John 9 - The Blind See, But Those Who Claim to See Are Blind!

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Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

This is an interesting story about if sin is correlated to physical impairments like blindness. Jesus and his disciples came across a blind man and the disciples asked, 

"Did this man or his parents sin?" 

First of all, a prevailing view in the Jewish culture is that sin can cause a disease like blindness. Secondly, they were referring to the Old Testament verses, where it says, "The sins of fathers can be visited upon future generations!" 

To this Jesus replies, "Neither!" His explanation is that the man's blindness will give Jesus another opportunity to show the world a miraculous sign that points out He is the Son of Man. The darkness would be coming soon, so they needed to shine Jesus' light into the world while he was there. 

Jesus used an usual healing method. He rubbed dirt and saliva together, and applied the mud to the blind man's eyes. Then, he told him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  Note the significance to the pool of Siloam, 

The water for the pool of Siloam came through Hezekiah’s tunnel, a remarkable engineering feat built in Old Testament times. “It was called Siloam, which, it was said, meant sent, because the water in it had been sent through the conduit into the city.” (Barclay)

“It was from the Siloam stream that was drawn the water which was poured over the great altar at the Feast of Tabernacles just past, which pouring out was regarded by the Rabbis (and is still) as typical of the pouring out of The Spirit in the ‘latter days’.” (Trench)

Sure enough when the man did what Jesus told him to do, he received his sight back. His neighbors saw him and wondered if he was the man who used to sit by the street and beg. They weren't sure so the blind man said, "Yes, I am that guy!" Then he testified to how Jesus had healed him. When they asked him where Jesus was he said, "I don't know." 

Jesus used all kinds of different healing methods. Some people came to him and others he went to. If Jesus used any one method, people would put their faith in the method and not him. The signs and miracles always pointed to Jesus not the sign itself. Though Jesus showed compassion to the people he healed, it also served the dual purpose of revealing Himself to the world. 

In the same way today, we have to be careful not to put too much stock in one particular method or type of prayer, as it were magical, or the key to unlocking the Holy Spirit and healing in Jesus' name. It is helpful to be trained in healing prayer by someone who is more experienced than us. but we have to be careful to not make it about us or try to take credit for anything. God does the work, we are just bringing people to Jesus in His name and authority. 

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

The people brought the man to the Pharisees who started interrogating him. When they found out Jesus healed him on the Sabbath, they tried to say Jesus was not from God. But the others logically asked, "If he is such a sinner than why is God using him to do all these signs, including healing."

So then they turned to the blind man, and he confirmed that he too thought Jesus was a prophet, a man of God. So looking for one more way that they might discredit Jesus' obvious miracle, they go to the man's parents. They also asked them why is it their son can now see. 

His parents wanted no part of it knowing that the Pharisees were targeting anyone who might say Jesus was the Messiah. In their fear they simple said, "He is of age ask him!" 

Getting frustrated at this point the Pharisees went back to the man. They told him to give glory to God by admitting Jesus was a sinner. What ensues is an almost comical back and forth between the Pharisees and the blind man. The Pharisees are dead set on getting the man to say that Jesus is a sinner. The man continues to posit, "Whether he is a sinner of not is not mine to judge, all I know is I was blind and now I see!" Then, he takes a shot back at them, "What do you want to be his disciples too?

They continue to press him and hurl insults at him. They man continues to press back. He says, "Wait a minute, you say you don't know where he comes from, but he is clearly not a sinner. How could he display such power of God, if he were such a sinner as you claim!" 

Having no reply and probably angry the blind man has put them in their place, they throw him out the temple, accusing him of being the sinner. What an irony, the men who are supposed to see Jesus are blind, and the blind can now truly see! Whenever the Pharisees are confronted with the truth, they reject it and get angry when it exposes their lies. 

Spiritual Blindness

Though the man believed that Jesus was a prophet and from God, he still did not know Jesus was the Son of Man, the Messiah. But the man wants to believe. He says, "Who is He that I may believe in him!" Jesus said, "You are speaking with him." And the man came to faith!"

Jesus once again reiterates that he has come into the world, and he will separate those who believe and those who will face judgment because of their unbelief. The Pharisees overhear him say, "Are you saying we are blind too!" 

Jesus points out that if they were truly blind and could not see the works Jesus did and believe, they would not have been guilty. But since they can see what Jesus has done and reject him, their guilt remains. 

Are you blind, or can you truly see Jesus? Pray that you might see him more clearly, and like the blind man, give your testimony to the world. But be aware that the world still may not see Jesus, like the Pharisees, they have blinded by the ruler of this world.