WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.
John 9:13-25.
JOHN 9:13. The neighbours brought the now-seeing man-born-blind to the Pharisees. Perhaps they felt that such an astounding miracle needed further investigation.
JOHN 9:14. The author comments here that “it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.”
Jesus purposely kneaded the saliva and clay, like a cook might knead dough, or a potter might knead clay - some Rabbis forbade kneading on the sabbath day.
Jesus applied the saliva to the man’s eyelids on the sabbath day, which some Rabbis would take exception to.
The fact of the matter is that Jesus had conducted A WORK OF MERCY AND HEALING on the sabbath day, which is, surely, acceptable!
JOHN 9:15. Now the Pharisees asked the man how he had received his sight. Again the man’s testimony is clear: “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.”
JOHN 9:16. There was therefore a division among the Pharisees. Some said, “This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the sabbath day.” Others (perhaps people like Nicodemus) said, “How can a man which is a sinner do such miracles?”
JOHN 9:17. Confronted by the Pharisees with the question, “What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes?” the healed man said, “He is a prophet.” As we reflect on what Jesus has done for us in bringing us out of darkness into light, we have a growing perception of who He is.
JOHN 9:18-19. There were some who doubted that the now seeing man was even who he said he was, so the man’s parents were summoned. The question was asked accusingly, “Is this your son, who YE SAY was born blind? How then can he now see?”
JOHN 9:20-21. They confirmed that this was indeed their son, and that he was born blind. But they said that they did not know how he had been healed, or who opened his eyes. Somewhat awed by the threatening manner of the Pharisees, they put the onus on their son: “he is of age, ask him.”
JOHN 9:22-23. In reality, they were afraid that if they acknowledged Jesus they would be excommunicated. This is why they said, “he is of age, ask him.”
JOHN 9:24. The Pharisees summoned the man again, and told him, “Give God the praise.” Ironically, this is not an encouragement to praise God for the miracle, but rather a call to repent of his supposedly mistaken notions concerning Jesus. There is an ominous, even threatening note about it (cf. Joshua 7:19).
JOHN 9:25. The experience of the new convert does not always fit into the neat theological systems of the religious people who should be encouraging him. The man born blind did not pretend to have all the answers, but “this I know,” he said: “that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Such amazing grace!
