Inability to See

​Meditation
John 8:25-27—“Who are You?” they questioned. “Precisely what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the One who sent Me is true, and what I have heard from Him—these things I tell the world.” They did not know He was speaking to them about the Father.

John chapter 8 is one of the more sobering passages in the Bible. It contains an amazing discourse between the Jewish religious leaders and Jesus. What makes the chapter despondent is the inability of the Pharisees to see who Jesus indeed was. Even deeper, it allows us to understand why in every era, people cannot see the Messiah.
            
Spiritual blindness is caused by sin. Jesus told the Pharisees that if they knew the truth, it would set them free. They argued that they had never been enslaved. He countered, “Everyone who commits a sin is a slave of sin” (vs. 34).   
            
Spiritual blindness is intensified by pride. James Michener wrote in The Source, “Because when men ignite in their hearts a religious fury, they inflict at the same time a blindness upon their eyes.” Jesus’s antagonists tied their heritage to Abraham, but, unlike their faith-famous ancestor, they were rebellious doubters and resented the One who said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (vs. 58). Instead of listening to Jesus, they turned on Him and accused Him of being a half-breed with a demon. There was revealing irony in their words.
            
Spiritual blindness is traced to Satan. “Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to My word. You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires” (vss. 43,44). Jesus explained that the Pharisees’ inability to listen was because they were not from God. He equated Himself to God, the One He honored and obeyed. Actions and speech reveal affinity.
            
Spiritual blindness causes people to pick up stones instead of seeing the Rock. The Jews were ready to kill the One who came to save them. In the following chapter, John records the story of a man born blind. Jesus healed him. With seeing eyes, he believed and worshiped the Lord. The Pharisees could only focus on the man’s sin and, in their pride, reject his testimony—completely missing their sin—clueless to their spiritual blindness.  
            
The inability to see is a universal problem cured only by one thing—faith in Jesus Christ. This is why it is pointless to try and reason with unreasonable people, to argue or debate with those whose minds are closed.  If they do not trust Jesus, they cannot see. The best approach is what Jesus modeled. Love them. Pray for them. “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). 
             
Inspiration
To be blind is bad, but worse is to have eyes and not see.—Helen Keller
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)