John 9.39-41

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.”

Before you think too harshly of the Pharisees…

remember that they were fired-up religious people who were serious about God and leading others into worshipping God. They also happened to be on the wrong side of every encounter with Jesus in the Gospels, but still, if they were around today, they would be regarded as ideal church members. They tithed. They had the Bible memorized. They obeyed all the commandments. To the letter.

They sound a lot like many Christians…

don’t you think? And here we see that Jesus was not just wailing on them to vent frustration or make them look bad. He was trying to get through to them just how precarious their position was: they were blind to the truth while at the same time being completely convinced that they had full comprehension of the truth.

Jesus loved them enough to confront them…

and not leave them in their self-deception. Jesus loves us that much too and still carries on the work he came to do – to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.

We all have blind spots…

especially when it comes to the things of God which are always shrouded in mystery. Revelation by definition is a partial uncovering of truth that is hidden, with the greater part remaining hidden. What God reveals to us of Himself is faithful and true, but never complete, and even in its partiality is often more than we can understand or grasp.

Jesus helps us to see our blindness…

then gives us sight. Think about his statement this week of what he came to do, to give sight and clue people in with regard to their (our) blindness. Let the Spirit of Jesus show you your blind spots and give sight to you as you are able to bear.