Let The Facts Speak For Themselves

Let the facts speak for themselves¨ (John Chapter 9)

A) The entire chapter deals with the story of a blind man who received his sight after Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva. (It was commonly supposed that sickness was the result of sin. Either by the man, in this case, or by his parents.) it's important to note that Jesus rejected both suggestions and said, in fact, that this man was this way so that God could be glorified.

B) Jesus anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay and told him to Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. (We think this is a gross way of working out a miracle but actually mixing saliva and clay was a common practice and was used for eye infections. Jesus used the saliva and clay but in doing so he provided the man an opportunity to put his faith to work by going and washing it off.)

C) He went and washed as he was commanded and came back seeing. (Vs. 6)

D) MISSING THE POINT They couldn't rejoice over the man's healing because they got so caught up in the fact that Jesus healed him on the Sabbath.

E) Neighbors who had seen him blind began to ask if this was the blind man who sat and begged and there was some controversy over whether he was the man or not. (Vs. 8)

F) Then the question came up as to how it was that he received his sight and he told them that A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me to go and wash in the pool of Siloam, so I went and washed and I received my sight. (Vs. 11)

G) Since it was the Sabbath they took the healed man to the Pharisees who asked him of his healing and he repeated the same story. (Vs. 13)

H) So some of the Pharisees declared that Jesus was not from God because he healed the man on the Sabbath. (Vs. 16a)

I) Others wanted to know how a sinner could do such things. (Vs. 16b)

J) They asked the blind man again concerning the man who had healed him and he told them, "He is a prophet¨ (Vs. 17)

K) The Jews didn't believe him so they called for his parents, asking if this was their son who had been born blind and if so how is it that he now sees? (Vs. 18 & 19)

L) Parents respond we know this is our son and we know he was born blind, how it is that he can now see we do not know. He is of age, ask him. (Vs. 20 & 21)

M) They said that because it had already been said that if anyone confessed that Jesus was the Christ they would be put out of the synagogue.

N) Then in vs. 25, The man said this: Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.¨

An entire chapter given to this man's healing;

- about how it took place,

- about what did the man who had healed him do,

- why did he do it on the Sabbath if He was really the Son of God (since no one was to work on the Sabbath)

- and how does spittal and clay and washing in water have to do with getting healed?

In Mark 2:27 Jesus had to remind the Jewish leaders that The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.¨

Deuteronomy 5:12

"Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.

Deuteronomy 5:14

but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.

Colossians 2:16

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

So we realize that God gave man the Sabbath as a day of rest and as a day in which to Honor God, but understand also that there are times when occasions may call for one to have to get the ox out of the ditch on the Sabbath if necessary.

The whole point being that the Pharisees. The Jews were making a legalistic issue out of Jesus healing on the Sabbath and by doing so were missing the whole point of what had happened.