Have you ever had the responsibility of leading someone who is blind? Years ago, I worked with a man at a radio station who was blind. On occasion, I would drive him places and he would hold on to my arm as I guided him around. As a blind man, he had to trust me completely as I led him around. My father-in-law is also blind. Many times, I have led him around and guided him and protected him from that which he could not see. It is an interesting thing being around someone who is blind. It causes you to consider what it is like for someone who is blind. Certainly, it may have some advantages. However, the disadvantages far out-weigh any advantages one may perceive.
In John’s Gospel, we have seen the discourse between Jesus and those at the Feast of Tabernacles. In those discussions, Jesus presses the issue of His identity. He reveals to them multiple times that He is the Messiah. Some believe Him, and many others do not. It is in that context that Jesus is walking with His disciples and they come across a man that was born blind. In this encounter, Jesus once again demonstrates who He is and what He came to do.
The Cause. Notice what is written in verses 1-3. “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” [1] One undeniable human trait is our uncanny desire to know ‘why’ or to cast blame. The law of cause and effect is ingrained in us so deeply that we always want to know the reason why something is. The disciples of Jesus are no different. They see this blind man and their immediate reaction is to ask why the man was blind. They assume that his blindness came as a result of his sin or the sin of his parents. They felt the need to cast blame to understand the cause of the man’s blindness. However, Jesus responds by saying that the man is not blind because of any specific sins of himself or his parents. Jesus says that there is a purpose for the man’s blindness and they are about to see that purpose. As we consider the cause of the man’s blindness, there are several principles for us to understand.
- Physical deformities may or may not be the direct result of specific sins.
One cannot deny the fact that sinful behavior does affect us physically. For example, when one or both parents are drug users, it may result in the birth of a deformed child. When we participate in sinful behavior it may result in certain diseases and deformities. However, this is not always the case.
- All deformities and all forms of suffering are an indirect result of sin.
We live in a fallen world. This earth and everything and everyone in it is cursed by sin. Therefore, though a specific sin may not be the cause; the curse of sin in general is the cause. Before the fall of man, everything was perfect. There was no sickness or pain or deformities or death. However, since the fall of man; sickness, pain, deformities, and death has increased all the more. Therefore, a deformity may not be caused by a specific sin that someone commits, it is however, the result of a sin cursed world.
- God is Sovereign in what He allows.
God has a purpose and a plan for every single person. Sometimes, God may allow certain things to happen for a purpose. My daughter shared with me a funny story the other day. She said that on Sunday, her pastor was at home sick. A guest speaker was there to fill in. The guest speaker told the congregation that he had been praying that very week that God would open up a door for him to preach somewhere. That Saturday, he got a call from the pastor saying he was sick, and wanted to know if he would preach in his place that Sunday. Now, did God cause the sickness of that pastor? Of course not. But, God did allow that pastor to get sick and used that circumstance to answer that man’s prayer. In the case of the blind man, God allowed the man to be born blind for that very moment when he would be healed and God would be glorified. God does work in mysterious ways and there are times when God will allow certain things, even times of suffering, in order to fulfill a specific purpose. As believers, we should take comfort in the fact that God works all things for our good. Therefore, when God does allow something to happen in our lives whether good or bad; we should rejoice that God has a plan and a purpose in what He allows.
The Solution. In verses 4-7 we read, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.”[2] Jesus explained to His disciples that their encounter with the blind man served a purpose. Jesus said that He is the light of the world and as long as He is in the world, He had a job to. Jesus was taking advantage of the situation to demonstrate His power as a sign to the people that He truly is who He says He is. Jesus then spits on the ground and makes clay and rubs the clay over the man’s eyes. He tells the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeyed and when he washed off the clay, he was able to see for the first time in his life! Warren Wiersbe gives an interesting commentary on why Jesus healed the man in this manner. Wiersbe writes, “There were at least two reasons for our Lord’s use of the clay. For one thing, it was a picture of the Incarnation. God made the first man out of the dust, and God sent His Son as a real Man. Note the emphasis on the meaning of “Siloam”—“sent.” And relate this to John 9:4, “The works of Him that sent Me” (see also John 3:17, 34; 5:36; 7:29; 8:18, 42). Jesus gave a little illustration of His own coming to earth, sent by the Father. The second reason for the clay was irritation; it encouraged the man to believe and obey! If you have ever had an irritation in your eyes, you know how quickly you seek irrigation to cleanse it out! You might compare this “irritation” to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit as He uses God’s Law to bring the lost sinner under judgment.”[3] We do not know for sure if Wiersbe’s assessment is correct, but it certainly is interesting. Everything Jesus did on earth was with purpose. Everything He did was strategic and calculated. The main thing to understand is the simple fact the Jesus was the solution for the man’s blindness. His only hope was in Jesus. My friend, no matter what you are facing in life, without Jesus, you will never make it. Jesus is the solution to all of life’s struggles. Without Him you can do nothing. Christ alone is the solution!
The Testimony. After his healing, the blind man testified as to what had happened. Notice the text in verses 8-12. “Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” Therefore, they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” Then they said to him, “Where is He? He said, “I do not know.”[4] The testimony of the man is very plain. He simply tells the people what Jesus did for him. His testimony is also seen in verse 25 when the man said, “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”[5] He basically says that he does not understand all the theological implications, all he knows is that his life has been changed. He was once blind, now, he can see! One truth we learn from this is that no one can argue with your testimony. Your story of what Jesus has done for you cannot be questioned. What happened to you is real. Your life has been changed. There is no greater witness, than a life that has been changed.
The Doubters. With every miracle, there is always those that doubt. Verses 13-34 says, “They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.”[6]The Pharisees cast doubt on the healing of the blind man. They claim that Jesus is not legitimate and that He was a sinner and not of God. The blind man again responds with the fact that he does not understand it all. All he does know is that he once was blind and now he can see. There are many today, who tend to throw water on the work of God. Instead of rejoicing in the good that has occurred, they find some way to rationalize things and dampen the fire. One of the most frustrating things in ministry is dealing with naysayers. When good things happen, they look for some way to turn people toward something negative, rather than focus on the good. Many a churches have lost their influence and their light has been darkened by negative naysayers and doubters.
The Explanation. In the final verses of this chapter, Jesus gives an explanation to the man He had healed. Verses 35-41 says, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”[7] When Jesus heard that the Pharisees excommunicated the man, He sought him out. When he found the man, He asked him if he believed in the Son of God. The man asked Jesus who the Son of God was and Jesus said, “You are looking at Him.” The man then believed on Jesus. He got saved! Jesus then explains to those around Him that He had come into the world to bring sight to those who are spiritually blind. You see, we are all born blind spiritually. Those who believe on Jesus will be made to see. Those who do not believe in Jesus will remain in the darkness of their sin.
Our prayer each and every day should be that God would remove the scales of sin from our eyes so we may see Him clearly. Our desire should be to see Jesus and to know Him more.
[1] The New King James Version (Jn 9:1–3). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[2] The New King James Version (Jn 9:4–7). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 324–325). Victor Books.
[4] The New King James Version (Jn 9:8–12). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[5] The New King James Version (Jn 9:25). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[6] The New King James Version (Jn 9:13–34). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[7] The New King James Version (Jn 9:35–41). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Pastor Chris Noland 