“God is never nearer his church than when trouble is near.”
Richard Sibbes
The eighth chapter of John closes with Jesus leaving the religious leaders after they, in their anger, pick up stones, “So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:59) It’s an amazing verse for multiple reasons: 1) it confirms that Jesus’ words, “Before Abraham was, I am,” were understood by the leaders as intending to equate himself with God; 2) the phrase “hid himself” or it can be translated “was hidden,” also confirms that Jesus’ hour had not yet come and that his Father was protecting him for that hour or task; and 3) the phrase “went out” is connected to John 9:1 where Jesus passes by a blind man and notices him.
Jesus saw the blind man and stopped. The wonderful scholar, Leon Morris, notes about this particular miracle, “There are more miracles of the giving of sight to the blind recorded of Jesus than healings in any other category (see Matt. 9:27–31; 12:22–23; 15:30–31; 21:14; Mark 8:22–26; 10:46–52; Luke 7:21–22). In the Old Testament the giving of sight to the blind is associated with God himself (Exod. 4:11; Ps. 146:8).” Of course, Jesus performed all sorts of miracles. He raised the dead. He drove out demons. He cured fevers. He multiplied the fishes and loaves. He directed the disciples so that they caught miraculous amounts of fish. What other types of miracles come to mind when you think of his ministry? According to Morris, this category of healing, recovery of sight for the blind, is recorded by the gospel authors (particular instances) more than any other. Wow! And this instance in John is particularly noteworthy because the man was blind from birth.
One final thought, before Jesus healed the man, he announced that he was the light of the world. The man blind from birth heard those words but had no experience of this world’s light. Jesus was about to heal him and open up a new world for him. Has Jesus done that for you? Has he opened your eyes to see your own need and his own person and provision for that need? Trust Christ today and join that healed man in worshiping Christ. (see John 9:35-38) Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
For His fame,
Pastor Dale
