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John 9:1-41 “I see said the blind man”

9:1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided.

17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”

22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. [NRSA]

IS THIS MORE ABOUT BREAKING SABBATH RULES OR SPIRITUAL SIGHT?

Today’s gospel reading from John 9:1-41 tells us the story of a man who was born blind and the miraculous healing that he received from Jesus Christ. This story is not just about physical healing, but it also speaks to the spiritual blindness that we all face in our lives.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

In this story, the man who was born blind represents all of us who are spiritually blind. We too, are born into a world of sin, and we cannot see the truth until Jesus opens our eyes. Just like the man who was blind, we need the light of Christ to shine in our lives, so that we can see the truth and be saved.

JESUS HAS POWER TO MAKE US WHOLE

This story illustrates the power of Jesus to heal us, even from the most dire circumstances. Just as the man who was born blind was given sight by Jesus, so too can we be given new life and new hope through our faith in Him.

DISPITE BREAKING SABBATH RULES JESUS CONTINUES TO EXPECT OBEDIENCE

When Jesus healed the man who was blind, He used a mixture of spit and mud to anoint his eyes, and then instructed him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as he was told, and his eyes were opened. This shows us that our healing and salvation come from obeying the commands of Jesus Christ.

WE ARE FURTHER CALLED TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT WORKS OF JESUS

But when the man who was healed went to tell others about his miraculous healing, he was met with skepticism and disbelief. The religious leaders of the day refused to believe that he had been healed, and they even went so far as to accuse him of lying.

NOT EVERYONE WILL BELIEVE

This story illustrates the fact that even when we have experienced the miraculous power of God in our lives, there will always be those who doubt and question us. But like the man who was healed, we must continue to testify to the truth of what God has done for us, and never be afraid to stand up for our faith.

WE SHOULD EXPECT OPPOSITION

This is a powerful reminder to us that even when we have been healed and saved by Jesus Christ, we will still face opposition and disbelief from those around us. But we must continue to testify to the truth of what Jesus has done for us, and never be afraid to share our faith with others.

Finally, in this story, we see the man who was healed come to a deep understanding of who Jesus is. He acknowledges Jesus as a prophet, and then as the Son of God. This is the ultimate goal of our spiritual journey – to come to a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

This story illustrates the fact that our journey of faith is a lifelong process of discovery and growth. As we continue to seek God and study His Word, we will gain a deeper and more profound understanding of who He is and what He has done for us.

JESUS INVITES US TO SEE WITH OUR EYES OF FAITH

Let us open our eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ. Let us obey His commands, testify to His greatness, and come to a deep and abiding faith in Him. Let us pray that He will heal us of our spiritual blindness so that we may witness the truth and be saved. Amen.