John Chapter 9

 

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Jesus heals a blind man on the Sabbath. He was with His disciples and saw a man that was born blind. Spitting on the ground, Jesus made clay and put it on his eyes. He told the man to go to the Pool of Siloam (the word "Siloam" means "Sent") and wash. The man went there, washed, and came back seeing! The Pharisees questioned the man and find out that Jesus has done this. As the man explained that Jesus must have been sent from God, they said, "Are you trying to teach us?" They became angry and sent the man out of the Temple. The chapter ends with Jesus telling the man that He is the Messiah after he admits he wants to follow Him. The man's response was worship and Jesus didn't stop him. Jesus tells us in verse 39 that, "I have come into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

Do we listen when people try to teach us? To listen we must not think our own thoughts and not be talking. The Pharisees weren't interested in learning or listening from this man. However, everybody that God sends into our lives can teach us something. We may learn to speak Chinese or simply some patience. Additionally, when we get angry we make mistakes. Perhaps the Pharisees could have made a wise decision if they had given it some thought first.

Religion can divide. But Jesus Christ unifies people.

Jesus didn't tell the man exactly what He was doing, He just told the man to go and wash off the clay. Often, God doesn't tell us exactly what He is doing. If He did, we may not believe it, since God can do anything. We should obey God no matter what. Obedience always equals blessing.

In chapter 9, we see four different reactions to Jesus. The neighbors revealed surprise and skepticism; the Pharisees showed disbelief and prejudice; the parents believed but kept quiet for fear of excommunication; and the healed man showed consistent, growing faith.

Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it.

We often have to go through the trial to get the blessing. But joy always comes after suffering, like the sun always comes after the rain.

When we see how much Jesus has done for us, the natural response should be worship.

Jesus made a point about the Sabbath. It is right to care for others' needs even on a day of rest.

The blind man did not know how he was healed, but he knew that his life had miraculously changed, and he was not afraid to tell the truth. You don't need to know all the answers in order to share Christ with others. It is important to tell them what Christ has done for you and how He has changed your life. Then trust that God will use your words to help others believe in Him too.

The man's new faith was severely tested by some of the authorities. He was cursed and evicted from the Temple. Expect persecution when you follow Jesus. You may lose friends or even your life. But no one can ever take away the eternal life you have been given by Jesus.

If you are not butting heads with Satan, then maybe you are walking with him.

The longer this man experienced his new life through Christ, the more confident he became in the One who healed him. He gained not only physical sight but also spiritual sight as he recognized Jesus as Master, then prophet, then Lord. When you turn to Christ, you begin to see Him differently. The longer you walk with Him, the better you understand who He is. Peter tells us to "grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). If you want to know more about Jesus, keep walking with Him.

Verses 1-7. Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here He cured one born blind. He showed His power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of His grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest His works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against, will leave many a good work for ever undone, Ecclesiastes 11:4. Christ magnified his power, in making a blind man to see. Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool wondering and he came seeing. This represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.

Verses 8-12. Those whose eyes are opened, and whose hearts are cleansed by grace, being known to be the same person, but widely different in character, live as monuments to the Redeemer's glory, and recommend His grace to all who desire the same precious salvation. It is good to observe the way and method of God's works, and they will appear the more wonderful. Apply this spiritually. In the work of grace on the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which you heart the sound of, but can't tell where it comes from or where it goes.

Verses 13-17. Christ not only worked miracles on the Sabbath, but in such a manner as would give offence to the Jews, for he would not seem to yield to the scribes and Pharisees. Their zeal for mere rites consumed the substantial matters of religion; therefore Christ would not give place to them. Also, works of necessity and mercy are allowed, and the Sabbath rest is to be kept. How many blind eyes have been opened by the preaching of the gospel on the Lord's day? How many impotent souls cured on that day? Much unrighteous and uncharitable judging comes from men's adding their own fancies to God's appointments. How perfect in wisdom and holiness was our Redeemer, when his enemies could find nothing against him, but the oft-refuted charge of breaking the Sabbath! May we be enabled, by well-doing, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Verses 18-23. The Pharisees vainly hoped to disprove this notable miracle. They expected a Messiah, but could not bear to think that this Jesus should be He, because His precepts were all contrary to their traditions, and because they expected a Messiah in outward pomp and splendor. The fear of man brings a snare, Proverbs 29:25, and often makes people deny and disown Christ and His truths and ways, and act against their consciences. The unlearned and poor, who are simple-hearted, readily draw proper inferences from the evidences of the light of the gospel; but those whose desires are another way, though ever learning, never come to the knowledge of the truth.

Verses 24-34. As Christ's mercies are most valued by those who have felt the want of them, that have been blind, and now see; so the most powerful and lasting affections to Christ, arise from actual knowledge of Him. In the work of grace in the soul, though we cannot tell when, and how, and by what steps the blessed change was wrought, yet we may take the comfort, if we can say, through grace, Whereas I was blind, now I see. I did live a worldly, sensual life, but, thanks be to God, it is now otherwise with me, Ephesians 5:8. The unbelief of those who enjoy the means of knowledge and conviction, is indeed marvelous. All who have felt the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, wonder at the wilfulness of others who reject Him. He argues strongly against them, not only that Jesus was not a sinner, but that He was of God.

Verses 35-38. Christ owns those who own Him and His truth and ways. There is particular notice taken of such a suffer in the cause of Christ, and for the testimony of a good conscience. Our Lord Jesus graciously reveals Himself to the man. Now he was made sensible what an unspeakable mercy it was, to be cured of his blindness, that he might see the Son of God. None but God is to be worshiped; so that in worshiping Jesus, he owned Him to be God. All who believe in Him, will worship Him.

Verses 39-41. Christ came into the world to give sight to those who were spiritually blind. Also, that those who see might be made blind; that those who have a high conceit of their own wisdom, might be sealed up in ignorance. The preaching of the cross was thought to be folly by such as by carnal wisdom knew not God. Nothing fortifies men's corrupt hearts against the convictions of the Word, more than the high opinion which others have of them; as if all that gained applause with men, must obtain acceptance with God. Christ silenced them. But the sin of the self-conceited and self-confident remains; they reject the gospel of grace, therefore the guilt of their sin remains and it is not pardoned, and the power of their sin remains unbroken.