When Pride Blocks Belief

The last few days I have been thinking about the story of the Man born blind, and healed by Jesus, found in John, chapter nine.  I have spent many hours thinking about this whole scenario and this morning I saw another aspect worthy of further reflection.   I am focused on the  review of the miracle by the Pharisees.  Here are the verses - John 9:13-34 NIV:

[13] "They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. [14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 

[16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 

[17] Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 

[18] They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. [19] “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 

[20] “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. [21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” [22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. [23] That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 

[24] A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 

[25] He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 

[26] Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 

[27] He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 

[28] Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! [29] We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.” 

[30] The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. [31] We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. [32] Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 

[34] To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out."

The verse that caught my attention this morning was verse 18, where it said they (The Pharisees) did not believe he (the man) had been blind and received his sight until they sent for his parents.  The critical word here is "until".  They didn't believe until they sent for his parents, which means that after that point they believed it was true.

Isn't that interesting, they were confronted with the truth, and believed it... and yet they rejected Jesus!

They were unwilling to bend their pride and will and fully accept that Jesus was who He said He was!  

They were stuck... 

If they admitted that Jesus was working with God's blessing and His power, they had to admit they were wrong! 

If they admitted they were wrong, they would have to "eat humble-pie"!

If they admitted He was Messiah, then they would have to worship Him!   

They were able to move past only through casting judgment against the man who had been born blind, claiming He was a sinner! They ignored the fact that apparently that was no longer true for the sign of his "sinfulness,"  his blindness was no longer true!  There was no logic to their approach, but they didn't need logic, just emotion and offense!

As I was thinking through this bit this morning, I felt the following questions in my heart:

Do I really believe and live my life like Jesus is truly the Son of God?  

Am I willing to lay down my opinions, my held beliefs, my thoughts of what's right or wrong, when confronted with Truth?  

Is my pride holding me back from fully experiencing His Lordship in my life?

Oh Lord, help me to embrace humility and Truth whenever I am confronted with an area of my life where I am wrong, especially in areas of my faith or belief!  I don't want to reject You or Your words to me because of my pride, arrogance or stubbornness.  Lord help me to recognize when I have grabbed onto some lame excuse to discount You or Your work because of my own offended sensibilities or pride!  

Lord, help us all to put out of our hearts and minds the need to be right, even when we are wrong, especially as it concerns our faith and belief in You!  

Amen and Amen!