John 35-39 and spiritual blindness

[thyrodandstaff]

I find this passage somewhat mysterious.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

What will Jesus make people be able to see or not see? What do those who see behold before Jesus will make them blind? What does he mean by line 39 then? Does he mean the punishment for being judged evil will be like blindness in some way?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Thyro,

You will have noticed that John calls Jesus’ miracles “signs”. Jesus performs a cure that signifies his purpose of curing spiritual blindness. Those who consider themselves as enlightened but do not accept Jesus’ message are in fact blind. Those who consider themselves blind, that is are ready to be spiritually enlightened, will be made to see through Jesus’ teaching.

Does that answer your question?

Verbum

 

[animalis]

I find this passage somewhat mysterious.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

What will Jesus make people be able to see or not see? What do those who see behold before Jesus will make them blind? What does he mean by line 39 then? Does he mean the punishment for being judged evil will be like blindness in some way?

The Catechism speaks of doubt in its treatment of the First Commandment. In it we read, “If deliberately cultivated, doubt can lead to spiritual blindness.” (CCC 2088) The Scriptures above contain a dialogue, an example of simplicity expected in belief. Though he was blind he is quick to see with Christ and so simple and an example for us all. Many are not so simple, so they recieve judgment for there doubt. They make an issue for ‘court’ on their complexity. Voluntary doubt in a number of cases is a mortal sin (cf. Summa Theologica, II-II, q. 10). A chronic habit of which we do not want to have on our soul when we die.