET SEEING OR SEEING YET BLIND

The healed blind man was cast out by the Jews. Definitely, they looked at his past and status. But Jesus, went to him again. This time, Jesus asked confirmation to his belief unto Him. As jesus revealed to him, he confessed faith, even worshiped Him. Notedly, he may not be able to know Jesus if jesus didn’t reveal to Him. We know God because he first reveal to us. As Heb 1:1, 2a, says, “ Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

From both physical and spiritual blindness, this man had been physically and spiritually able to see. To give spiritual sight was what Jesus desires I you and me. And the man had his healing because he believes. Faith is the conduit for God’s power to happen in our lives.

Sadly, Jesus declared that His life and acts may cause blindness to those who see. The Jews protested that they see and are not blind. They did not understand that Jesus was talking about spiritual But, Jesus argued that those who see, that is, aware of their sins and have not believed Him, remain in their guilt. Unbelief towards Jesus is as the cataract that cause blindness of man.

Who are we before Jesus today depends upon our faith in Him. Either we’re blind receiving sight or seeing, being aware of our sinfulness, and remain guilty. Man’s blindness is the cause of the fall. He may blames Adam. But to remain blind when healing is available could only be blame for himself. As John wrote, “ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”[John 3:18]

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John 9:24-34 ESV

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

WHEN GOD LISTENS

The Jews couldn’t press the parents to say what they wanted. That is, that Jesus did not heal their son and is a liar. They went back to the son again. They pressed him to glorify God by saying that Jesus is a sinner. The healed blind man maintained his words, saying, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” A person who is telling the truth does maintain his words.

They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” This next question was loaded with implications for him to admit that it was wrong for Jesus to heal during the Sabbath. He seemed pissed to say, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” This enraged them. Why? They were insulted. The thought of becoming Jesus’ disciples was so detestable for them. They even accused Jesus as a Samaritan and a demon! They held firmly that they were disciples of Moses only.

In a wise way, the man turned their hatred to Jesus against them, by saying, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” In other words, he argued that the miracle Jesus did proves that He comes from God undoubtedly. Afterall, God does not listen to sinners, does He? If Jesus is not of the Father, He could do nothing. As the saying “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Indeed, the healed blind man had tasted and verified the goodness and power of Jesus personally.

The Jews ran out of arguments except their vicious mockings to his birth and illiteracy, saying “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” It’s no wonder that they cast him out.

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