John 9:24-29, Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

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?" 27 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?" 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."

The formerly blind man is called back for a second interview and commanded by the Pharisees to “Give glory to God.” They are not asking him to give thanks to God for his healing. Instead, the want him to acknowledge that Jesus is a transgressor of the law and disown him, thus giving glory to God. The man’s response is incredible and deserving of a hymn of praise! “I don’t know about him being a sinner, but I do know I was blind and now I see.” And then he pushes their button: “Do you also want to become his disciples?” This suggests the man may already consider himself a disciple when the Pharisees were working hard to stop Jesus from gaining disciples. They are incensed, and respond with a rededication to Moses and the law of Moses they know so well and work so hard to keep.

John Stott explains how we too can fall for the same trap of the Pharisees:

"The Pharisees are not an extinct breed. Whenever we find ourselves valuing the letter of God’s law above its spirit; whenever we find ourselves unable to rejoice in the saving and renewing of lives simply because the instrument used was not someone who dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s of our theological group; whenever we lose the daily, hourly sense of joy in the grace of God by which alone we know him and live before him, then we need to beware. ‘Lord, is it I?’ The only security against Pharisaism is grace, which is perhaps the reason the Lord may from time to time permit us to stumble in our Christian walk so that we may have opportunity to rediscover it.”

Pray these words from John Newton from the first and third verses of his remarkable hymn:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.