John 9 - I Was Blind But Now I See!

 

Key Verses

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 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.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 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.  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.” 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.

Commentary,

In the Jewish faith disease, in this case "blindness", was blamed on the person or his parents. The religious leaders were misinterpreting a verse from the Old Testament in Exodus 34:6-7, 

"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

But Jesus quickly clears this up when he says, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so the works of God might be displayed in him.  

Though the man was no doubt overjoyed by having physical sight restored, he received another kind of sight that day. This was a sight that the Pharisees did not have, which is why Jesus said they were the ones who were "truly blind". They were not only blind to the miracle that was right before them, but they were blind to the one who could make them truly see. 

What is almost comical about this passage is that everyone tries to talk the man out of that the fact that he was blind but now he could see. The Pharisees were so intent trying to proving Jesus was wrong, they can't even see the truth right in front of them. Both the truth of this man's healing, and the truth of Jesus. In fact they are so dead set in not believing in Jesus that they try to tell the man he is not really healed. The blind man responds to them in a way that I find humorous, 

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! 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.”

Application

In a similar way this happens today. People will do anything to deny Jesus really is who he said he was and any signs and wonders he shows through his people today. One could prove how Jesus fulfilled prophecy, empowered his ordinary disicples to change the world forever, and the overwhelming evidence that Jesus literally rose from the dead, but some people still refused to believe. Why? 

I believe people think, "If I believe in Jesus, I will have to give up control of my life." Guess what? This is true! Jesus calls all of his followers to give up their lives, so they can find them. Jesus calls us to die, so we can rise in newness of life. Importantly after this back and forth with the leaders is over, the man came to truly believe in Jesus as His Savior! 

 Can you say with the blind man, "One thing I know, I was blind but now I can see!" 

Prayer

Jesus, you heal the blind, the lame, the addict, and those caught in sin. They are all signs of your glory and point to the fact that You are the Messiah. Open the eyes of our hearts so we can see you high and lifted. May we shine Your love and continue to heal the sick and lame, as a sign of Your great and promised glory. Amen.