Bible Studies for Life: March 26

Jesus Opened My Eyes to the Truth 

By Laura Lee Leathers 

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “The hardest part about being deceived is that you don’t know you’re being deceived.” Something similar could be said about our insight, or ability to discern the truth.

We can convince ourselves that we see life as it really is when, in reality, we’re blind. It’s only when we encounter Christ that our perspective can change and we gain a proper understanding of truth and life (LifeWay).

There is nothing more maddening than to know you have been deceived. Biblical truth unearths the deception as the Light shines through the darkness. In today’s lesson, the blind man, physically and spiritually, stood firm upon what he knew and had personally experienced — the truth.

Jesus brought glory to God by what He did for me (John 9:1-7). Read John 8:48-59 to see how upset the Jews were when Jesus told them, “I AM.” They were so angry they were ready to stone Him, yet He passed through them.

John chapter nine opens with Jesus and his disciples passing by a man who was blind from birth. How did the disciples know he was blind from birth? Did a conversation develop regarding the man’s condition, and Jesus told them?

Regardless of how an individual became blind, the Jews associated this condition with sin. The question of who sinned becomes a way to explain the condition and place the blame on the child or the parents.

Jesus’ answer to that was, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” What were the works of God in this story? As you study, make a list.

There are two times in the Gospels when Jesus uses saliva to heal an individual. (In Mark 7:33, there was a man “who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech.”)

Salvia mixed with dust to make a paste of mud would not be our selection of pharmaceutical choices, but Jesus anoints the eyes of the blind man thusly and instructs him to go to the pool of Siloam (still a source of water today), which he does.

Once again, the Jews are in an uproar because it is the Sabbath (v. 14) and such conduct is prohibited under Jewish law.

Please don’t overlook verses 8-29 just because they are not in the focal passage. Notice the conversations the healed blind man has with the neighbors, the Pharisees, and others. His parents are asked to give their opinion, and they tell the inquisition team to ask their son because he is of age.

Note the Pharisees’ comments about being Moses’ disciples versus the healed man being Jesus’ disciple (vs. 28).

I could see God was at work through Jesus (John 9:30-33). We don’t know the age of this blind man, but he seems to be well versed in the law and Jewish teachings. Now, with eyes wide open, he challenges them, “You do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!”

The healed blind man knew the truth because he had experienced a miracle. Note verse 33: “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

That was what we call the final straw. Indignation filled the hearts of the Jews; they were religiously above this man because he was “completely born in sins.” Who was this man to be teaching them? “And they cast him out” (v. 34). 

Jesus opened my eyes to see the truth about Him (John 9:35-38). Jesus, knowing that the man had been thrown out, found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The man wants to believe but isn’t sure who Jesus is.

Highlight the response of Jesus in verse 37: “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” The man saw Jesus physically, but it went deeper. Spiritually, the man saw his sin, the deception of the enemy, and boldly proclaimed, “Lord, I believe” (v. 38).

Before Jesus ever spoke the words found in John 14:6, this man knew that Jesus was “the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Don’t miss the last sentence of verse 38: “And he worshipped Him.” In the Gospel of John, this is the only reference to someone worshiping Jesus before His crucifixion and resurrection. Filled with awe and reverence, it was the natural response.

Deception leaves us spiritually blind (Matt. 24:4; Eph. 6:12, John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:14). Jesus is Truth (John 14:6). His Word is Truth (Psalm 119:142).

The Holy Spirit resides within Christ-followers to teach and empower them to know and obey His Word. Worship Him in spirit and truth. 

Leathers is a member of First Church, Lexington. She may be contacted at laura.l.leathers@gmail.com.