Vore. 85-38.-.A lieart made ready for faith. In this interview the purposes of Christ's love with regnrd to this poor man were fully accomplished. The opening of his bodily eyes, the trials to which ho was nrterwards subjected, led up to the con- summation desired by his Benefactor. By gradual stages ho had come to that point, at which only o. fuller revelation of the Lord was required, in order that his faith IP.ight be perfected. I. A MOMENTOUS QUESTION ROUSES INTEREST ANJIJ HOPE. The man whose eyes had been opened had already acknowleged Jesus to bo a Prophet. And now he, whose claims had hitherto been but partially understood, was about to advance them in such a manner as to elicit a full comprehension and a full admission of them on the part of the disciple. Startled indeed must the poor man have been by the question, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" This language opened up before hie mind a new vision, to behold which needed indeed a new illumination. It is clear thnt the man whose sight was restored had begun to see with the eyes of the spirit. Was he now prepared to owe all to Jesus-to see all in Jesus? !I. THE QUESTION IS MET DY AN INQUIRING, CANDID MrND, AND DY A READY HEART. 1. An inclination to receive teaching is apparent in the inquiry, "Who is he?" 2. A reverential submission to the qualified Instructor may perhaps be discerned in his deferential manner of addressing his Benefactor-" Lord!" 3. A resolve to follow out the dictates of reason and conscience is evident in the language, "that I might believe on him." Let him but know the Divine, and ho would hasten to present his homage and his faith. III. THE DIVINE SAVIOUR REVEALS HIMSELF. 1. He declares that he is already actually seen and known. The Son of God, who was seen by the man whose eyes were opened, is, in a sense, seen and known, through his incarnation and advent, by all to whom his gospel comes. 2. He condescends to stoop to the level of our capacity and fellowship. He "talketh with" all who are willing to listen to his words, to welcome his conversation and counsel. There is marvellous condescension and grace in the revelation which Jesus makes of himself to all who are disposed to direct the eye of the soul to his presence, the ear of the soul to his voice. IV. THE EAGER RESPONSE OF FAITH AND WORSHIP. The unhesitating confidence and confession here recorded were not unreasonable. Many causes concurred in bringing about this spiritual attitude. The benefit the man himself had received, no doubt dis- posed him to give his favourable attention to every representation made by Jesus of himself. But the miracle was itself, at all events to him, conclusive evidence of the superhuman authority of his Benefactor. The queries, denunciations, and reproaches of the Pharisees had made him think more profoundly upon the mission, the character, perhaps even the nature, of Jesus. And thus, when the Lord advanced his Divine claim, the poor man was prepared, not only to admit that claim, but to welcome and to rejoice in it. He could not suspect such a Being of vain egotism or of falsehood. There was but one alternative. Jesus was what he declared himself to be-the Son of God. And, this being the case, what more natural and reasonable than his confession and his conduct? He believed; he worshipped. Less than this would not have been justifiable; more than this would not have been possible. For in his implicit confidence and in his devout homage this poor man anticipated the action of the Church of Christ throughout all time. Convinced by his own works of the justice of his clo.ims, Christ's people delight to confess his lordship and to live to his glory.-T.
Ver. 39.-Enlightening and blinding power. Christ's first coming to this world was not for judgment, but for salvation. Yet it appears, again and again in the course of his ministry, that judgment was a necessary incident of his teaching and authoritative action. By him "the thoughts of many hearts were revealed." There was a virtue of moral discrimination and separation in his ministry of which he himself was well aware. Hence his assertion that whilst he brought sight to some who were blind, the result of his coming was that some who boasted that they saw were proved to be spiritually blind. I. CHRIST'S ENLIGHTENING POWER. 1. This power was exercised for the benefit of the ignorant, the sinful, the helpless. The blind man, whose story is told in this chapter, is an example. Ho neoded not only physical but spiritual sight. His know- 26 'l'IIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JORN. [en, 1x. 1-41.