In what ways does John 10:21 connect to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah? Framing John 10:21 in Its Immediate Context “Others replied, ‘These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’ ” (John 10:21) Why the Crowd’s Question Matters • They weigh Jesus’ works (opening blind eyes) against the accusation of demonic influence. • Their logic: the Old Testament links sight-giving power with Yahweh’s saving activity and His coming Anointed One. • By invoking that link, they unintentionally testify that the Messianic era foretold by the prophets is breaking in through Jesus. Old Testament Promises of Sight for the Blind • Isaiah 29:18 – “On that day the deaf will hear the words of a scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” • Isaiah 35:5 – “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” • Isaiah 42:6-7 – “I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people… to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon.” • Psalm 146:8 – “The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD lifts those who are weighed down.” These passages paint “opening blind eyes” as a signature act of the coming Servant-King—an unmistakable marker that God’s salvation has arrived. Jesus’ Miracles as Prophetic Fulfillment • John 9 details Jesus giving sight to a man born blind, something never before recorded in Scripture—exactly the kind of miracle Isaiah highlighted. • John 10 flows directly from that sign; the dialog in verse 21 keeps the healing front-and-center. • The crowd’s rhetorical question—“Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”—echoes Psalm 146:8: what only Yahweh does, Jesus has done. Additional Messianic Echoes • Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit-anointed Servant “proclaims liberty to captives and… the opening of the eyes to those who are bound” (cp. Luke 4:18-21, where Jesus applies this text to Himself). • Exodus 4:11 – God alone claims power over sight; by exercising that power, Jesus identifies Himself with Yahweh’s prerogatives. • Zechariah 9:9 – The humble, saving King comes; John will later quote this (12:15). The cumulative wonders—sight to the blind, authoritative teaching, gentle shepherding—fill out Zechariah’s portrait. Messiah, Not Madman The alternative accusation is demon-possession. Scripture explicitly distinguishes the Messiah from demonic influence: • 2 Samuel 7:14 – God’s steadfast love will not depart from David’s greater Son. • Zechariah 13:1-2 – In the Messianic day, idols and unclean spirits are removed, not embraced. • Isaiah 11:2 – “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,” the very opposite of demonic indwelling. Thus, John 10:21 contrasts two spirits—unclean or holy—and the fruit of opening blind eyes confirms which Spirit is at work. Putting It All Together • Old Testament prophecies assign “opening the eyes of the blind” exclusively to the LORD and His promised Servant. • Jesus performs that precise miracle (John 9) and teaches as the Good Shepherd (John 10). • Observers in John 10:21, even without full faith, acknowledge the prophetic implications: demons cannot replicate Scripture’s Messianic signs. • Their conclusion unwittingly validates Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling Isaiah, Psalms, and other prophetic strands with literal accuracy. Takeaway John 10:21 links New Testament narrative to Old Testament expectation by spotlighting a sign—sight for the blind—reserved for the Messiah. The verse captures that moment when prophetic promise meets historical fulfillment, inviting every reader to see in Jesus the One whom the Scriptures anticipated all along. |
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