When the Pharisees (the “Jews”) commanded the now healed blind man to “Give God the praise,” they as much as took God’s precious Name in vain! They actually used God’s reverent Name to attempt to trick the ex-blind man into denying his healing miracle (!!!) and further denigrate Jesus.
The Clause (“Give God the praise”) remembers (maybe even partially quotes) Joshua 7:19 and Jeremiah 13:16. As used in the Old Testament these Words at least form a threat of judgment! Or demand some kind of confession!
They were trying to get this latest recipient of Jesus’ healing Power to turn on the Saviour and agree that He was a sinner! Wisely he responded to their badgering with the words … “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
I failed to share with you this quote … “The ex-blind man’s courage here increases as does his eloquence!”
Another noted … “Truth (the man was always a truth-teller) is the route to Jesus!”
This Statement led me to wonder, is John 14:6 perhaps sequential? Is Jesus first the Truth then the Way and finally the Life? (“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”) If so, TRUTH leads to LIFE!
Why do these Jews, these Pharisees HATE Jesus so much? I honestly believe I know the reason! I found it in Matthew 27:17-18 … “Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that FOR ENVY they had delivered him.” And Mark 15:10 agrees … “for envy” they had Jesus killed!
“The Pharisees had a DOGMA, the healed man had a FACT!” They had Moses, the blind beggar had Jesus!
A beggar teaching the Sanhedrin! Because they were living the spirit of 2 Timothy 3:7. “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Or Romans 1:22 … “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
“One thing I know,” quipped the poor (but now seeing very well) man, sounding like us Christians often do …
2 Timothy 1:12 … For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I KNOW whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Job 19:25 … For I KNOW that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
1 John 3:14 … We KNOW that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Romans 8:28 … And we KNOW that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1 John 3:2 … Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we KNOW that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
One more quote … “Moses, among all his miracles, never gave sight to a blind man!”
The man Jesus made well, to whom He gave sight … “testified by LIP and by LIFE!”
Wow!
Now, watch the whole Class if you can …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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