Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 26, 2008

Why would Jesus want those who see to become blind?

“And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”   John 9:39.  At first reading, this may seem like a most peculiar verse.  Why would Jesus want those who see to become blind?  It is against all the doctrine that Arminians believe to think that Jesus would want those who see to become blind.  But, it is in accord with all the doctrine that Calvinists believe.   

Calvinists admit that they can not see.  They believe in “Total Depravity” – the “T” in “TULIP”.  They believe than all men in their fallen state are dead in sin, cannot understand the things of God, are hostile to God, and are enslaved to sin and Satan.

Arminians believe that they can see.  They believe that they are not dead in sin, but only wounded.  They believe that they can understand the things of God.  They believe that they are free and capable and wise and good enough to choose and come to Jesus Christ by their own free will.

John Chapter 9 tells the story of the man born blind that Jesus healed.  The Pharisees did not want any of the glory of the healing to go to Jesus.  The blind man’s parents caved in and pleaded ignorance in fear of being put out of the synagogue.  But, the blind man concluded:  “If this man (Jesus) were not from God, He could do nothing.”  John 9:33.  The Pharisees then put the blind man out of the synagogue.   

“Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”  John 9:35-36.
 
Note that despite the miracle and despite his confession of faith and despite him being put out of the synagogue, the blind man still did not affirm Jesus’ deity.  The blind man admitted that although he could now see in the physical sense, he still could not see in the spiritual sense. 
                                                                    
“Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”  And he (the blind man) said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.”  John 9:37-38.

It is only after Jesus caused him to see a second time (this time spiritually after causing him to see physically the first time) that the blind man believed and worshipped Jesus. 

“And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”  Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”  John 9:39-41. 

In conclusion, it is amazing (but really not to the Calvinists who understand Total Depravity) that throughout the last two thousand years of Christian preaching and teaching since Christ came to the earth, there are those who still think that they can see.  They believe that they can understand and are free and capable and wise and good enough to choose and come to Jesus Christ by their own free will.   Just like the Pharisees did not want any of the glory of the healing to go to Jesus, God does not want any of the glory of salvation to go to man’s free will. 

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