If Jesus could heal blind men, why didn't he just heal blindness?

[Ken Brown]

Why do the blind try to lead the blind? KB

 

[NIX]

Jesus didn't heal the blind man because he felt sorry for him. He healed him to make a point.

EDIT: To clarify why I said this.

The OP seems to come from the position that Jesus healed the blind man because he wanted to remove the man's struggles. And if he was so compassionate, why didn't he show the same compassion to everyone that is blind?

The thing is, that Jesus didn't heal the blind man out of compassion (the story doesn't say anything about compassion) he did it out of his duty to God. Shortly after the man is healed the pharisees run around town trying to get someone to admit that it was a trick. And no one does. Jesus healed the blind man so that this could all take place. Then Jesus talks about making the blind see and the sighted blind. He is speaking metaphorically about the Pharisees refusing to believe no matter how many people told them the same story. So what use would healing all of the blind be in demonstrating that? None at all. He only needed that one man at that one time. So that's all he did.

Pre-requisite scenes to an unfolding story line.

 

[sojourner]

I am asking this question in order to figure it out, trying to make sense of it and it seems like most Christians just attack me right away as soon as I raise a question. So please help me understand the reason, and please give me a good reason, not something under the lines of because God wants millions of blind children suffering out there so we appreciate our eyes.
Thank you

These are theological stories told from a theological perspective, making theological points. The theological point of the story isn't that Jesus was able to heal blindness. The theological point of the story isn't that blindness ought to be eradicated. Blindness isn't the issue. Blindness is seen in the story as a literary device. Blindness indicates the presence of sin. John 9:2 says, "Rabbi, who sinned? This man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

The theological point of the healing of blindness is wholeness. Jesus brings wholeness where we cannot find it ourselves. These are stories of grace.

 

[InChrist]

Jesus did not come to earth to fix everything that is wrong in this sin-infested world. He came to pay the penalty for the sins of humanity and call anyone who is willing to come to Him for forgiveness and eternal life in the new heaven and earth which will be sin-free and without flaws, blindness or otherwise.

 

[Ken Brown]

Jesus did not come to earth to fix everything that is wrong in this sin-infested world. He came to pay the penalty for the sins of humanity and call anyone who is willing to come to Him for forgiveness and eternal life in the new heaven and earth which will be sin-free and without flaws, blindness or otherwise.

Hi InChrist, those who believe that Yeshua came to "pay the penalty for the sins of humanity," really can't see very well. KB

 

[InChrist]

Hi InChrist, those who believe that Yeshua came to "pay the penalty for the sins of humanity," really can't see very well. KB

Hello Ken Brown, those who don't believe Yeshua came to pay for the sins of the world really can't read very well. Open the scriptures and read what they say.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I said there's some truth to it, but it wasn't a miracle because I believe in a pagan Christ who's a deity of awakening and illumination like Krishna. I don't believe he ever existed. I believe I'd be called a docetist

 

[1robin]

Hi InChrist, those who believe that Yeshua came to "pay the penalty for the sins of humanity," really can't see very well. KB

What are you trying to say here?

 

[Ken Brown]

What are you trying to say here?

Hi 1robin, basically, those who believe that Elohim needs to kill or murder the Righteous and Innocent in the place of the wicked, just so that He can pay their penalty, thinking that somehow now Elohim's justice is satisfied, are not reasoning properly. What parent would punish their only good child just so they could forgive or exonerate their wicked children?

Yeshua is the Messiah, and He died "for" or because of our sins, so that we could be blessed, and turned away FROM them:

Act 3:26
(26) Having raised up His child Yeshua, Elohim sent Him first to you, blessing you in turning away each one from your iniquities.

That is what it means that Yeshua died "for" your sin. He died for it to TURN us FROM our sin, so that we would not remain it our sin and continue to kill or sacrifice Him. He died to TURN us away FROM our sin, and the Scriptures are clear, Elohim does not desire the death of anyone, what He desires is that a sinner repent, and TURN from their iniquities, and then NONE of those sins will be remembered. Slaughtering His Son ONLY makes Him REMEMBER your sins, but by us slaughtering Him and shedding His blood, we are brought to a sorrowful repentance to where a true believer will TURN away from their sin and stop crucifying Him anew. Please consider what I have said here. KB

 

[ZooGirl02]

Jesus Christ did not come to heal all disease, disorders, and illnesses. That was not His mission. His mission was to bring salvation.

 

[1robin]

Hi 1robin, basically, those who believe that Elohim needs to kill or murder the Righteous and Innocent in the place of the wicked, just so that He can pay their penalty, thinking that somehow now Elohim's justice is satisfied, are not reasoning properly. What parent would punish their only good child just so they could forgive or exonerate their wicked children?

Hello Mr Brown. Why do you feel it profitable to rewrite the Biblical narrative? The Bible never claims to destroy the righteous to help the unrighteous. In fact beyond Christ that is a Biblical impossibility. Christ is not primarily a representative of the "good" people. He is a representative of God. God paid the price as the ultimate expression of love as well as his being the only one that possessed what the demand required. We have nothing to offer that would undo the damage we caused. Only Christ did. Not to mention that Christ chose to do this by his own will. God did not push an unwilling man to the chopping block. Christ willingly gave his life for us. When a human does this we give them medals, build them museums, and tell their stories in songs. Why is the same concept in it's purest and most profound form reacted to the very opposite way when it is God doing it? Wrong is one thing, inconsistency and double standards are another.

Yeshua is the Messiah, and He died "for" or because of our sins, so that we could be blessed, and turned away FROM them:

Act 3:26
(26) Having raised up His child Yeshua, Elohim sent Him first to you, blessing you in turning away each one from your iniquities.

I think we both agree that Christ is said to have died for us so there si no need to establish that fact again.

That is what it means that Yeshua died "for" your sin. He died for it to TURN us FROM our sin, so that we would not remain it our sin and continue to kill or sacrifice Him. He died to TURN us away FROM our sin, and the Scriptures are clear, Elohim does not desire the death of anyone, what He desires is that a sinner repent, and TURN from their iniquities, and then NONE of those sins will be remembered. Slaughtering His Son ONLY makes Him REMEMBER your sins, but by us slaughtering Him and shedding His blood, we are brought to a sorrowful repentance to where a true believer will TURN away from their sin and stop crucifying Him anew. Please consider what I have said here. KB

I understand what you said here very well. I think you overemphasized some points and under emphasized others but in general I agree. I on the other hand have no idea what you are driving at. I originally thought you were objecting to the concept in general. Then you seem to simply be stating doctrine. What is the conclusion you make of all of this? I have no idea what you are trying to demonstrate. If it is that until there is no sin then Christ failed you need to review verses like

New International Version (©2011)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

New Living Translation (©2007)
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them all.

New International Version (©2011)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages

No mortal who ever lived achieved a sinless perfection. Christ came to give us a perfect status legally even though we fall short in our actual actions. We should however work towards that goal with Christ's help but it is a goal not a destination (this side of the dirt anyway).

 

[Ken Brown]

Hello Mr Brown. Why do you feel it profitable to rewrite the Biblical narrative? The Bible never claims to destroy the righteous to help the unrighteous. In fact beyond Christ that is a Biblical impossibility. Christ is not primarily a representative of the "good" people. He is a representative of God. God paid the price as the ultimate expression of love as well as his being the only one that possessed what the demand required. We have nothing to offer that would undo the damage we caused. Only Christ did. Not to mention that Christ chose to do this by his own will. God did not push an unwilling man to the chopping block. Christ willingly gave his life for us. When a human does this we give them medals, build them museums, and tell their stories in songs. Why is the same concept in it's purest and most profound form reacted to the very opposite way when it is God doing it? Wrong is one thing, inconsistency and double standards are another.

I think we both agree that Christ is said to have died for us so there si no need to establish that fact again.

I understand what you said here very well. I think you overemphasized some points and under emphasized others but in general I agree. I on the other hand have no idea what you are driving at. I originally thought you were objecting to the concept in general. Then you seem to simply be stating doctrine. What is the conclusion you make of all of this? I have no idea what you are trying to demonstrate. If it is that until there is no sin then Christ failed you need to review verses like

New International Version (©2011)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

New Living Translation (©2007)
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them all.

New International Version (©2011)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages

No mortal who ever lived achieved a sinless perfection. Christ came to give us a perfect status legally even though we fall short in our actual actions. We should however work towards that goal with Christ's help but it is a goal not a destination (this side of the dirt anyway).

Hi 1robin, please give what I am about to write you a fair chance. At the crux of understanding the sacrifice of Yeshua, you should understand that He was without blemish, totally Innocent and Righteous, and undeserving of death. There are many Scriptures which state that killing the Righteous and the Innocent in the place of the wicked (to satisfy justice), is an abomination and curse (Deu 27:25, Pro 17:15, Exo 23:7). Also, that the shedding of Innocent blood is an abomination (Deu 19:10, Pro 6:16-17, Deu 19:10). It is not a coincidence that Yeshua spoke about the Abomination that causes Desolation, because He saw that what was going to happen to Himself was utterly abominable (He was the Truth, and He was cast to the ground-Dan 8:12). He was made to stand where He ought not when He was "lifted up" on the cross (Mark 13:14). And speaking about being "lifted up," Yeshua said that He would DRAW all men to Himself when He would be lifted up on the cross (John 12:32-33). This agrees with Paul's statement that ALL died when He died (2 Cor 5:14). All were drawn INTO the death of Messiah, and a desolation of unmitigated proportions occurred, as all died. So one should not view Yeshua's death on the cross as Him dying in the stead of sinners to take their place, and paying their penalty to satisfy Elohim's justice. The Cross was the Power of Elohim to put all sinners to death through and in the death/blood of Messiah.

1robin, can you understand the difference? Killing or murdering the ONLY Righteous and Innocent ONE is something that should cause a sinner to FLEE when they see this abomination. The flight they should embark on "in haste," is a flight from sin, unto the mountains of righteousness:

Psa 36:6
(6) Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Yahweh, thou preservest man and beast.

The mountains we are to flee too when we SEE the abomination that causes desolation, are the mountains of righteousness. That is the flight all sinners must embark on when they see Yeshua's death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection, otherwise, the Wrath of the Lamb will overtake them at His return on the Sabbath (7th day/Millennium).

Doesn't this explanation make more sense than some pig being offered on an altar in a temple built with hands? KB P.S. BTW, all sinners are in darkness, they are blind from birth with regard to "seeing" the Abomination which causes desolation, but by having the dust/dead body of Yeshua brought back to life with the Living Water being added to that dust/ashes of His dead body, and then having that understanding placed upon a blind person's eyes, THEN they can start to see and go and WASH in the Pool of the One whom was sent (be baptized INTO Yeshua). This is the healing that Yeshua can give ALL blind sinners.

 

[1robin]

Hi 1robin, please give what I am about to write you a fair chance. At the crux of understanding the sacrifice of Yeshua, you should understand that He was without blemish, totally Innocent and Righteous, and undeserving of death. There are many Scriptures which state that killing the Righteous and the Innocent in the place of the wicked (to satisfy justice), is an abomination and curse (Deu 27:25, Pro 17:15, Exo 23:7). Also, that the shedding of Innocent blood is an abomination (Deu 19:10, Pro 6:16-17, Deu 19:10). It is not a coincidence that Yeshua spoke about the Abomination that causes Desolation, because He saw that what was going to happen to Himself was utterly abominable (He was the Truth, and He was cast to the ground-Dan 8:12). He was made to stand where He ought not when He was "lifted up" on the cross (Mark 13:14). And speaking about being "lifted up," Yeshua said that He would DRAW all men to Himself when He would be lifted up on the cross (John 12:32-33). This agrees with Paul's statement that ALL died when He died (2 Cor 5:14). All were drawn INTO the death of Messiah, and a desolation of unmitigated proportions occurred, as all died. So one should not view Yeshua's death on the cross as Him dying in the stead of sinners to take their place, and paying their penalty to satisfy Elohim's justice. The Cross was the Power of Elohim to put all sinners to death through and in the death/blood of Messiah.

I was on board until the last few sentences. If what you say was right then why did Christ so often say point blank and in countless places suggest he was to die for our sin, to take our punishment, and to forgive. I can give verses where desired but am in a hurry currently.

1robin, can you understand the difference? Killing or murdering the ONLY Righteous and Innocent ONE is something that should cause a sinner to FLEE when they see this abomination. The flight they should embark on "in haste," is a flight from sin, unto the mountains of righteousness:

I agree with the premise (our murdering him was an abomination) but not your conclusion. Are you saying his death was to compel us to save ourselves? That is a new one.

Psa 36:6
(6) Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Yahweh, thou preservest man and beast.

The mountains we are to flee too when we SEE the abomination that causes desolation, are the mountains of righteousness. That is the flight all sinners must embark on when they see Yeshua's death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection, otherwise, the Wrath of the Lamb will overtake them at His return on the Sabbath (7th day/Millennium).

I do not think the abomination of desolation applies to Christ but it makes little difference.

Doesn't this explanation make more sense than some pig being offered on an altar in a temple built with hands? KB P.S. BTW, all sinners are in darkness, they are blind from birth with regard to "seeing" the Abomination which causes desolation, but by having the dust/dead body of Yeshua brought back to life with the Living Water being added to that dust/ashes of His dead body, and then having that understanding placed upon a blind person's eyes, THEN they can start to see and go and WASH in the Pool of the One whom was sent (be baptized INTO Yeshua). This is the healing that Yeshua can give ALL blind sinners.

This is so unusual I must first make sure I understand what you say. Christ's death occurred but it was to cause us to flee somewhere, correct? WE are to flee from sin, correct? We do this by self effort, correct? Once clarified I will get into my "rebuttal". Sorry I lost track of this.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Perhaps Jesus did some Miracles. But the stories in Bible regarding healing the blind are to be interpreted Spiritually Blind was healed so he may see the Truth. Many Christians believe in literal reading of Bible though. Jesus said I came to World so those who are blind may see.

 

[Ken Brown]

I was on board until the last few sentences. If what you say was right then why did Christ so often say point blank and in countless places suggest he was to die for our sin, to take our punishment, and to forgive. I can give verses where desired but am in a hurry currently.

Hi 1robin, your statement "to take our punishment," is no where found in the Scriptures. You will find that the punishment we deserved, fell on Him, but that doesn't mean that He died "to take our punishment." It's sort of like when soldiers die for their country, they are not taking the place of the citizens of that country and dying in their stead, rather they are giving their lives to keep the citizens FREE. The same is with the Messiah, He willingly gave His life to FREE us FROM our iniquities, to get us to TURN from them. There is a big difference in understanding His role in FREEING us FROM sin, versus taking our place and paying the penalty of our sin.

I agree with the premise (our murdering him was an abomination) but not your conclusion. Are you saying his death was to compel us to save ourselves? That is a new one.

His suffering and death was to cause a sinner to TURN from their sin. Look at Acts 3:26, 1 Pet 4:1-2, and Titus 2:11-15. And then look at Zec 12:10 and realize how one should MOURN when they realized they have PIERCED the Righteous and Innocent One.

I do not think the abomination of desolation applies to Christ but it makes little difference.

It makes a huge difference. IF, the Abomination that causes desolation is the suffering and death of Messiah when He was lifted up and made to stand in the "holy place," then it makes a HUGE difference in understanding that WHEN a person who dwells in "praising" El (Judea), and SEES this ABOMINATION, they are commanded by Yeshua to FLEE from their iniquities unto the mountains of righteousness. You need to look at this ABOMINATION as something YOU can see, along with everyone else who has come to the knowledge of the Truth.

This is so unusual I must first make sure I understand what you say. Christ's death occurred but it was to cause us to flee somewhere, correct? WE are to flee from sin, correct? We do this by self effort, correct? Once clarified I will get into my "rebuttal". Sorry I lost track of this.

Yes 1robin, the flight we must enter into is a flight FROM sin. Just consider the children of Israel in their flight from Egypt. They were to put the blood of the lamb on their lintels and door posts. That is just a picture of how we are to put the blood of Yeshua on our minds and mouths. We are to confess that His BLOOD was on US as we were dwelling IN sin. We, with the help of wicked men, did crucify and slay the Holy One of Israel, and this abominable act that we performed, causes us to FLEE from our sin, once we SEE it. It's like 1+1=2. When you SEE the murder and suffering of Yeshua because you BROKE the Law, and did not keep it (John 7:19), you are to TURN from your sin, and no longer dwell therein. If you do continue to dwell in sin after coming to a knowledge of the Truth, there remains no sacrifice for you, only a swift and certain judgment as that deliberate sinner places Yeshua back up on the cross to add insult to injury. (Heb 6 & Heb 10)

I sure hope this helps 1robin. KB

 

[MattersOfTheHeart]

I am asking this question in order to figure it out, trying to make sense of it and it seems like most Christians just attack me right away as soon as I raise a question. So please help me understand the reason, and please give me a good reason, not something under the lines of because God wants millions of blind children suffering out there so we appreciate our eyes.
Thank you

Jesus said himself he was not here to save the world, but to condemn the world. Fixing all the errors of the world simply would be counterintuitive to the bigger picture.
You have constructed the question with an incorrect premise of Jesus giving sight to the blind man only because he had compassion on that one person.

The question and approached are flawed, not God.

 

[1robin]

Perhaps Jesus did some Miracles. But the stories in Bible regarding healing the blind are to be interpreted Spiritually Blind was healed so he may see the Truth. Many Christians believe in literal reading of Bible though. Jesus said I came to World so those who are blind may see.

There are verses that contain symbolic blindness and others that contain literal blindness and which are which are very easily determined in most cases. (For example the case where Jesus rubbed mud into the persons eye). The problem with the Baha'i is that hermeneutics, textual consistency, and exegesis are not what drives what you consider literal or not. What Bahaullah told you to think is the criteria and that is not valid.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

There are verses that contain symbolic blindness and others that contain literal blindness and which are which are very easily determined in most cases. (For example the case where Jesus rubbed mud into the persons eye). The problem with the Baha'i is that hermeneutics, textual consistency, and exegesis are not what drives what you consider literal or not. What Bahaullah told you to think is the criteria and that is not valid.

No, the Scriptures test us. It makes it as if it is literal. This is how God separates Spiritual from materialistic people.

"When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do." John 6

At the end Jesus made it clear what He meant by the Bread. He was referring to the Word of God as bread. His plan was to spread the Word, so He asked where to buy bread for these people to Test His Disciple if He understand the spiritual interpretations.


I Quote Baha'u'llah:

"Know verily that the purpose underlying all these symbolic terms and abstruse allusions, which emanate from the Revealers of God’s holy Cause, hath been to test and prove the peoples of the world; that thereby the earth of the pure and illuminated hearts may be known from the perishable and barren soil. From time immemorial such hath been the way of God amidst His creatures, and to this testify the records of the sacred books." Book of Certitude

 

[InvestigateTruth]

1 robin, I suggest you do some research on 'hidden and allegorical interpretations" by the early Christians.

"The biblical dimension refers to "hidden" or allegorical interpretations of Scriptures"
Mysticism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[1robin]

Hi 1robin, your statement "to take our punishment," is no where found in the Scriptures. You will find that the punishment we deserved, fell on Him, but that doesn't mean that He died "to take our punishment." It's sort of like when soldiers die for their country, they are not taking the place of the citizens of that country and dying in their stead, rather they are giving their lives to keep the citizens FREE. The same is with the Messiah, He willingly gave His life to FREE us FROM our iniquities, to get us to TURN from them. There is a big difference in understanding His role in FREEING us FROM sin, versus taking our place and paying the penalty of our sin.

The word atonement suggests that he paid our price. As a matter of fact it was our sin not his for which he died. 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree. He was literally taking what our sinned deserved. His hanging on a tree was a curse, for what was he cursed if not our sin?. I think the term substitutionary atonement sums up what he did very well. Christ certainly did not die for his own sins (he had none). It is also recorded that Christ went to Hell. Is that not what our sin deserves and not anything he did. We can agree that Christ died, we can agree that he had no sin, we can agree that the act saves us if we believe. I think substitutionary atonement the best explanation for those facts.

His suffering and death was to cause a sinner to TURN from their sin. Look at Acts 3:26, 1 Pet 4:1-2, and Titus 2:11-15. And then look at Zec 12:10 and realize how one should MOURN when they realized they have PIERCED the Righteous and Innocent One.

So you think the only thing the crucifixion accomplished was to shock us so bad we quit sinning? that done at what level of perfection was the goal achieved or the standard met? Once you confirm exactly what it is you are claiming I can respond directly. I have never heard this concept before and need to ask questions and get the details of it before I evaluate it.

It makes a huge difference. IF, the Abomination that causes desolation is the suffering and death of Messiah when He was lifted up and made to stand in the "holy place," then it makes a HUGE difference in understanding that WHEN a person who dwells in "praising" El (Judea), and SEES this ABOMINATION, they are commanded by Yeshua to FLEE from their iniquities unto the mountains of righteousness. You need to look at this ABOMINATION as something YOU can see, along with everyone else who has come to the knowledge of the Truth.

I read many commentaries about these verses and none of them claimed what you have. That does not prove your wrong but unless I have a revelation myself is the best that can be done. They all seem to agree that the armies surrounding Jerusalem is the abomination (they being pagans are standing on holy ground). The desolation is either the damage they caused or the wrath of God poured out at the same time. What the Romans did (Temple desecration and destruction is an example) is the most prevalent in commentaries. Do you have any respected scholars that support your interpretation.

Yes 1robin, the flight we must enter into is a flight FROM sin. Just consider the children of Israel in their flight from Egypt. They were to put the blood of the lamb on their lintels and door posts. That is just a picture of how we are to put the blood of Yeshua on our minds and mouths. We are to confess that His BLOOD was on US as we were dwelling IN sin. We, with the help of wicked men, did crucify and slay the Holy One of Israel, and this abominable act that we performed, causes us to FLEE from our sin, once we SEE it. It's like 1+1=2. When you SEE the murder and suffering of Yeshua because you BROKE the Law, and did not keep it (John 7:19), you are to TURN from your sin, and no longer dwell therein. If you do continue to dwell in sin after coming to a knowledge of the Truth, there remains no sacrifice for you, only a swift and certain judgment as that deliberate sinner places Yeshua back up on the cross to add insult to injury. (Heb 6 & Heb 10)

I will ask a few more questions for clarity before I critique your salvation model. Do you believe that we must be born again and that occurs the moment we believe in what Jesus did and at that moment all sin is forgiven and the Holy Spirit enters our heart? Do you believe that we must merit salvation by works or lack of sin? That we can achieve a perfect sinless record? Please be brief but specific and address my questions directly as it will save much time.

I sure hope this helps 1robin. KB

It sure helps me understand what you are thinking but many questions remain. I do not think at this time it helps me understand the Bible message any better but that is only my opinion and I am not arrogant enough to dismiss something just because it does not agree with me. I dismiss things based on theological and philosophical impossibilities and inconsistency and that can only be examined once I understand what I have asked. Thanks for the info so far and I hope you can give a detailed description in the areas requested.