How does John 9:29 challenge our understanding of spiritual authority and tradition? Setting the Scene John 9 records Jesus healing a man born blind. The miracle is undeniable, yet the Pharisees refuse to acknowledge its divine origin because it doesn’t fit their expectations or traditions. Their verdict centers on John 9:29: “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.” The Pharisees’ Appeal to Tradition • “We know…”—Their confidence rests on inherited religious structures, not on the fresh evidence standing before them. • “God spoke to Moses…”—They cling to a genuine revelation but treat it as complete in itself, shutting the door to further light that perfectly fulfills it. • “…but we do not know where this man is from.”—They dismiss Jesus’ authority because it arises outside their sanctioned channels. What’s at Stake in Their Statement? • They place tradition above divine activity: miracles are secondary to approved systems. • They assume spiritual authority is restricted to familiar voices. • They reveal that knowledge can harden when detached from humble obedience (cf. Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:8). Authority Rooted in God’s Revelation, Not Human Tradition • Scripture is the final, sufficient authority—always true, never erring. • God reserves the right to act in ways that expose the limits of human structures. • Genuine tradition must serve, not silence, the living Word (John 5:46). Jesus as the Greater Revelation • Hebrews 3:3—“Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses…” • The sign in John 9 verifies Jesus’ messianic identity foretold in Isaiah 35:5 (“Then the eyes of the blind will be opened”). • Rejecting Christ while claiming loyalty to Moses is self-contradictory; Moses anticipated Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15–19). How John 9:29 Challenges Us Today • Examine every tradition—family, denominational, cultural—under the light of Scripture. • Remain teachable; God may confront cherished assumptions through His Word. • Discern true authority by its conformity to Scripture and by the fruit it bears (Matthew 7:16). • Proclaim Christ alone as the final voice of salvation (Acts 4:12). • Guard against being “taken captive…by human tradition” (Colossians 2:8). Living It Out • Hold Scripture as the supreme standard while honoring faithful tradition that echoes it. • Celebrate when God works outside our expectations, provided it aligns with His revealed Word. • Anchor confidence in Christ, the fulfillment of Moses and the Prophets, so spiritual authority rests on God’s living Son rather than on human systems. |
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