Jesus heals a blind man

Spring Harvest - Day 2

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

John 9:1-11 (NIV)

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 work of God might be displayed in his life. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the work 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] Having said 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 demanded. [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."

John's gospel complements the other ones and although some stories are missed out.  The miracles are often accompanied by teaching that follow them.  This is the 9th sign in John's Gospel.  This teaching is also linked to Jewish festivals. 

John 9:5 (NIV)

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

This is a really powerful example of this - Jesus really is demonstrating that He is the light of the world.

John 9:1 (NIV)

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.

He was blind from birth and the disciples ask a question about personal suffering and sin.

John 9:2 (NIV)

His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Although we might think that this is a very old fashioned idea these ideas still persevere today in the world and even in the church.

The man's disability was seen as a theological problem.

John 9:3 (NIV)

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus ......

The Bible does not say that sin is linked to personal suffering.

John 9:3 (NIV)

........ "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

This does not mean that all suffering is ordained by God for greater purposes. We should be careful how we apply this verse.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Now the theological problem is solved we can move on with the situation.

John 9:4 (NIV)

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

Note that it says "we must do the work ...." 

The healing.

John 9:6-7 (NIV)

Having said 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.

The chosen method is a little odd and almost funny.

John 9:6 (NIV)

Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.

He could have just spoken and healed the man.

John 9:7 (NIV)

"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Why does Jesus then send him off on a journey to go and wash?

Living water and dust come together to make a new creation.  The journey is also important as it shows he must have  had faith and trust to make that journey. Was Jesus testing the man's faith.

John 9:7 (NIV)

"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 

What a massive understatement of what had happened!

The conversations then happens between the man and his friends.

John 9:8-12 (NIV)

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 demanded. [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.

The  crowd demand.

John 9:10 (NIV)

"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.

What does he answer?

John 9:11 (NIV)

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."

Then we have round 2 of the questioning.

When something spiritual happens we look to spiritual leaders for advice.

John 9:12-14 (NIV)

"Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said. [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.

1. Jesus had healed

2. Jesus had made mud

3. Jesus had painted 

4. The man had travelled too far

John 9:15-16 (NIV)

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 do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.

After getting nowhere with the argument ..

John 9:17 (NIV)

Finally 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."

John 9:18-22 (NIV)

The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. [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 Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

The parents were afraid and very careful in their answers.

John 9:22-23 (NIV)

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. [23] That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

So the blind man is questioned again.

John 9:24 (NIV)

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God, " they said. "We know this man is a sinner."

They wanted the man to say that Jesus was a sinner.

John 9:25 (NIV)

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!"

He gets asked (again!)

John 9:26-27 (NIV)

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?"

John 9:27 (NIV)

.......... Do you want to become his disciples, too?"

Then there is trouble.

John 9:28-29 (NIV)

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."

The church is now starting to move away from the invitation to the Jews.

The blind man does not let them have the last word.

John 9:30-33 (NIV)

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 man 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."

John 9:34 (NIV)

To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.

The story is not over as the ex-blind man meets Jesus.

John 9:35-38 (NIV)

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.

The story end with ..

John 9:39 (NIV)

Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

We can either walk in light or push further back into darkness.

These are the first seeds of the church. Jesus is now forming a new community with Him at the centre away from the temple.

God's new creation is beginning.

How does this story relate to being the church today?

What would Jesus open our eyes to see in our church?

- the church has and always been God's new creation. It's radical, different.

John 9:25 (NIV)

........ One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"