What does the crowd's reaction in John 7:20 teach about spiritual blindness? The Scene in Jerusalem John 7 finds Jesus teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles. Rumors swirl that the authorities want Him dead (John 7:1). When Jesus speaks openly, the crowd dismisses the idea, retorting, “You are demon-possessed… Who is trying to kill You?” (John 7:20). Crisis of Perception • Jesus states truth. • The crowd hears but cannot recognize reality. • They flip the accusation—charging the sinless Son of God with having a demon. Signals of Spiritual Blindness in the Crowd 1. Failure to discern obvious danger – Jesus knew the leaders plotted murder (John 7:19). The crowd, living under the same leaders, remains clueless. 2. Reversal of good and evil – Calling Jesus “demon-possessed” shows Isaiah 5:20 in action: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” 3. Reliance on surface impressions – They judge by what seems plausible to them instead of investigating (John 7:24). 4. Dismissal of Scripture’s witness – Moses pointed to Christ (John 5:46), yet the crowd misses that fulfillment standing in front of them. 5. Collective reinforcement of unbelief – Groupthink drowns out truth; many would rather echo the majority than test claims against God’s Word. Why Spiritual Eyes Get Clouded • Unbelief blinds the mind (2 Corinthians 4:4). • Pride resists revelation (John 5:44). • Sin hardens the heart (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:15). • Fear of leaders silences honest inquiry (John 7:13). • Reliance on natural reasoning alone (1 Corinthians 2:14). Light for the Blind • Jesus offers Himself as “the Light of the world” (John 8:12). • Openness to His word brings true sight: “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know” (John 7:17). • Repentance removes the veil (Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 3:16). • Scripture read with humility corrects distorted vision (Psalm 119:130). Personal Takeaways – Spiritual blindness is real; intelligent, religious people can miss God. – Accusing voices often betray hearts unwilling to submit. – Staying in Scripture and humility guards us from the crowd’s error. – Ask the Lord to expose hidden assumptions before they harden into unbelief. – When light confronts darkness, expect resistance—but remember, light wins (John 1:5). |
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