(John 9:24-34)
When something is “bleeding obvious” shouldn’t you accept it? When something is as plain as the nose on your face, should you not just believe and accept it? Are you likely to say, “No that thing on my face between my eyes is NOT a nose. I don’t believe it!”
Of course you wouldn’t. But that’s exactly what the Pharisees did with the man who had been healed who had been born blind. The proof was standing before them and yet they chose not to believe. They deliberately chose to accept a lie rather than see the truth that was in front of their noses. They chose to ignore the bleeding obvious rather than admit they were wrong.
What the Pharisees said
Several times after the man born blind was presented to them the Pharisees deliberately ignored the witness of the people and the proof that stood before them. Once again here we see them ignore the truth.
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
They chose to ignore the righteousness of Jesus and had the audacity to even call him a sinner. They instructed the man born blind to give the glory to God, but to ignore Jesus and to completely bypass His role in the healing.
But the man who was healed was having none of that. He knew where the source of his healing came from and who was responsible for it. He could see the “bleeding obvious” even if the Pharisees could not. As he said in verse 25, he didn’t know whether Jesus was a sinner or not, but the proof of His godliness could be plainly seen by the man who had his eyes opened. As far as he was concerned, Jesus was a man of God despite what the Pharisees had to say.
It’s Incredible!
This is how the man thought. He could believe the Pharisees were so blind. He must have wondered how they could be so stupid when the proof was so “bleeding obvious.”
When the Pharisees again asked how his sight had returned, you could almost hear the exasperation in the man as he said, “He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” (Verse 27)
The Pharisees got their backs up at this. And isn’t that the way people react today when they choose to reject the bleeding obvious because it doesn’t fit their own view or opinion? Look at what the Pharisees had to say.
28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”
Instead of accepting the truth of Jesus, they reviled the man who witnessed His divine glory. They rejected Jesus because they did not,believe God had spoken to him and chose Moses instead. They rejected the glory and the freedom from bondage offered by Jesus under the new covenant and chose instead the bondage, ritual and tradition of the old covenant.
Some Things Never Change
The Pharisees rejected Jesus and chose to remain in the bondage of the law and under the condemnation of sin. Many christians today are doing the exact same thing! Many prefer to follow the law rather than accept the freedom Jesus offered when it is bleeding obvious that He came to set them free. They prefer to call themselves sinners when Jesus came to take away their sins. They still submit to the law even though we are told we are no longer under law but under grace.
Why do they do this? Because they blindly accept what their pastors and teachers say without checking the truth for themselves. Look at what the man who was born blind did when the Pharisees attempted to force him to fall into line and reject Jesus.
30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
Did he meekly fall into line and follow the Pharisees? No way! Instead he pointed out to them the folly of what they were teaching. He showed them in no uncertain terms that they were wrong about Jesus. He was amazed they could be so blind and reject the bleeding obvious truth that stood before them. He proved to them that Jesus was doing what he did by the power of God, for there was no other way it could have occurred.
Did the Pharisees then listen? Nope! As it says in verse 34, they reviled and rejected him because he spoke the truth and pointed out their foolishness. It says, “They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.” They cast him out. The man stood up for what was right and he was cast out of the synagogue.
This still happens today. Whenever a person speaks the truth of The Lord they can expect persecution and suffering. Many people do not want to hear that they are wrong. They do not want to recognise their folly and their sin. And that is what happens any time a person is subjected to the spotlight of truth that comes from Jesus.
Be assured that there will be many who reject the truth, but The Lord will also have his hands on those who are his. When the time is right they will listen and they will know as Christians already know…it’s bleeding obvious!
Hi! I’m John, the owner, author, and editor of this site. Over the past 50+ years as a Christian I have been teaching, preaching and writing about the Bible to help Christians gain a deeper insight into the scriptures that are easily understood. I also answer specific Bible related questions, so feel free to contact me.
