Agreed Already

Have you ever met an individual who would dismiss any given item before the evidence has been placed before him or her? You present cold, hard facts, sometimes repeatedly, only to be ignored? The problem may not be the fact that you are not properly presenting the situation, these people have “agreed already” to believe a certain position despite the evidence before them. What does it mean to agree already? A great example can be found in John 9. The very first verse allows us to know that the blind man was in a state of blindness since birth. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.” (John 9:1). After a questioning about the man’s condition from the disciples, Christ healed the man (John 9:2-7). He is brought before the Pharisees by his neighbors (John 9:8-13). The main focus of the conversation to follow was that of the man being blind and the miracle performed by Christ. After continuous questions about these matters, the man was cast out by the Pharisees (John 9:34).

Why would the Pharisees do something like this? They were given the proper evidence. First, this man was blind since his birth (John 9:1). This is evident from the comment made by his neighbors. “The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.” (John 9:8-9). Those who were in that city were well aware of his former disability. The parents of this man affirmed his former condition. “His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind” (John 9:20). This man also made repeated statements concerning the miracle that was wrought on his person. “He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see…He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again?…The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes” (John 9:25, 27, 30). Also, the fact remained that no one before had performed this action. “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing” (John 9:32-33). More than enough was given to the Pharisees on this matter and yet, they chose to believe it not. Why would they decide to ignore the evidence?

Simply, they had chosen to ignore any evidence before this occurred. “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22). The Pharisees had already decided that anyone who confesses Jesus as the Christ would be cast out. The fact that clear evidence was given did not matter. Their minds were made up. Christ referred to them as being “blind” (John 9:39-41). Sadly, there are those today who already have their minds made up on certain matters. They are not like those of Berea, who studied to make sure the things taught by even an inspired apostle were correct (Acts 17:11). These were referred to as noble. Which would we rather be called? Would we be blind because of a decision to “agree already” because seeing the evidence? Or would we be noble because we chose to investigate in order to find the truth?