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That blindness is revealed by the reactions of the Pharisees and other religious officials, in the temple. Supposedly they were the ones whose vision was the sharpest, they were the guides and teachers of the people, experts on God, his Kingdom and entrance into it.
But these men had a vested interest in the status quo, they would not allow themselves to entertain the notion that this preacher from Nazareth, was anything more than any other itinerant Rabbi who seemed to have sprung up in those dark days, preaching hope in the David Kingdom.
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The man who was blind, and knew it… was able to allow Jesus to restore his sight. He knew that he didn’t know anything, he was open and teachable and so ready to receive from Jesus.
But the ones who proudly claimed to know, to see so clearly, and who had a vested personal interest in maintaining that claim, in the sight of the despised, untaught rabble, were not open to anything from Jesus. If only they were blind, if only they knew how little they knew…

It's always those 'other guys'.

Meanwhile, history is prophecy because people don't learn from history, so it repeats. The pattern above applies today, such that the institutionalized teachings are the fake teachings, and the Establishment Jesus is the fake Jesus.

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Today the word "crucify" is generally used to decribed a person victimized by vicious and relentless false accusations and character assassination. "He was crucified by the press." Or, "He is being crucified in the court of public opinion." And so forth. The brethren were already running with sloppy interpretations even in that very day:

John 21
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Well what's the big deal; it was just a minor point, not like it was a "matter of salvation." /s

It's been 1986 years since AD 33 (to pick a date). As if the agony of the literal cross weren't enough, after a couple thousand years of "getting the word out", with the doctrines being settled for the folks, and confirmation bias masquerading as Bible study, guess what..

Isa 52
14. As many were astonished at you; saying His appearance is too marred to be that of a man, and his forms to be that of the sons of men:
15. So shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they perceive:

His appearance and description have been so marred that he doesn't even resemble a man! But it's... those 'other guys' causing that.

The Apologetics and "End Times" temples of merchandise are headed in the same direction as the political Establishment. The doctrinal experts and their willing disciples can discern the corrupt face of D.C., but not the signs of the times.

The skilled carpenter could show up wearing his normal attire; say, a pair of Carhartt work pants and a plaid shirt like those guys on Home Improvement, and it's more likely he'd be tossed headlong out of the church, 'cause... he's not God. And he didn't drop down from the sky. And his family we know. And... on and on.