Healing the Blind
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1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
Background
Ch. 8 – The woman caught in adultery – Jesus is the light – talks about the truth
In these conversations, the Pharisees are not happy with what Jesus is saying
They are trying to figure out WHO Jesus is. They still don't understand
Ch. 8 concludes with Jesus saying before Abraham was born – I AM
First – Jesus is not older than them – at least not Abraham's age
Second – they understood I AM to be God
They picked up stones to kill Him
Jesus is fleeing for His life beginning in 9:1
Even though He is fleeing for His life, He stops to help the man born blind.
Matthew Henry says it this way: “Though he was in his flight from a threatening danger, and escaping for his life, yet he willingly halted and staid awhile to show mercy to this poor man. We make more haste than good speed when we outrun opportunities of doing good.” - Matthew Henry
Are we too busy or too concerned with our lives that we miss opportunities to serve?
Can I challenge you to take a moment to slow down?
What if I challenged you to pick the longest lane at Walmart, rather than the shortest?
What if I challenged you to drive in the slow lane on the interstate rather than the fast lane?
Are you willing to stop, for a moment, and listen for what the Spirit would have you do?
One thing that has constantly been on my mind lately is to make every single interaction on intentional!
What if our goal everyday was to be intentional with everyone that we came in contact with?
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
They believed that if he was born blind, surely either his parents had sinned or he sinned in what John Wesley says a “pre-existent state” - note here Wesley sees no grounds in Scripture for this.
So, was it this man or his parents that sinned?
In verse 3 Jesus clears the record with...
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
So that the works of God may be displayed in him.
This man had a bigger purpose than even he probably realized.
We know very little about this man:
1. He was born blind
Had a disability – generally cast out from society
2. Beggar – more than likely, homeless
3. Didn't have family support – see this in a minute
More than likely - he is pretty much in a state of despair
But, God had a significant plan for him
I want you to know today, that God has a purpose for you!
Despite all of your circumstances, He still has a plan for you!
Despite all of your failures, He still has a plan for you!
When you think that all hope is lost, remember this:
This guy was:
Born blind – cast out – probably homeless – not much, if any, family support
And yet, God used him in literally, a miraculous way!
4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Interesting that in chapter 8, Jesus explains thoroughly that He is the light of the world. Yet He says it again here.
As Wesley notes – the darkness is not created, it just exists.
Light is created – God spoke “Let there be light”
Darkness happens in the absence of Light
In the context of this verse, we can not work to the glory of God, in the darkness – without the light who is Christ
God is the author of the light - Jesus says “I am the light of the world”
God is the author of all things good! When God works, good happens!
This is a message of hope for you an I today!
Wesley refers to what Jesus is essentially saying here “I teach men inwardly by my Spirit, and outwardly by my preaching, what is the will of God; and I show them, by my example, how they must do it.” - John Wesley
Through the lens of understanding that Jesus is the light of the world, we can see the will of God in our lives!
C.S. Lewis says “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” - C.S. Lewis
Jesus is the light of the world that casts out all the shadows of doubt, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the words that Jesus preached, and the example that He set, we can know and accomplish the will of God in our lives!
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
I love the word the NASB uses for “mud.” It uses the word “spittle.” - it’s a pretty fun word to say!
Spitting was, and still is, a sign of disrespect. Remember while Christ was crucified, they spit on him?
Interests me that Jesus chose to heal this man by spitting and applying it to his face.
We then look at vs. 7...
7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
So He spits in the dirt, makes mud, and then tells the man to wash in the pool of Siloam.
Outside the city of Jerusalem there was the fountain of Siloam
Streams into the city and rested in a basin near the temple
Siloam translated means sent
So, Jesus tells Him to wash in this pool – some commentators go as far as to say this was an analogy of who Jesus is – Messiah sent by God to cleanse, heal, to restore sight to the blind (physically and spiritually), and ultimately save the world!
Remember Jesus was running for His life – stops - probably people around
man was blind so probably needed a guide to get to this pool
So, you have this blind man with mud on his face being led to this pool - that is something that you don’t see every day!
It seems to me that Jesus wanted people to see this miracle
He wanted people to see this
Vs. 8 we begin to see why it is important for people to see this
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
People begin to question if this just happened.
Is this the man who begged?
No, but he looks looks like him
I wonder how often we see a miracle - and then we make excuses for it!
Nah, that didn’t really happen - it was just coincidence!
The man said - “I am the one.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
How did this happen?
The man called Jesus healed me
Where is he? - I do not know
Peaked their curiosity as in verse 13
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.
Pharisees are not a fan of Jesus – trying to kill him
So, not only were they trying to kill Jesus already, He heals on the Sabbath
John 9:15-17
15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents.
So a division among them is taking place. They begin asking questions - Surely, God would keep the Sabbath
So, this man can’t be God, but yet a sinner wouldn’t be able to heal!
So, they ask the guy - to which he responds “He is a prophet”
And, they don’t believe him so they bring in mom and dad.
John 9:19-23
19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
Parents claim that this is their son, but will not defend him, because they are scared!
What I was meaning earlier when I said he probably didn't have much support from his family
Basically throw him under the bus saying he is old enough to testify, ask him, we don’t want any part of it!
Ouch! Thanks mom and dad!
Have you ever found that when God does a miracle in your life, that people just don’t believe it? They come up with all other excuses!
Still didn’t understand so they bring this man back in.
John 9:24-28
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!
They are getting pretty heated at this point. And now the man is going to push the envelope just a bit further!
29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
So, when confronted with the truth, these guys could not stand!
The truth of who Jesus is, does not sit well with people!
But it does not change the truth of who Jesus is!
Worship Team
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
The truth is that the people who think they have it figured out, but don’t accept Jesus are as bad off as this man born blind.
Jesus is the light of the world! Through Him, we can see! Not through any other means!
Through Jesus, and Him alone!
Some things to think about today as we leave:
Are you too busy to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life? - While Jesus was fleeing for His life, He stopped to heal a man!
Do you constantly make excuses for the miracles that God does in your life? - Or do you accept that He wants better for you!
Do you understand who Jesus is and what He wants for you? - He is the light of the world!
As we respond this morning I encourage you to think about these things! You are welcome to come up front and receive prayer!