This Man is Not of God - John 9:16

The apostle John wrote how Jesus saw a man who was born blind and healed him by making clay, putting the clay in his eyes, and having him wash in the pool of Siloam. When the “blind man's” neighbors asked him “how were your eyes opened?”, the man said, “a man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash”. The neighbors then asked, “ Where is he? He said, I know not. They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and do see”, and in chapter nine and verse sixteen of his book John shared how the Pharisees said, “this man is not of God” where we read:

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

The verse reads, “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day.” John began with the words, “therefore said” which means “then, wherefore, consequently and these things being so uttered, declared and proclaimed” “some of the Pharisees” or “a few or small number of the men who belonged to the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”, “this man is not of God” which means “this particular male human being, Jesus, does not come from the Godhead”, “because he keeps not” or “since and on account that he, Jesus, does not attend to carefully, observe or take care of” “the sabbath day” which means “the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. John shared how a few of the “Pharisees” determined that Jesus was not from “God” because He did not “observe and care for” the “Sabbath day” of rest.

The verse goes on to say, “Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.” John continued with the words, “Others said” which means “a number of the other Pharisees uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “how can a man” or “in what way or manner is a male human being able and capable” “that is a sinner” which means “who exists as one who misses the mark, errs, makes mistakes and violates the law of God” “do such miracles” or “perform, produce and make ready this kind of wonders, marks, signs or remarkable events”? John shared how “other members of the sect of the Pharisees” wondered how anyone would be able to perform the kind of remarkable event Jesus did upon this blind man.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how there was a division between the members of the sect of Pharisees. Some of them thought there was no way Jesus could have come from God, and the others wondered how Jesus would be able to perform “miracles” if He did not come from God. God's desire was to demonstrate to mankind that His Son Jesus is the Messiah and Christ of God, and anyone who puts their faith and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Jesus' miracles proved who He is, and everyone is invited to have their “spiritual blindness” removed so they will be able to “see” His ways. Those who are wise will carefully study the “miracles” of Jesus and yield to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time John shares how the Pharisees ask the blind man, “what say you of him, that he has opened your eyes?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".