Can You See?

I. The Blind Man’s Condition Section:

Read John 9:1-5.

-Jesus and His disciples encounter a man born blind.

-The disciples ask if his blindness was due to his sin or his parents' sin.Jesus corrects their misunderstanding—his blindness is an opportunity for God's work to be displayed.

1. The Disciples’ Assumption: Suffering as a Direct Punishment for Sin

-The disciples’ question reflects a common Jewish belief of the time: that suffering, especially something as severe as blindness from birth, must be a direct consequence of sin. This idea had roots in:

-Old Testament Teachings on Blessing and Cursing – Verses like Deuteronomy 28 describe how obedience leads to blessing and disobedience leads to curses. Some people took this to mean that all suffering must be tied to specific sins.

-Exodus 20:5 – Where God speaks of “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children,” which some misinterpreted to mean that personal afflictions were punishments for ancestral sins.

-Job’s Friends’ View of Suffering – In the Book of Job, his friends assume Job’s suffering must be due to some hidden sin. This was a prevalent mindset in ancient Jewish thought.

Even today, many people instinctively think bad things happen because God is punishing them.

2. Jesus’ Response: Suffering is Not Always Because of Sin

-Jesus dismantles this assumption completely:

-“Neither this man nor his parents sinned." – He makes it clear that this suffering was not a punishment for personal or generational sin.

-“So that God’s works might be displayed in him." – Instead of being a consequence of sin, this man’s blindness became an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed.

-This challenges our perspective on suffering. Not all pain, hardship, or illness is a direct result of our wrongdoing. Sometimes, God allows suffering for reasons beyond what we can see—to bring glory to Himself, to grow our faith, or to prepare us for something greater.

3. Why Do We Still Think Our Suffering is Because of Sin?

Even though Jesus refuted this idea, people still fall into the trap of thinking suffering is always linked to personal sin. Here’s why:

We Like Cause and Effect – It’s easier to believe that every hardship has a clear, direct reason. If we sin, we expect bad things to happen. If we do good, we expect blessings.

Guilt and Shame – When we suffer, we often feel like it’s our fault. We search our past mistakes for an explanation, assuming God must be punishing us.

Legalistic or Prosperity Teachings – Some teachings wrongly suggest that if we have enough faith, we won’t suffer, and if we suffer, it must be because of a lack of faith or hidden sin.

Misinterpreted Scripture – While the Bible does teach that sin has consequences, not all suffering is because of personal sin. We live in a fallen world where suffering happens for many reasons.

4. The Bigger Picture: God’s Purpose in Suffering

Instead of assuming suffering means punishment, Jesus invites us to see a greater purpose. In this case, the man’s blindness set the stage for Jesus to reveal God’s glory through healing.

For us, suffering can:

Refine our faith James 1:2–4 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

Draw us closer to God 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Equip us to help others 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Remind us of our need for Jesus Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

-Trust in God's Sovereignty John 9:3 reminds us that not all suffering is a result of sin. While sin does bring brokenness into the world, personal suffering is not always a personal punishment. Instead of assuming guilt, we should trust that God is at work—even in our hardest moments—to reveal His greater purpose and glory.

Once we get to verse 5 Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world" (v. 5).

-This a powerful statement because He is making a direct claim to His divinity. This statement is not just a metaphor—it ties back to the very identity of God in the Old Testament and establishes Jesus as the divine Savior.

1. Light is a Divine Attribute in the Old Testament

-Throughout the Old Testament, light is associated with God’s presence, holiness, and revelation. By calling Himself the light of the world, Jesus is identifying Himself with the very essence of God.

God is Light – "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear?" (Psalm 27:1)

God’s Presence as Light – When God led Israel through the wilderness, He appeared as a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21). Jesus is now saying He is the light, implying He is the same God who guided His people.

Light as Revelation – Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." The Jews understood God’s Word as the source of truth. Jesus, as the Word made flesh (John 1:1,14), is claiming to be this ultimate revelation.

-By saying He is the light of the world, Jesus is not just giving a poetic statement—He is declaring that He possesses the same divine nature as Yahweh.

2. Jesus’ Use of “I AM” Language

-In John’s Gospel, Jesus often makes bold "I AM" statements, echoing God’s name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14: "God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

-Jesus repeatedly uses this divine title for Himself (e.g., "I am the bread of life" [John 6:35], "I am the good shepherd" [John 10:11], "Before Abraham was, I AM" [John 8:58]). When He says, “I am the light of the world,” He is making another direct claim to being Yahweh in the flesh.

3. The Context: Healing the Man Born Blind (John 9)

Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world is immediately followed by His healing of a man born blind. This miracle serves as a physical demonstration of His divine power and authority.

Only God Gives Sight to the Blind – In the Old Testament, the ability to heal blindness was seen as something only God could do (Exodus 4:11; Psalm 146:8). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would bring sight to the blind (Isaiah 42:6-7). By healing the blind man, Jesus fulfills this prophecy, proving that He is the divine Messiah.

Spiritual Blindness vs. Sight – The Pharisees reject Jesus despite seeing the miracle, demonstrating their spiritual blindness. Jesus, as the light, exposes their darkness and reveals that true sight comes only through Him. We are going to talk more about this shortly.

4. Light and Creation: Jesus as the Creator

John’s Gospel begins with a direct parallel to Genesis:

Genesis 1:3 – “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

John 1:4-5 – “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

-Jesus is not just bringing light—He is the light that was present at creation. He is claiming to be the very source of life and light, making Him equal with the Creator.

5. The Jewish Leaders Understood His Claim

-The Pharisees did not see Jesus’ statement as a harmless metaphor. They understood that He was making a divine claim, which is why they reacted with hostility.

-In John 8:12, when Jesus first declared, "I am the light of the world," the religious leaders challenged Him, trying to discredit His authority. They knew He was claiming something far greater than just being a good teacher—He was declaring Himself to be God.

-We need to be very clear here… When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” He was not just making a poetic or philosophical statement. He was:

Identifying Himself with Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Declaring that He is the source of all truth, life, and salvation.

Fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

Demonstrating His divine power through the healing of the blind man.

Using the same "I AM" language that pointed directly to His divinity.

-For us today, this means that Jesus is not just a wise teacher or a religious leader—He is God in the flesh, the only One who can truly bring light to our darkness and open our spiritual eyes.

-Jesus brings light to dark situations; our pain can be used for His glory.

II. The Miracle of Sight Section

Read John 9:6-12.

-In John 9:6-12 (CSB), Jesus heals a man born blind by spitting on the ground, making mud with His saliva, and applying it to the man's eyes before instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. This act is rich with symbolic meaning and theological significance:

Why Does Jesus Sit on the Ground to Make Mud?

-A Personal, Hands-On Miracle Unlike other healings where Jesus simply speaks (e.g., Mark 10:52), here He physically engages with the man’s condition. This act highlights His personal involvement in restoration. He doesn’t just decree healing from a distance—He touches the man, demonstrating deep care and intentionality.

-Echoes of Creation (Genesis 2:7) Jesus forming mud recalls how God formed Adam from the dust of the ground in Genesis 2:7. Just as God created life from the dust, Jesus—God in the flesh—is demonstrating His divine power to recreate and restore. This points to Him as the Creator who can give new life and spiritual sight.

-The Use of Earthly Elements for Divine Healing Jesus uses mud and saliva, common and humble elements, to perform a miraculous work. This reinforces the idea that God can use the ordinary to do the extraordinary. It also reminds us that healing and transformation often come through unexpected means.

-Challenging the Religious Legalism Jesus performs this healing on the Sabbath (John 9:14), and making mud was considered “work” by the Pharisees. By doing this, He deliberately challenges their rigid legalism, showing that God’s mercy is greater than human traditions.

The Significance for Us Today

-Jesus Meets Us in Our Brokenness Just as He stooped to the ground to heal the blind man, Jesus meets us where we are. He doesn’t demand that we clean ourselves up before we come to Him—He steps into our mess to bring healing.

-True Sight Comes from Jesus The physical healing points to a greater spiritual truth: we are all spiritually blind until Jesus opens our eyes(John 9:39-41). This challenges us to examine whether we are truly seeing with the eyes of faith or still walking in darkness.

-God Uses the Ordinary for His Glory Mud and spit seem unimpressive, but Jesus uses them to bring transformation. Likewise, God can use simple, unexpected things in our lives—conversations, trials, or everyday moments—to bring healing and renewal.

-A Call to Obedience The blind man had to obey Jesus by going to wash in the Pool of Siloam. His healing required faith in action—he trusted Jesus’ words even before he saw the result. This reminds us that faith isn’t passive; we are called to trust and obey even when we don’t fully understand.

-This miracle isn’t just about physical sight—it’s about spiritual transformation. Jesus is the light of the world (John 9:5), and He alone gives sight to the blind, both physically and spiritually. His willingness to stoop down, touch the dirt, and heal reminds us that He is near, He is compassionate, and He is still in the business of opening blind eyes today.

-Jesus' methods may not always make sense to us, but obedience leads to transformation.

-God’s healing often requires our participation—faith and obedience work together.

-Spiritual healing is just as important as physical healing.

III. The Pharisees’ Interrogation (John 9:13-34)

-I want to quickly walk us through what happens in verses 13-34.

The healed man is brought before the Pharisees, who focus on the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.

They question the man and his parents, trying to discredit the miracle.

The man boldly proclaims what Jesus has done: "I was blind, and now I can see!" (v. 25).

The Pharisees cast him out because he challenges their spiritual blindness.

IV. True Sight Comes Through Faith in Jesus Section:

Now lets wrap this all up with the last few verses:

Read John 9:35-41.

Jesus shifts the focus from physical blindness to spiritual blindness, addressing both the healed man and the Pharisees. Let’s break it down:

What Was Jesus Trying to Accomplish?

Revealing True Faith

Jesus seeks out the formerly blind man after he was cast out by the religious leaders and asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (v. 35).

The man responds with genuine faith, saying, “I believe, Lord,” and he worshiped Him (v. 38).

Jesus wanted to show that true sight comes from believing in Him, not just seeing with physical eyes.

Exposing the Spiritual Blindness of the Pharisees

Jesus declares, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind” (v. 39).

The Pharisees thought they had spiritual sight but were blind to the truth of Jesus.

His goal was to reveal their hardness of heart—they were so obsessed with religious law and power that they rejected the very Messiah they claimed to be waiting for.

Flipping Expectations: The Lowly See, the Proud Are Blind

The blind man, an outcast, receives both physical and spiritual sight.

The Pharisees, who were educated and influential, remain blind despite all their knowledge.

Jesus emphasizes that humility leads to revelation, while pride leads to blindness (v. 41).

What Did Jesus Accomplish?

He Fully Restores the Healed Man—Physically & Spiritually

The miracle wasn’t complete until the man understood who Jesus truly was.

His physical sight was just the first step—his spiritual sight was the ultimate healing.

He Condemns the Pharisees’ Hypocrisy

The Pharisees ask, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” (v. 40), and Jesus responds, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains” (v. 41).

This is a sharp rebuke: their claim of spiritual insight actually proved their blindness because they rejected Jesus.

He Defines the True Condition of Humanity

The passage sets up a powerful spiritual truth:

Those who acknowledge their blindness can be healed.

Those who think they can see on their own remain blind.

Today many believer also claim to see yet they are Spiritually blind just like the pharisees, but why is that?

Pride & Self-Sufficiency

Like the Pharisees, many believers think they already have everything figured out.Spiritual pride keeps people from seeing their need for Christ

When people believe they don’t need to grow or be corrected, they close themselves off to deeper revelation.

Religious Tradition Over Relationship

The Pharisees were obsessed with rules but missed God Himself.

Many today focus on religion without transformation, knowing Bible verses but missing Jesus in their daily walk.

Fear of Change

Accepting Jesus as Lord means surrendering control.

Some resist spiritual sight because it would require them to let go of their comfort, sin, or self-righteousness.

Judging Others Instead of Examining Their Own Hearts

The Pharisees were quick to criticize and slow to repent.

Many believers today do the same—pointing out sin in others while ignoring their own blind spots. Believers often feel the need to call out the flaws of others before ever looking at their own flaws and bring them before the Lord.

How Do We Avoid Spiritual Blindness?

Stay Humble: Always recognize our need for Jesus.

Seek True Relationship: More than just knowledge—seek intimacy with Christ.

Let the Holy Spirit Correct You: Be open to conviction and change.

Live Out What You Believe: Don’t just "see" the truth—walk in it.

True sight comes not just from physical healing, but from recognizing Jesus as Lord.

When we acknowledge our blindness, Jesus opens our eyes to the truth.

I have just one question for us all right now,  Will we admit our blindness and receive sight, or will we remain in darkness?

I want to Challenge us all with these 3 things:

If you have experienced Christ’s healing, boldly share your testimony like the blind man.

Ask God to reveal any areas where you may still be spiritually blind.

Choose to follow Jesus, the Light of the World, and walk in His truth.