Blind From Birth Pt. 2
John 9:8-41
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 (We) 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.
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Using clay… Jesus was making this man a new creation!
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.
So Jesus initiated this work of healing in this blind man. A healing work that required this blind mans obedience to Jesus words! ( It’s only when he obeyed the words of Jesus that He was healed.)
This blind man… BEAUTIFULLY illustrates our salvation.
- We too are ALL spiritually blind from birth, unable to find the Messiah.
- Jesus is the one who finds us & heals us from our spiritual blindness.(initiates)
- Jesus’ heals our spiritual blindness when we obediently respond to His Words.
- Jesus commands us to be washed in water too. The water of baptism.
- Jesus does a work of creation in us too, making us a new creation!
8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
- Jesus saves those who are poor in spirit.
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
He said, “I am he.”
- We too… now saved, are a mystery to our former friends, not even seeming to be the same person to them. (Me)
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.
Jesus deliberately … healed this man on the Sabbath.
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.”
This is now the blind man’s testimony!
Our testimony’s are so powerful! (My testimony)
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.”
Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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.
- Healed by Jesus… we too will be persecuted, when we boldly testify of Jesus’ transforming work in our lives.
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!” & he worshiped Him.
This is why John writes his gospel!
John 20:31 These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
This is why John includes this account in his gospel!
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” & he worshiped Him.
The Bible makes it clear that we are only to worship God!
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.”
Jesus uses this opportunity of healing the physically blind man to teach us about… spiritual sight & spiritual blindness!
I love the PROGRESSION of this blind mans faith, his spiritual sight!
- John 9:11 “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’
- John 9:17 “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
- John 9:27 Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
- John 9:33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
- John 9:35 Jesus said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 9:38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!”
- John 9:38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
In contrast to this blind mans progressing, blossoming faith > < Is the Pharisees hard hearted, stiff necked, willful blindness!
Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
- John 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God,
- John 9:18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight
- John 9:22 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.
- John 9:24 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”
- John 9:27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen.
- John 9:34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
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.
Jesus uses this occasion of healing this blind man to teach us about… spiritual sight & spiritual blindness!
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.
Jesus repeatedly called the Jewish Scribes & Pharisees blind!
Matthew 23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides” (5x in Mt.23 blind / 2 x fools )
According to Jesus… It’s possible to be very religious and yet be blind to the TRUTH of who Jesus is
According to Jesus…It’s possible to be very intelligent and to still be a FOOL.
Matthew 13:15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’
2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.