The Pharisees wanted to get information to indict Jesus.
Here's how the interrogation went: (It's a long read but very worthwhile!)
| So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. (John9:20-38) |
Let's look at the healed man's statements about Jesus:
- "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
(i.e. I've encountered Him) - "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?"
(i.e. "I'm ready to follow Him") - "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
(i.e. "I'm convinced that He is God")
Jesus finds him and he gets to match the voice with a face he can now see.
Jesus asks him: "Do you believe in the Son of God?"
This is a theological/theoretical question and the healed man answers positively.
But this is not enough for him. He doesn't just want to know that the Messiah exists, he wants to meet Him.
And when Jesus reveals Himself, the man responds in faith and worship.
The Pharisees accuse the man of being Jesus' disciple and they're partly right - he's a disciple in the making.
Let's summarise the steps he takes:
- I've encountered Him
- I'm ready to follow Him
- I'm convinced He is God (and I'll stand up for Him)
- I believe in Him and have a personal relationship with Him and I worship Him
Can you identify some of these steps in your life?
