The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 18

act) ncknowledging the rea.lity of a miracle they had all along tried to eva,ie or dony, (b) They are aghast at the assumption of a person under God's curse undertaking to teach theology to the recognized guides of Israel, (c) They expel him with an impatient contempt from their presence. Vers. 35-38.-The moral result of t°M miracle. The bodily cure is to lead to spiritual enlightenment. I. JESUS SEEKS OUT THE OUTCAST BEGGAR FOR BLESSING, "And when he had found him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God ? " 1. It is the office of the good Shepherd to seek out the sheep cast away, as if to fulfil the psalmist's words, " When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up." 2. Something more than miracle is needed to impart faith, He had been the subject of a bodily oure, but our Lord is now to make him the subject of spiritual illumination. Miracles alone cnnnot work faith. 3. The couragoous fidelity of tM man in tlie presence of tlie Pharisees makes him worthy of the greater blessing in store for him; yet he is saved wholly by grace. 4. Mark tM directness of our Lord's question. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (1) It could not be evaded or misunderstood. (2) The Object of faith was more than II prophet, more than the Messiah; he was God's ow11 Son, a Divine Person, the Author of eternal salvation. 5. Mark how our Lord leads him on to a clearer recog- nition of himself. The man asked, " Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?" His faith was already looking out for its object. The answer is, "Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that talketh with thee." The very Person who had given him restored sight, a.nd who here honoured him by his conversation, was the Object of his faith. lL MARK BOW QUICKLY FAITH FOLLOWS ON OUR LORD'S WORDS, HOW QUIOKLY CONFESSION FOLLOWS ON FAITH, AND HOW QUIOKLY WORSHIP FOLLOWS ON CONFES· SION. 1. Faith is based on knowledge. "Lord, I believe." The man receives Christ's testimony with alacrity, and accepts hiin a.s his Redeemer. 2. Tlie confession is prompt, unhesitating, and enduring. 3. The worship is as sincere as tlie confession. They who believe in Christ for salvation will be sure to worship him, The worship of Christ is common tll Christendom. Vers. 39-41.-Moral result of Ohrisfs coming into the world. The incident now ended suggests a wider reflection. L THE DOUBLE RESULT OF CHBmT's ADVENT. "I a.m come into this world to exercise judgment, that they which see not might see; a.nd that they that see should become blind." 1. The Son did not come for judgment, but judgment was the result of his coming. His advent tested the false and the true; it revealed what was in· the hearts of men ; it brought light into the darkness with two opposite results. 2. The twofold result qf tM judgment. (1) A.s it affects those who "do not see "-that is, the ignorant, who are conscious of their spiritual blindness, and therefore ask for the light. They are made "to see." Light a.rises out of the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief, so that they realize a.ll the fulness of life, righteousness, and faith, (2) A.sit affects those" who see "-who claim to have" the key of knowledge" (Matt. xi. • 25), and are "confident that they are guides of the blind, lights of them which a.re in darkness" (Rom. ii. 11). Being unconscious of their real ignorance, they are judicially blinded so that they should not see the truth. Being " wise a.nd prudent," they despise the revelation of truth, and relapse into utter darkness, as the judgment of God upon their careless or hostile attitude toward the truth. II. THE PERSONAL APPLICATION OF THE TEST OF JUDGMENT, "And those of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said to him, Are we also blind?" 1. The question is dictated by tM pride of sect, and by a, touch of anger tliat they who 'IDf/f'e so learned should be classed with the ignorant rabble, 2. The answer of Jesus is terri"bly severe. (1) He seems to say-Would God you were really blind! There migM in that case be hope of light penetrating the darkness of your hearts. Conscious ignorance would be a. preparation for saving knowledge. (2) But they w_ere ~t once blind and unconscious of the fa.et. "But now ye say, We see." (3) This blindness was fatal. (a) They had no ex.cuse for it. "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin." They were, therefore, witnesses against tbemselv(;s, (b) Sin rested upon them because they were responsible for their blindness, _______________________________ OH, 1x. 1--41.J THE GOSPF.L ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. -- - 19 ,_