December 21
“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:37 (ESV)
The Gospel of John is known for the extended employment of irony, both by Jesus and by John, the author. A prime example is how Jesus framed one of His many reasons for His Incarnation. In John 3 we read it was not God’s purpose to send His Son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:17). Ironically, at the conclusion of the narrative of the healing of the blind man in John 9:39, “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.’” Jesus divided the world into two groups: people who are blind that end up seeing, and people who “see” that end up blind.
In reaction to Jesus, the Pharisees asked a question expecting a negative answer as to whether
Jesus thought they were blind. Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains” (9:41). Jesus was teaching the need for people to be humble enough to admit they have a spiritual need for salvation that only He can provide. Only Jesus can solve the problem of human guilt due to sin. Those trusting in their own perceptions are unwilling to acknowledge sin as their real issue and are therefore blind to their own need. Such people remain in their state of continuing condemnation (3:18–20). Those who recognize their spiritual blindness and come to the Light are blessed with spiritual sight.
The judgment Jesus came to bring was the clarification between people of faith and the unbelieving world. This is the truth Jesus had in mind when he stood before Pilate and claimed that His purpose in coming into the world was to “bear witness to the truth.” He is the Truth and people of truth rightly listen to Him. The climactic irony is that while it appeared Jesus was on trial before the world of His day, the reality is that the world represented by Pilate stood and still stands for trial before the One who is the Truth. Jesus alone has the right of final judgment (5:22–23).