The Man Born Blind (11)

We have heard of the unbelieving Jews that they did not want to believe the Lord Jesus had performed a miracle. The evidence of the wonder was clear, but the hardness of heart intensified in their life under the clearest tokens of divine power. The Jews went to question the parents of the blind man who was healed. The purpose was to discredit Messiah’s power, but their purpose was a failed attempt because the Prince of Darkness is a defeated enemy.

The question is very simple: “Is this your son, who ye say was born blind?” They ask about the relationship they have with the healed one. The relationship that is questioned is a tender one. This shows that the enemy has no limits. As far as the Lord allows it, Satan will try to ruin and destroy. The Jews are instruments here of the Prince of Darkness and try to dishonor the power of the Lord Jesus. They bring into question if this well-known man, who once was blind and begging, was really their son. The evidence was clear that it was a miracle, but they were seeking to disarm the performed miracle of power so that the power of Messiah would be brought into question. Satan will always try to bring the work of God into question. He will go to all extremes to perform his destroying work. It is necessary that we are uncovered to his tactics. Church of the Lord, how often does Satan not feed the power of unbelief by bringing into discredit the work of God? This man was clearly healed, but now the most tender relationship, parents to children, was brought into question. Satan will try to bring the most tender work of the Lord into doubt.

Also notice that the parents must acknowledge that their son was born blind. The parents are asked about their son’s blindness from birth. They cannot deny it; in verse 20 they acknowledge the relationship and the fact that he was born blind. Dear parents, have we come to see our children that way already? Perhaps through painful ways you had to acknowledge this. Yet, I wish to point something out; we present our children for baptism where the water is pointing to the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin. Have we ever considered that, by bringing them there, they need cleansing because of their original sin? Have we ever considered, as we see them growing and developing, that the blood pointed to needs application for their actual sin? The baptism form instructs that our children are conceived and born in sin, but when we present them for baptism, have we seen their need for cleansing? When your hands are dirty, you wash them. Our children need the “washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5b). Never forget, parents, our children are small enemies of God because we are enemies of God, also. Original sin is imputed to them because of the first Adam which carries through the generations; so, we have passed that on to them in the moment of their conception. Job said, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one” (Job 14:4). The wonder is that you may present them in baptism to the Lord, and in your prayers you may present them to the Lord as baptized children. Oh, powerless parents, so you may present your unclean seed to the Lord.

I feel compelled to insert here that baptism is not the deciding factor for this grace to be applied—not to be supportive of Baptists, absolutely not! To withhold baptism from our children is to give our children an image that the gospel cannot be for them, and no matter how you twist or turn it you show that only when you are older and more advanced in knowledge may you come to the knowledge of the gospel. I feel compelled for those parents, especially the mothers, who often must go a lonely way with their grief because of miscarriages or stillbirths, that also from among that very young seed the Lord will have His Church. His power is not limited; He can convert already in the womb. Jeremiah and John the Baptist are biblical proofs.

The parents of the man born blind had to acknowledge who their son was. Are there parents who must acknowledge that their children are conceived and born in sin? In this history of the man born blind, we see the power of the Lord Jesus unto one of those children. May that serve as an encouragement to our parents today. Perhaps Satan is busy to bring the power and comfort of the Covenant of Grace in question with your baptized child(ren). Consider well the reason why these parents were asked; it was because of the power of God manifested in the life of this blind man. So, I may point helpless, powerless, and questioning parents to the blood of Christ which can cleanse from all sin. He converts sinners because “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19a). This was signified and sealed in baptism when you stood there with your spiritually “blind” child. May the God of the Covenant of Grace remember His own word to graciously fulfill and apply His irresistible work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

The Jews have asked their question; the parents have given their answer. There is much more to say, but let it suffice what we have written. The parents of this “wonder child” will shift the necessity to answer to their son. In verse 22 the reason is mentioned, namely fear. The parents fear to be placed out of the synagogue if they would speak truthfully about the Healer of their child. What a wonder that the Lord, despite parental weakness, was working towards the comforting truth that He, the unknown Healer, would make Himself known unto this healed man.

(To be continued)

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