Discileship 13
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A blind man healed
A blind man healed
We are continuing our study of discipleship and how Jesus trained his disciples. John records the signs that Jesus preformed. Last week we looked at the feeding of the five thousand and how it connected to the the “I Am, the bread of life,” statement of Jesus. Bread being the an essential element of one’s physical life.
This week we will be looking at the 6th sign the account of a man born blind and how he was healed by Jesus as recorded in John 9. We begin with Jesus’ disciples asking the question; who sinned this man or his parents? This follows a popular theme for that era that physical ailments were the result of sin. The Jewish leaders taught that it was possible for a child to sin while still in its mother’s womb.
While not as popular today we still have people who will say that some illness or tragedy must be the result of sin. I suppose it makes it easy to explain why something has happened, but I don’t think God works that way. Several years ago an Amish boy in the community left the church and bought a car. Some months later he was involved in a fatal accident. People explained his death to be a direct result of his leaving the Amish church. God’s punishment.
Jesus replied to his disciples question by saying that neither the man or his parents had sinned his blindness was so that the works of God could be displayed in him and that God would be glorified. As long as it is day , we must do the works of him who sent me, because night is coming when no one can work. Jesus then repeats the statement that he made in chapter 8 verse 12; “I am the light of the world. 9:5 He says while I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Two things that I see here; Jesus is saying that he must do the works of the Father while he is still here, while it is still daylight because night is coming. Yes his time on earth is over, but the 2nd thing is; notice that in verse 4 he said we must work. I take that to mean that we today are expected to continue to do the work of Christ because the night of the end of the Christian age has not yet come.
After saying this Jesus spit on the ground and made some mud with his saliva and put it on the man’s eyes. Then he commanded him to “GO” “WASH” in the pool of Siloam. The man went and washed and was healed of his blindness. The man responded to Jesus’ commands with obedience and faith that what Jesus told him would work. He was able to see for the first time in his life. Can you imagine what that would have been like? To see light, color, birds, trees, building, and people. It would have been amazing and overwhelming.
It is interesting to note that saliva was considered to have healing qualities in the ancient world. I am also reminded of our study in Revelation , 3.18 makes reference to the church in Laodicea and how they were known for the salve that they made for the treatment of eyes.
We have seen a miracle; people who knew this man couldn’t believe it. some thought that it must have been another man who looked like him, but the man responded I am the man. How were your eyes opened? He replied that the man called Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to go to Siloam and wash and the I could see. they asked where is the man and he said, I don’t know.
This healing was brought to the attention of the Pharisees. They were doubly angered because it was the sabbath and making the mixture of mud and saliva was considered to be work. They were arguing back and forth that Jesus was a sinner because of his deeds. Others said that a sinner could not preform such signs. They asked the man what he had to say about Jesus and he replied, he is a prophet. Still not believing they called the man’s parents and asked if he was their son and had he been born blind. They said yes ,he was their son and he had been born blind. Then they asked how is it that he can now see? The parents were afraid of the Pharisees because they had threatened to put out of the temple anyone who testified about Jesus. So they said our son is of age, ask him. Passing the buck is not new it has been around for a long time. We want to preserve ourselves, they passed it back to their son.
The Pharisees called him back a second time and told him to give glory to God and tell the truth. Jesus was a sinner and could not have healed him. The man replied I told you that I was blind and now I see. why do you want me to tell you again, do you want to become his disciples too? This angered the Pharisees and they insulted him. then they pulled the Moses card saying we are disciples of Moses and we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.
The man gives it right back to the leaders. this man opened my eyes and “you” don’t know where he comes from. God does not listen to sinners. If this man was not from God he could do nothing. The Pharisees replied, how dare you lecture us and threw him out.
Once again we see the Jewish leaders denying Jesus. They had witnessed a sign or miracle in this blind man’s healing and they refuse to believe it. We see the same refusal in people today. They try to explain away modern day miracles. Often their ideas of what has happened are harder to accept than to believe that God has preformed a miracle.
Let’s go back to the I Am the light of the world statement. John wrote in I John 1.6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
We read in the book of Acts about Paul being blinded by a great light brighter than the sun, on the road to Damascus. He was blind for 3 days after this encounter with Jesus. The Holy Spirit sent Ananias to lay hands on him so that he would receive his sight again. Paul wrote in Acts 26.18
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
We have talked about physical blindness. One’s who have been born blind have to rely on others for descriptions of things especially of light and colors. I find it hard to imagine what that would be like. Others who have had sight and then been blinded for one reason or another know what things look like and light and colors, but no longer can see them. When someone describes what they see they can understand what the person is talking about. I know that a number of us have had cataract surgery and the difference it has made in our vision. Brighter colors and the ability to drive at night again. Other types of treatment, so very delicate have restored or saved vision for others. Yes Jesus has healed many from physical blindness.
We also need to think of Spiritual blindness. 1. we haven’t been told the good news that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to pay the price for our sin. 2. God has closed the eyes of people because of their sin. Isaiah 6.9-10
Isaiah 6:9–10 (NIV)
He said, “Go and tell this people:
“ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
Jesus confirmed this in his day in Matt. 13.13-15
Matthew 13:13–15 (NIV)
This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Saint Augustine wrote; “It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed.”
3. People who refuse to even consider that there is a God in heaven. Who refuse to listen to anyone trying to share the word of God with them.
Jesus the light of the world. John wrote that the night is coming when no one will be able to see. We are living in a time when there is darkness all around us. The night is coming when we will not be able to see. There will no longer be an opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness and live in the light of the glory of God. Rev. 21.23-25
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
Believers, those who have put their trust in Jesus will be in heaven with him and experience that light, brighter than any sun, emanates from the glory of God.
Please don’t miss it. Accept Jesus while it is still day before the darkness of night falls and the opportunity has passed.