H- Highlight

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

John 9:11

E- Explain

In this text we are introduced to a man with a condition of blindness. 

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

John 9:1-2

What an incredible question! It sets up Jesus telling us the point of the whole narrative we’re about to study. The disciples reflected what was the sentiment of the time. If something so bad happened to you, it must have been a result of his parents or him.

Certainly, our sin can effect our kids. There is no doubt about it.

Certainly, our sin can effect us personally. There are times where people get mad at God for something they think He did or did not do, but the fault for their situation is there own. We live with the natural consequences of our actions. 

But the sentiment of the day is that if something really bad happened to you it must be the judgement of God. For the disciples there was only two options- this man or his parents.

Think about this. We are told that he was blind from birth. So, either the disciples didn’t know that when they asked the question, or they believed that God pre-judged him for what he was going to do.

This kind of thinking still happens today. When something bad happens, some people think it must be God’s judgement.

But Jesus gives the disciples another way to think about it.

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

John 9:3

God has allowed this situation in His life so that God could be “made manifest in him”. Manifest means displayed. It means shown. Shown to who? Well, we shall see that the works of God would be shown to the disciples, to the religious leaders, to the man’s neighbors, to this man’s parents, but especially to the blind man. 

Think about it. Jesus wants to show God’s working through this blind man, and to this blind man.

Only Jesus would have a plan to show something to a blind man. 🙂 

Look at his reasoning in verses 4-5, and think about the theme of this passage being blindness and sight. Darkness and light.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 9:4-5

Jesus is about to display that He is the one who can cure spiritual blindness, and bring light to the darkness. This was his stated purpose. He even claimed that there was a time to do it, because there will be a time where it would not happen.

As a matter of application, we must realize that when there is an opportunity to bring light in the darkness, we should take that opportunity. Jesus told us, “Ye are the light of the world.” There is coming a time for you personally, and for all of us collectively that know Christ where we will not have the opportunity to speak up for Jesus to those in Spiritual darkness…Spiritual blindness.

So this Jesus’ stated motivation. But Jesus doesn’t just talk. Jesus works. Look at what happens.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

John 9:6-7

What this sets in motion is so interesting that in telling it I can move quickly past it. Let’s not move too quickly past it. This man who had never seen could now see because Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to go wash.

Imagine the scene of a blind man with mud on his eyes being sent across town to wash. It’s not told to us in the passage, but certainly someone had to help him get to the pool. 

Imagine also, if you were born blind, and then in an instant you were able to see. What an incredible experience. We know it means to see. Maybe this man didn’t even understand what seeing felt like or looked like. What an incredible experience.

It caused a stir. Look at what happened and the questions that came.

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

John 9:8-9

His identity was questioned. Why? What characterized him before was his blindness. This is exactly where so many that are blind spiritually are. Paul said it this way in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

“And such were some of you.” There is a change, and it changes your identity. Once your identity changes then your actions begin to change and people begin to notice and ask questions.

In a spiritual way I have seen this happen a lot. People become believers in Christ and their behavior starts to change. Their language starts to change. Their values and priorities shift. People start to ask questions. “What’s going on with bubba? When did he become so religious?”

When they figured out that this was really him, then they asked an amazing next question.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

John 9:10-11

Notice this first stage of understanding that the blind man had. He made this first statement about Jesus’ identity that shows him moving from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight. He refers to Jesus as “A man that is called Jesus…”. 

Is it true that Jesus is a man? Yes.

Is it true that he was called Jesus? Yes.

Is that all that the man needed to know about Christ? No. He’s on his way to learning a lot more about Him. Certainly there needed to be more understanding about a man that could heal like this.

A- Apply

Here are just a few points of application to some up this passage:

• Jesus Christ is the light of the world that brings vision and truth to those in spiritual blindness and darkness. We are called to reflect his light to those in darkness.
• Jesus Christ is prioritizing this work while this work can happen and so should we.
• Jesus Christ wants to transform us so that we are not identified by our sin and blindness. He wants to give us a new identity.
• Every single person is born blind spiritually. We need Jesus to change us.

R- Respond

Heavenly Father, Who do you want me to share Your Son with today? I pray for them, and I pray that you’d help me to be faithful and fruitful in doing that today. Thank you for the light, and for how you have changed me. Help me to follow you today! Amen