THE MAN BORN BLIND - JOHN 9 PART 1

Ullas Nair
Aug 2
3 min read

Context & Introduction

I read and studied the Book of John chapter 9 when I was in hospital recently and decided to write and expound upon this heart-warming episode. Prior to this, Jesus had begun His ministry and confounded his critics and listeners alike. He spoke of himself “before Abraham was I” (John 8:58). He had cleansed others of demon possession and gave several warnings to those who opposed his divine message. Their response was to attempt to stone him (John 8:59). They failed.

Jesus “saw a man who was born blind” (John 9:1)

The disciples attributed the blindness to the man’s sin. Jesus corrected this view. The same is prevalent in some philosophies and thinking today, that is he sinned, his past sins, or inherited his parent’s sins, causing the blindness.

But it was an occasion “that the works of God should be revealed in him”. The Lord then reveals again his mission to “work the works of Him who sent me…” He reveals again that He (Jesus) is the “light of the world”.

“I am the light, in whom there is no darkness” (1 John 1:5)

The verses which the Lord said above indeed is relevant in this situation and we can safely extrapolate that the man here was in total darkness since he was born blind.

Man born blind receives his sight

Then Jesus spat on the ground, mixed it with clay, anointed (applied) it to the blind man’s eye, and directed him to wash it at the Pool of Siloam. The word “anointed” means blessed or consecrated. We may think this act is horrible or germ-filled, but this is the Messiah.

Specific command begets instantaneous results

The blind man obeyed the Lord’s command. If he had not gone or washed himself at any other water source, he would not be healed. There was no power in the clay or the Pool of Siloam (originally built by King Hezekiah around the 8^th century BC). The power of this miracle is the Word of God being fulfilled completely to prove that the message is from God, the Lord Himself. “I went washed and received my sight” (verse 11). He narrates his lived experience. Jesus applied grace.

Doubters and Usual Critics

The critics and doubters confirmed that a born blind man had received his sight, a miracle indeed. However, they’d rather challenge it any way possible. He was brought before the usual suspects – the Pharisees.

Instead of acknowledging the miracle of God, the power of God through His Son, they found fault that this event was executed on Sabbath Day! Some had reservations - if Jesus was a sinner, how could He have done this miracle? A range of views refusing to accept that a real miracle (not fake) has taken place, the born blind man can see now.

Sabbath & Healing

Acts of mercy-compassion do not contradict the Sabbath laws, they are a demonstration of God’s compassion and love. He proved that God had power over illnesses and sought to show compassion.

Examples of Sabbath healing:

The man with withered hand (Matthew 12:10-13)
The crippled woman (Luke 13:10-17)
The man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6)
The lame man at Bethesda, paralyzed for 38 years (John 5:5-16)

Jesus questioned, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or do evil, to save life or kill?” (Mark 3:1-6) The Pharisees’ ritualistic and uncompromising attitude is evident here with the man born blind here in John 9.

Jesus’ divine authority is over the Sabbath (Mat 12:8). He is Lord of the Sabbath.

Bring the parents

The Pharisees summoned the blind man’s parents to confirm that this man born blind was indeed blind from birth and is their son. Again it was confirmed. Try as they could, they could not shake the healed man’s conviction that the Lord had healed him.

Ask Yourself:

What does this miracle show about Jesus?
Will the man born blind be healed if he did not comply with the Lord’s direction?
Are there still people today who refuse to believe in God’s Word?