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“When He had found him.” One man's trash is another man's treasure and Beauty is in the eye of the beholder are related sayings. The events in John 9 regarding the dealings which the Pharisees had with a man who had formerly been blind illustrate perfectly just how true these saying are.

“Jesus heard that they [the Pharisees] had cast him [the blind man] out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.' Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, 'Are we blind also?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, “We see.' Therefore your sin remains.'” (John 9.35-41).

The fact that the Pharisees cast out the man who was previously blind shows just how afraid they were of truth. Rather than face the facts, they attempted to expunge it from their presence. Every trick they had tried failed to find a flaw in his story, his parents would not crack, and the witnesses were too numerous; they had no alternative but to admit that his story was true, and that by implication, Jesus was Messiah. The personal cost was just too great! Their choice to throw the man away [cast him out] shows just how little value they put in truth and how much value they put in position. Truth, to them, was trash to be cast aside anytime it caused them discomfort.

But, isn't that just like Jesus? Think about His whole life and ministry. He was born in a lowly stable, reared in Nazareth, worked with his hands, and found absolutely no comfort in king's houses. He chose men and women to be around him who were the off-scourings of society and looked down upon by almost “every one that mattered.” Even the chosen twelve were just another example of how he took the common things that were but junk to others and transformed them into true treasures. His stories were about ordinary things that ordinary people could appreciate. He went to seek the one sheep that was astray and likened himself to a doctor who came to serve the sick, not the well people. The cross is but another illustration of how He turned the tables on things of no value and gave them significance beyond imagination.

This topsy-turvy system of valuation continued into and permeated the gospel system. The lack of pomp and circumstance in the early church was and is noteworthy. Paul explained it his way: “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3.4-8).

Justification is rooted and grounded in that topsy-turvy value system of which Jesus was a part. He said on one occasion, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16.15). Man's treasures are frequently seen as abominations in God's sight!

Questions:

1. Why did the Jews cast the man out?

2. What motives obviously cause Jesus to seek the man who had been born blind?

3. What possible value did Jesus see in this man?

4. How did Paul's conversion illustrate that our treasures are sometimes abomination before God?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Mangled Mind-Psalms 91:15