Jesus heard that they had cast him out: and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? (36) He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? (37) And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. (38) And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (39) And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world: that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind. (40) And some of the Pharisees which were with him, heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? (41) Jesus, said unto them, If ye were blind ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
What a most beautiful and interesting view do those few verses give the Church, of the Person, grace, and benignity of her Lord? and what a wonderful work doth that grace and benignity of Jesus accomplish in a short time both upon the bodies and souls of men in every instance to his redeemed, when called forth in exercise. Here is a man born blind in nature, and equally blind in grace. And by the sovereign act of Jesus, without one act of his own, immediately recovered to the blessed sight, both in body and soul. For evidently by his worshipping Christ, he gave ample testimony that this miracle also the Lord had wrought upon him! And I pray the Reader not to overlook the very distinguishing manner, and extent of the mercy, manifested by Jesus to his poor patient. The Son of God, as God, had not at this time made so full and open a revelation of his Name, in the general exercise of his ministry. Excepting to the woman of Samaria, John 4:26; and his disciples in the Mount of Transfiguration, and where he charged secrecy: the Lord had not been as communicative, as to the man born blind. See Matthew 17:5-9. But the Pharisees had cast him out. Jesus therefore in taking him in, will make a glorious discovery who he is, and in whom he hath to trust.
Neither doth the close of the Chapter minister less comfort to the Church, in the awful account the Lord Jesus hath given, of the double purpose of his mission. To root out of his kingdom all things that offend, is as needful a display of his sovereignty, as the gathering of his people to himself. The day of vengeance is in his heart, when the year of his redeemed is come. Isaiah 63:1. Reader! no doubt, the contemplation is tremendously awful. But it is not more awful than sure. Christ is the Rock of ages; the sure foundation, which Jehovah hath laid in Zion. He that believeth shall never be ashamed, nor confounded, world without end. But he is in the same moment, a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. And on whomsoever he shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isa 28:16; 1 Peter 1:6-8; Matthew 21:44.