Spiritual Blindness - John 9:1-41
We Have to Eyes to See, Ears to Hear and Hearts to Understand!
Point #1: For Thousands of Years People Have Been Asking the Big Questions: WHY???
As He went along in the city of Jerusalem, Jesus saw a man with congenital blindness. Jesus’ choice of this individual is significant (cf. 5:5–6). He is Sovereign in His works. That the man was blind from birth pointed out his seeming hopelessness. This illustrates man’s spiritual blindness from birth (9:39–41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1–3).
Continuing in John 9:6
Point #2: Here’s Mud in Your Eye!
9:6–7. Jesus placed clay (mud with … saliva) on the man’s eyes. Interestingly man was made from this same substance—the dust of the earth (Gen. 2:7). Jesus probably used the clay as an aid to develop the man’s faith, not as a medicine. Jesus’ making of clay broke the Rabbinic regulations against kneading clay on the Sabbath (cf. John 9:14). Jesus then told the man, Wash in the pool of Siloam (this word means Sent). This is located at the southeast corner of Jerusalem (see the map), where Hezekiah’s tunnel channeled water inside the city walls from the Gihon Spring. The man was “sent” there and Jesus was the One “sent” by the Father. The man … washed and went home seeing!
Continuing in John 9:13
Point #3: “You Don’t Want to Become His Disciples Too, Do You?!” (That’s a nice burn!)
But the parents … were afraid to hazard any opinions about the cure or the Healer. The Pharisees and other Jewish authorities (the Jews) had already … decided that Jesus was not the Messiah. Those who held such a heresy would be excommunicated from the synagogue. (Some scholars argue that this verse was added later by an editor, but there is nothing unthinkable about this kind of persecution during Jesus’ ministry.) The parents shifted the pressure from themselves by noting that their son was of legal age to testify for himself (vv. 21, 23).
Point #4: This Man Responds with What We Call in Christian Circles, Apologetics!
Point #5: We Have to Have Eyes to See, Ears to Hear and Heart to Understand! (Mark 8:14-21)
The beggar responded that he was willing to believe but he was ignorant. Jesus then disclosed Himself and gave the beggar the necessary knowledge for faith. Faith involves an act of the will, based on information.
9:38. After Jesus revealed that He is the Son of Man, the man responded in faith (Lord, I believe) and worshiped Him. His worship of Jesus replaced his worship in the synagogue. The Jews had cast him out of the synagogue, but Jesus does not cast out those who come to Him (6:37). One goal of salvation is worship of the One who saves (4:23).