The Blind Man’s Bold Faith

Heavenly Father, As we open Your Word today, we ask that You would open our eyes as well. Help us to see Jesus clearly—to understand who He is, to trust in what He has done, and to respond with bold faith like the man in this passage. Remove any spiritual blindness in us, and let the truth of Your gospel shine into our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Introduction:

Some of the most powerful encounters with Jesus happened not in the temple or synagogue, but on the road—in the everyday margins of life. In John 9, we find such an encounter: a man born blind, sitting unnoticed until Jesus passes by and sees him.

But this isn’t just a story about physical healing—it’s about spiritual clarity in the face of confusion, hostility, and rejection. The man’s eyes are opened, but so is his heart. And as we walk through the chapter, we’ll see that true vision is not just about what you see with your eyes—but who you believe in with your heart.

Let’s hear the story from John 9:1–41

John 9:1–41 NKJV

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” 10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11 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.” 12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 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.” 16 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. 17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 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. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 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.” 22 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. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 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?” 28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 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! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. 35 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?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. 39 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.” 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Transition to First Point:

As we walk through this account, John invites us to see more than a miracle—he wants us to witness a transformation. So let’s begin by looking at the man himself and the surprising way his story begins.

I. The Purpose in the Man’s Blindness (vv. 1–7)

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.” (v. 1)

A. Jesus sees the overlooked.

In a world that often treated physical disability as divine punishment, this man had likely lived his life ignored or blamed. But Jesus sees him—not just his condition, but his worth.

B. Jesus corrects a false assumption.

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” (v. 2)

John 9:2 – "Who sinned?" The disciples, reflecting common beliefs of their time, assumed that all suffering—especially something as significant as being born blind—must be the direct result of someone's sin, either the man’s or his parents’.

While Scripture does show that sin can lead to suffering (as in John 5:14; Numbers 12; 1 Corinthians 11:30; James 5:15), it doesn’t teach that all suffering is caused by personal sin.

In fact, there are clear biblical examples where suffering served a different purpose—like in the story of Job, Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7), or his illness when preaching to the Galatians (Galatians 4:13).

In this case, Jesus clearly states that the man’s blindness was not due to any specific sin. Rather, it served a higher purpose: to display the works of God.

C. Jesus heals him through unexpected means.

“He spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva…” (v. 6)

John 9:6 – “He made clay with the saliva” Jesus chose to heal the man using clay made from spit and dirt—a method that may seem unusual, but carries rich symbolism. Just as God formed man from the dust of the ground in Genesis 2:7, Jesus may have been intentionally echoing that act of creation. It’s possible He was doing more than restoring sight—He was creating something new, perhaps even forming new eyes, showing His divine authority as the Creator.

The method is earthy and humble—mud, spit, and obedience. Jesus sends him to the Pool of Siloam (“Sent”), and the man goes, washes, and returns seeing.

Application: Jesus still uses humble means—obedience, simple faith, and sometimes uncomfortable steps—to display His power in our lives.

II. The Response of Unbelief (vv. 8–34)

John devotes the majority of this chapter not to the healing, but to the fallout. And that’s important. Because while the man receives sight, the world around him grows increasingly blind.

A. The neighbors are skeptical (vv. 8–12).

They argue whether it’s really him. Instead of celebrating the miracle, they question its legitimacy. Their skepticism blinds them.

B. The Pharisees investigate (vv. 13–17).

They’re more concerned about Jesus healing on the Sabbath than about the miracle itself. Their legalism blinds them.

“This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” (v. 16) “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” (v. 16)

There’s division. The facts are clear, but hearts are hardened.

C. They question the parents (vv. 18–23).

Fearful of being put out of the synagogue, the parents deflect.

“Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (v. 21)

D. The man testifies boldly (vv. 24–34).

His faith grows through opposition. Notice the progression:

Verse 11 – “The man called Jesus”

Verse 17 – “He is a prophet”

Verse 33 – “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

The man holds his ground despite pressure. His logic is simple and profound:

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (v. 25)

They cast him out—not just from their presence, but likely from the synagogue (v. 34).

Application: Bold faith will often meet resistance. But the more we stand firm, the more our understanding of Jesus grows.

III. The Revelation of the Son of Man (vv. 35–41)

“Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him…” (v. 35)

A. Jesus finds the rejected.

Just as He saw the man in his blindness, He now seeks him in his rejection. Jesus does not abandon those who suffer for His name.

B. Jesus reveals His identity.

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” (vv. 35–37)

This is the climactic moment. The healed man now sees not just physically, but spiritually. He believes and worships (v. 38). This is the only time in John where someone is said to worship Jesus directly before the resurrection.

C. Jesus defines true sight and blindness (vv. 39–41).

“For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” (v. 39)

The man born blind now sees. The religious leaders who claimed to see are blind to the truth. Their guilt remains because they refuse to acknowledge their need.

Application: The gospel reveals hearts. Those who confess their need find healing. Those who claim they already see often remain in darkness.

Conclusion:

This man’s story is more than a miracle account—it’s a gospel portrait:

Jesus sees us in our brokenness.

Jesus heals us by His power and grace.

Jesus sustains us when the world rejects us.

Jesus reveals Himself to those who believe.

His final words echo into our lives today:

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

Application:

To the unbeliever: You may not be physically blind, but spiritual blindness is real. Jesus alone gives sight to the soul. Will you believe in Him today?

To the believer: Are you growing bolder in your faith like the healed man, even in the face of pressure or loss?

To the church: Are we rejoicing in lives changed by Jesus—or acting like the Pharisees, majoring in minor offenses and missing the miracle?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for seeing us when we were blind, for giving us eyes to see Your truth, and for strengthening us to stand boldly for You. Let us never forget the miracle of salvation, and help us to walk by faith and not by sight. In Your name we pray, Amen.