Who is Blinded from the Truth?

Synagogue at Capernaum in Israel.
Would they be expelled...
...if they said Jesus was the healer...
the Messiah?
Who is Jesus to you?

(Continued story of a man born blind whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath in Jerusalem.) Some of the Pharisees said, "This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath." Others said, "But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?" So there was a deep division of opinion among them. Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, "What's your opinion about this man who healed you?" The man replied, "I think he must be a prophet." The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. They asked them, "Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?" His parents replied, "We know this is our son and that he was born blind, but we don't know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. That's why they said, "He is old enough. Ask him." John 9:16-23 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider fear of authorities.

 

Are you afraid of someone in authority? Do you slow down when you see a Police car, even if you weren’t speeding? Of course you pay your taxes on time, out of respect…or fear…of consequences with the government. The parents of this man who was born blind were afraid of the Jewish leaders. They didn’t want to be banned or expelled from synagogue or Temple attendance. They would lose their prestige in their community. No, they would rather keep their standing with the Jewish community than stand up for their son and Jesus, admitting that Jesus had restored their son’s sight.

Would you stand up for Jesus in a situation like this?

What do we learn about Jesus from the continuation of this story of the man born blind?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the truth with no fear…and help us to not only stand up for the healing power that You have, but to share Your Good News with everyone—even people in the church. They may be the very ones who don’t believe. Those whose eyes are blinded to the truth.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." And he added, "God blesses those who do not fall away because of me." Matthew 11:3-6

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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