What A Blind Man Saw Series

What A Blind Man Saw

John 9:1–41

Introduction

He sits in complete darkness. He has never seen a sunrise. Has never seen his mother’s face. He has never seen the world around him. He was born blind. Every day he sits along the road, begging. People pass by, and some may toss coins his way. Most ignore him. To them, he is invisible. One day, Jesus walks by, and this man, whom no one notices, suddenly becomes the central figure in the ministry of Jesus.

Remember that there are seven signs in John’s Gospel that are all meant to produce faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

-In John 2 he turned water into wine.

-In John 4 he healed the nobleman’s son who was about to die.

-In John 5 he healed a lame man at Bethesda.

-In John 6 he fed 5,000 with just a few loaves and fishes.

-Today we are in John 9, the account of the sixth sign meant to produce faith in Jesus.

The healing of the man born blind energizes our faith because he not only receives physical sight but spiritual insight. In the story there are those who think they can see clearly but prove to be blind. As we read through this chapter, keep your eyes open to the central truth: Jesus is Lord!

1. “Who is This Man?” (9:1–12)

The disciples see a case study. Jesus sees a person.

John 9:1-2 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

The disciples want to pursue a theological discussion about why this man is suffering. Like Job’s friends, they assume suffering must be punishment for a specific sin. Jesus rejects their logic entirely. This isn’t about sin. It’s about God showing up.

John 9:3-5 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.  We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus does something strange. He spits on the ground, makes mud, and smears it on the man’s eyes.

John 9:6-7 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 

He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

Can you imagine being this man? He can’t see what’s happening - he just feels someone rubbing mud on his face! Jesus told him “Go wash in the pool of Siloam”. I’m sure he didn’t hesitate to wash that off of his eyes! When he has washed the mud away, he can see!

Then the controversy begins!

John 9:8-12 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied.

He has not seen Jesus - “The man called Jesus”. The neighbors are confused and they argue about whether this is even the same guy! “I am the man!”

2. He is a Prophet! (9:13-23)

You would think the religious leaders would celebrate with him - but there is an issue. Jesus healed on the Sabbath. For the Pharisees, that is a problem.

John 9:13-17 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them. Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

The Pharisees interrogate him, but he can only tell them the same story: mud, washing, sight. The Pharisees are divided. Some say, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others say, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” The formerly blind man testifies: “He is a prophet”. He has moved from “the man called Jesus” to “He is a prophet”. He begins to see more and they begin to see less!