"Blindness"(John 9: 1-11)

John 9: 1-11

In John 9, we read about a man who was blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus who was responsible for the man's blindness. People like the disciples believed at that time that blindness was the result of a direct sin. It would be bad enough being blind and never being able to see, but even worse to have everyone look down on you because they believed you were being punished for some sin.

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

John 9: 2

Jesus gives an answer that surprises everyone and angered a few.

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

 John 9: 3

Jesus tells the disciples that God has chosen this person to reveal his glory and that his blindness was not a result of someone's sin, but an opportunity to show God's healing power. Jesus then makes mud with his own saliva and applies it to the blind man's eyes. Jesus then tells the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam which the blind man does and his sight is restored. 

The blind man's closed eyes were open, and Jesus wants to open our closed eyes as well. Our closed eyes are our spiritual eyes, and being blind spiritually is much worse than physical blindness. Being blind means being lost in the darkness and never being able to see the dangers that are in front of us. A physically blind person or someone with poor vision can use tools or operations to improve our sight. Satan blinds our spiritual eyes so that we cannot see the dangers of sin.

Mount Sinai is a place where pilgrims will go to experience what Moses felt when he met God. The pilgrims go up the mountain in the dark with lanterns and flashlights and when they reach the top it is still dark. Finally the sun comes up and the light reveals all the beauty and majesty that was hidden in the darkness.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 John 9: 3

Jesus is the light that takes away the darkness. We later read that the blind man confesses that he believes in Jesus. The Pharisees question the blind man and accept that Jesus healed the blind man but then start to criticize Jesus had healed on the sabbath. The Pharisees miss the main point of the man being healed and argue why Jesus could not be sent from God. They fail to realize that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and is above those laws.

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:8

Jesus did not need to obey the Laws from Moses whereas people need to obey Jesus. We often act like the Pharisees do. We feel we are above God's laws and criticize the laws .

“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 9:39

The people who could open their eyes were the ones who understood they were blind and need Jesus to open their eyes and be their savior. The Pharisees did not accept that they were spiritually blind. In fact, they believed they were seeing things in the true light. They remained in spiritual darkness. They could accept that they might be blind. Many people insist that because they have attended church for a long time or know the scriptures they cannot be blind.

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

John 9: 40-41

God wants us to live a life with open spiritual eyes that sees the truth. It is only then we can see the work that God wants us to do and see His working power. Our physical eyes may see beauty in things that are not beautiful to God. We must realize that we cannot do anything without Jesus to please God. We cannot see the truth without Jesus' light. As the world becomes darker we must humbly rely on Jesus to be our light.