“The Light of Life”
405
might be made blind.” Christ had come to open the blind eyes, to give
light to them that sit in darkness. He had declared Himself to be the
light of the world, and the miracle just performed was in attestation of
His mission. The people who beheld the Saviour at His advent were
favored with a fuller manifestation of the divine presence than the
world had ever enjoyed before. The knowledge of God was revealed
more perfectly. But in this very revelation, judgment was passing upon
men. Their character was tested, their destiny determined.
The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man
both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper
darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ’s words applied
to them, inquired, “Are we blind also?” Jesus answered, “If ye were
blind, ye should have no sin.” If God had made it impossible for you
to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. “But now ye
say, We see.” You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means
through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their
need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess
no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in
blindness,—a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus
said, “Your sin remaineth.”
[476]