I. JOYFUL RECOGNITION. They identified him as their son. The neighbours could only say he was like the beggar they had known (Joh_9:9): the man’s parents had no doubt.
II. SORROWFUL CONCESSION. The son’s report as to his blindness was correct. He had never known the light of day.
III. CAUTIOUS NEGATION. They declared ignorance of how the miracle had been wrought; so far, at least as their own observation went.
IV. PRUDENT SUGGESTION. The questioners might inquire of their son, who was responsible and was able to answer for himself. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.)
Types of character in relation to Christ’s work--Those who practically ignore it
The parents who instead of avowing that Christ had healed their son, evaded the question for fear of the Jews. That they felt some interest in one who had conferred such a benefit on their son can scarcely be doubted, but it was not enough to make them courageous for the truth. The great majority now belong to this class. They have no prejudice against Christ, but they have not sufficient interest in Him to avow Him. The parents ignored Christ’s work
I. ALTHOUGH THEY HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY OF KNOWING IT. This is the case with millions--wherever they look there are monuments of Christ’s beneficent operations. In every social circle is some faithful disciple ready to proclaim Him.
II. WHEN GRATITUDE SHOULD HAVE URGED THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. Christ had given their son a capacity to contribute to their interests. All that is solutary in government, ennobling in literature, fair in commerce, loving in friendship, progressive in intelligence, morality and happiness must be ascribed to Christ. Take from England all she owes to Christ and you leave her in all the confusion, horrors and cruelties of heathenism.
III. FROM COWARDLY MEANNESS OF SOUL (Joh_9:22). Is not Christ ignored today from the fear of losing property, sacrificing friendships, etc. Strange that thousands who have the courage to confront an army are too cowardly to avow Christ. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Cowardly testimony is despicable
They answered obliquely and over warily; but Christ deserved better of them. Squirrels ever set their holes to the sunny side. Politic professors, neuter-passive Christians will be sure to keep on the warmer side of the hedge; neither will they launch farther into the sea than they may be sure to return safely to the shore. (J. Trapp.)
By what means ha now seeth we know not
Agnosticism
This means Not-know-ism, or Know-nothing-ism, and describes the state of mind of those who say about God, the Bible, and the spiritual world, that they do not know anything. They do not deny, are not profane atheists, they occupy a negative position. Amongst them are distinguished men to whom we are much indebted; but if they are right, we are fatally wrong. We ought, therefore, to find out what foothold we have.
1. There is a Book which professes to tell us about God, the spiritual world and the future. They ignore its testimony, saying they do not know who wrote it, or by what authority it was written. This is a very serious responsibility in relation to such a Book--a Book so distinctively moral in its tone.
2. If we are at liberty to ignore such evidence as is tendered without giving our reason, there is no ground for believing anything in history. I do not know that geology has made any progress. But there are the books which prove it; but I ignore them; they may be corrected; I know nothing of the men who wrote them, or their qualifications. If you tell me they do not claim infallibility, I reply that fallibility constitutes no claim on my confidence. Suppose I say that I cannot be troubled with the examination of fallible theories, and that I will wait until some theory is finally established; then that very theory would bring upon it the identical charge brought against the Bible, viz., that it staggers mankind by the supremacy of its claim.
3. Now the Bible is as positive in its statements as possible. “Thus saith the Lord.” This fact increases the responsibility of those who ignore the Book. The mere claim of course settles nothing, nor does ignoring the claim. Our object is to ascertain with all the positiveness of positive science what we unquestionably know about the Bible. If certain facts are established we are entitled to say to agnostics, “Why herein is a marvellous thing,” etc. (Joh_9:30).
I. It is a fact THAT BAD MEN DISLIKE IT, AVOID IT, AND ARE AFRAID OF IT. As a practical argument this amounts to a great deal. No unrighteousness can be vindicated by Christian revelation; not only so; no unholy thought or dishonourable motive is tolerated by it. For these reasons bad men do not consult it, guilty men flee from its judgments, mean men shrink from its standards. If a ruler is a terror to evil doers, the presumption is that he represents the spirit of justice; and if the Bible is avoided by bad men the presumption is that its moral tone is intolerable to their reproachful consciences.
II. It is a fact THAT WHERE IT IS RECEIVED AND THOROUGHLY ACTED UPON THE RESULT IS A PURIFIED MORALITY. You will find the proof of this alike in the humblest and loftiest circles. When men stand up in the court of this world and give their histories, names, and addresses, you are bound either to accept their evidence or disprove it. It is trifling with a great question simply to ignore it. The change they attribute to Christianity is a fact or not a fact; and if it be scientific to mark the progress of a horse’s development, it cannot be despicable to trace the advances of a human mind.
III. It is a fact THAT IT COMPELS THOSE WHO REALLY BELIEVE IT TO EXERT THEMSELVES IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND. It does not leave this an open question. It allows no ignoble ease, smites every self-indulgent excuse, and approves all labour for others. If a man falls below this standard he brings upon himself unsparing condemnation.
IV. It is a fact THAT IN THOSE COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOTED FOR ALLOWING THE FREE USE OF THE BIBLE, LIBERTY, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, ARE HELD IN THE HIGHEST HONOUR. This is not a matter of speculation. It is proved in England, Germany, and America. (J. Parker, D. D.)
He is of age; ask him; he shall speak for himself
Speak for yourself. A challenge
I. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SAVED MEN ARE COMPELLED TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
1. When their friends desert them. These parents were willing to own that the young man was their son, and that he was born blind; but they would not go any further for fear of excommunication. So, declining any responsibility, for they had a well-founded confidence in their son’s power to take care of himself, they threw upon him the onus of giving an answer likely to incur obloquy, and backed out of it. There are times with young people when their parents turn the cold shoulder to them, and some who hold back suspiciously, leaving others to champion the Master’s cause when it comes to a hard push, quietly observing something about casting pearls before swine. But the most likely explanation of such cowardice is that they have no pearls to cast. It is lamentable how many seem afraid to compromise themselves. But whenever a man finds himself thus deserted, let him say gallantly, “I am of age; I will speak for myself.”
2. When they are much pressed. The Pharisees question the man very closely, and he does not seem to have been disconcerted, but acquitted himself grandly. When we are brought to book, let us not be ashamed to own our Lord. If it comes to a challenge, let us say boldly, “I am on the side of Christ.”
3. When others revile and slander our Lord. When they said “This man is a sinner,” “He hath opened mine eyes,” was the response; and when they averred that they knew not whence Christ was, the man twitted them on their marvellous ignorance, and fought for his Healer so trenchantly that they threw away the weapons of debate and took up stones of abuse. When men speak ill of Christ, shall we be quiet? No! let us throw the gauntlet down for Him. Christian people do not take half the liberty they might. If we speak of religion, or open our Bibles in a railway carriage, it is “cant.” They may play cards, and utter all sorts of profanity with impunity. In the name of everything that is free we will have our turn. So we see that there are times when men, however quiet and reserved, must speak.
II. IT IS ALWAYS WELL TO BE PREPARED TO SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. When the parents said, “Ask him,” there was a little twinkle in their eye as much as to say, “You will catch a Tartar.” He can speak for himself. We want Christians of this sort who, when asked about their faith, can so answer as to be more than a match for their adversaries.
1. Cultivate a general habit of open heartedness and boldness. We have no need to push ourselves and so become a nuisance and a bore; but let us walk through the world as those who have nothing to conceal.
2. Be sure of your ground. “Whether He be a sinner or no I know not.” So he offered no opinion on a subject on which he could not be positive. But when he had a hard fact there was nothing vague in his statement (Joh_9:25). And there are some of you in whom such a change has taken place. Put your foot down, then, and say, “You cannot misjudge this.”
3. Have the facts ready to adduce (Joh_9:11). Let them have the plan of salvation, as you first perceived it, very plainly put before them. “Be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.”
4. Be prepared to bear abuse (Joh_9:28; Joh_9:34). The man cared not an atom for their insinuations. Their scorn could not deprive him of his sight. He merely shook his head and said, “I can see.” Some people are very sensitive of “chaff”; but what a baby a man is who cannot brave a fool’s laugh! What does it matter if you are twitted with being a Methodist if you are saved? They will be tired of teasing when they find that our temper triumphs over their senseless tricks.
5. Feel intense gratitude to the Saviour for what He has done.
III. EVERY SAVED MAN SHOULD WILLINGLY SPEAK FOR HIMSELF ABOUT CHRIST.
1. Are we not all debtors to Christ if, indeed, He has saved us? How can we acknowledge the debt if we are ashamed of Him?
2. We each of us know most about what He has done for us. No one else can know so much.
3. The more individual testimonies are borne to Christ the more weight there is in the accumulated force of the great aggregate. A sceptical lawyer attended an experience meeting amongst his neighbours and took notes. When he reviewed the evidence he said, “If I had these persons in the witness box on my side, I should feel quite sure of carrying my case. Though each has told his own tale, they all bear witness to the power of God’s grace to change the heart. I am bound to believe after this testimony.” And he did, and became a Christian. Do you say, “They can do without my story.” Nay, it has its own special interest, and may touch the heart of somebody like yourself.
(1) You are only a nursemaid, but your testimony will suit another lass like yourself. Who could have told her mistress that there was healing for Naaman but the captive maid?
(2) You are old and feeble; but you are just the man whose few words have full weight.
(3) You are only a working man; but who can tell working men about your changed character and home like yourself?
IV. AS EVERY CHRISTIAN, BEING OF AGE, HAS TO SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, WE MEAN TO DO IT. You cannot all preach, and should not try; if you all did, what a tumult there be! And there would be no hearers left if all were preachers. Your work is to speak and to let your influence be felt among your servants, children, trades people. You say “I am so retiring.” Well, then drop a little of your modesty, and distinguish yourself a little more for your manliness. A soldier who was retiring in the day of battle they shot for a coward. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Accountability
I. INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY. The Bible lays down no clearly defined line between the ages when God does and does not regard the child morally accountable for sinful actions. This must depend on the varying circumstances of intelligence, temperament, and social surroundings of the child. But the time does come when with no hesitation we can throw upon the youth’s conscience the full weight of his individual responsibility, saying with emphasis: “He is of age.” He must answer “for himself.”
II. PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY. Up to a certain age the parent has no doubt of the salvation of the child. The Saviour’s atonement satisfies the requirements of every child dying at an early age. Nevertheless, during this tender age character is being formed for future development; and God holds the parents accountable for the manifold influences that are affecting the child’s mental and moral vision, saying to them: “Is this your son?” “How then doth he now see?” Does your child “see” kindly glances, Christ-like actions, devout conduct, devotional observances, etc.
III. MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY The spirit of Cain has impregnated human history. “Am I my brother’s keeper” is still largely the covert of a mean soul that wants to shirk the duty of fraternal help and counsel, or defence. The fear that here padlocked the parents’ lips is a sin that thrives in too many hearts. How often has an accused one gone to the grave under a dark cloud that might have been dispersed, if friends had been found of sufficient courage to contradict patronizing accusers. But no! Speaking the truth would have damaged the selfish interests of those who said: “Let him speak for himself.”
IV. THE PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF CHURCH RELATIONS. Our knowledge of each other is very limited. Large significance belongs to the apostle’s words: “We know in part.” An individual presents himself for Church membership. The question goes round, and very properly so, “What do you know of him?” But our knowledge here often proves strangely false, whether the testimony is pro or con. The voice of God is, “Let him speak for himself.” Take the applicant on personal confession, unless his or her life is palpably false. Was not even Judas admitted on personal confession? When the falsity of character is seen then is the time for unchurching. We are familiar with the account of the poor Scotch woman, who, on applying for church membership, was so ignorant of the theological queries put to her by her pastor, that she was sent away as temporarily disqualified. On leaving, she said, with deep emotion: “I canna speak for Him, but I could die for Him.” (The Study.)
Speak for Christ
A Christian man (Mr. Moody) in a Western city resolved that he would never allow a day to pass without speaking to someone on the subject of personal salvation. He was returning home late one evening, burdened with the thought that the day had gone by, and no one had been invited to Christ. He saw a man leaning against a lamp post, put his hand gently on the shoulder of the stranger, and said, “May I ask you if you love the Lord Jesus Christ?” The stranger resented the freedom and replied curtly, that that was a personal matter in which nobody else had any concern. But the Christian replied kindly, that they were fellow travellers to another world, and one could not be indifferent whether others had a good hope of entering heaven. After a few more words had passed between them, they parted, the Christian fearing that he had given offence, but carrying the matter to the closet for earnest prayer. Three months after, just as he had retired for the night, a knock was heard at the door. He inquired what was wanted; and a gentleman replied he would like to see him. On opening the door, he recognized the stranger met at the lamp post. The latter grasped him convulsively by the hand, and said, “The question you put to me, ‘Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?’ has been ringing ever since in my ear; and I have come to ask you what I must do to be saved.” They prayed and talked together; and in a few days the stranger was rejoicing in the hope of pardon. He became an earnest and devoted Christian. (E. Foster.)
