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Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed and came seeing" (verse 7). The narrative
of this remarkable cure is held up half way for the sake of the meaning of a name. That
name therefore must have a bearing upon the meaning of the sign, otherwise the
parenthesis is unwarranted.
SENT.--Is the reader aware that around this word the whole of the Gospel of John is
written? that the sin of Israel was the rejection of the Sent One, just as their salvation will
be found in His reception. As the two words rendered "sent" occur some sixty times we
can only give an indication of their usage.
"He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God" (John 3: 34).
"He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me" (John 5: 24).
"The works.......bear witness of Me that the Father hath sent Me" (John 5: 36).
"I came to do the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6: 38-40).
"My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent Me"(John 7: 16).
In chapters 8: to 17: the word recurs. In that impressive chapter 17: the word
comes seven times:--
"And this is aionian life, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, Whom Thou hast sent."
No one but the Sent One can give life to the dead or sight to the blind. We find in the
next sign that the Lord, beside the tomb, audibly addressed the Father because of the
people that stood by, saying "that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me" (11: 42).
There was much division among the people over this miracle. Willful rejection is now
evident. "If any man did confess that He was the Christ, he should be put out of the
synagogue" (9: 22).
The questions which were put to the man born blind were used to lead him on in the
truth. First he says, "The man that is called Jesus, etc." (verse 11). Then upon being
more directly questioned he answered, "He is a prophet" (17). Upon the third
interrogation the man waxes warm, "I have told you already and ye did not hear:
wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?.......if this man were
not of God, He could do nothing" (27-33). This could not be tolerated. "Thou wast
altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? and they cast him out" (34). As in the
parallel sign, the Lord finds the man a second time and the great revelation is made.
"And when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of
God?.......Lord I believe. And he worshipped Him" (35-38). This is immediately
followed by the reference to judgment, sin and blindness, already quoted.
There is significance in the fact that the blind man was cast out before he believed that
Jesus was the Son of God. The nation as such denied this truth. Only a few and an
outcast few saw this light of life. It is also highly suggestive that the same word is used
for the action of the Pharisees and of the Lord. "They cast him out" (9: 34). "When He
putteth forth His own sheep" (10: 4). The Lord overrules the wrath of men. They may
cast out, but the Good Shepherd will use their action as a putting forth of His own sheep.