John 9:1-38

John 9:1-38

The story starts off by the disciples asking Jesus who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus replies, neither this man nor his parents sinned but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Having said this, Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with his saliva and put it on the man’s eyes. Jesus told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. So the man did as he was told. When he did, he came out seeing.

I want to stop here for a minute and just think about how this man felt. This man was blind from birth. He had never seen a sunrise. The people believed he was blind because of sin, whether from his sin or his family’s sin. And Jesus tells the disciples he is blind so “the works of God might be displayed in him.”

This man was born blind for God’s glory. What a role to play. He was blind and a beggar but his story isn’t over yet. So, Jesus, the Son of Man, gave this blind man sight. What a gift. The blind man can see. You would think the town would be rejoicing but they aren’t.

He had to insist to the neighbors and those who had seen him blind and begging that he was that man. Vs 9: Some claimed that he was. Other said, no, he only looks like him. But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

They then demanded, how then were your eyes opened? He replied, the man they call Jesus. They take him to the Pharisees. They also asked how did you receive this sight? Again, he told the same story. The blind man’s parents were even a bit skeptical about replying to the Pharisees. They said he is old enough ask him. For the parents knew that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the Synagogue. They hurled insults at him trying to get him to say he was His follower.

Vs 30: The man answers them, “now that is remarkable, you don’t know where he comes from yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

Vs 34: To this they replied, you were steeped in sin at birth, how dare you lecture us and they threw him out. Vs 35 Jesus heard this and when Jesus found him, He said, do you believe in the Son of Man. The man said, who is he, sir? Tell me and I will believe in him. Jesus said you have now seen him in fact he is the one speaking with you. The man said, Lord I believe and he worshiped him.

The people of the town didn’t celebrate. They immediately debated. Yet for the sake of God’s work he was born blind. He was healed and could now see. Then he was insulted and thrown out of the Synagogue. Jesus finds him…what does the man do? He doesn’t yell at him. He doesn’t criticize him. No, he worships Him.

When we see Jesus, we too, will worship Him. My prayer is that we dig deep into God’s Word and ask Him to show us what He wants us to learn.

Tammy