CHAPTER 9

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

Jesus, having been driven away by the Pharisees in the former chapter, goes to a blind man.

The Pharisees claimed to "see," the blind man claimed nothing of the sort!
Jesus had said before, that having ears and eyes, they neither understood nor saw. (See Matthew 13:13-16))

Take note, this man was "blind from his birth."
This was not a miracle to restore sight, it was a miracle of giving sight to one that had never had it.
The only way to receive REAL sight is for Jesus to GIVE it!

Note the question from the disciples (verse 2).
Even though they knew the story of Job, they still assumed sickness, disease, affliction were punishment from God.

When we face the difficulties of life, yes, we should indeed question our own lives.
We should be concerned that the problem MIGHT be God chastizing His child.

But, we shouldn't AUTOMATICALLY consider that difficulty came upon someone else because of sin.
In this world, we suffer because of:
sin being in the world, and causing problems to ALL human beings;
sin is in others, and others cause difficulties for us at times;
and, sin is part of our lives, thus bringing difficulties to ourselves.

When someone is suffering in life, don't automatically assume it's because they brought it on themselves.
They need HELP, not judgment from carnal mankind!
If you must "point a finger," point it to JESUS!
He can give them "sight!"
And stick that same finger in your OWN eye!
Jesus will give you sight also!

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.

Jesus, Who is the ultimate Judge of all mankind, did not judge this man.
Neither did He judge the parents, or circumstances, or social standing.
Jesus simply stated that it was His position to HELP!

He IS the "Light of the world."
Without Him, no one can see truth!

While He was "in the world," Jesus' purpose was to bring people to the truth of salvation.
And, He made that His "business."

Jesus also said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15)

It is the purpose of the Christian to bring people to the truth of salvation. (See 2Corinthians 5:20)
Let us make it our "business!"

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.

Up to this time in history, no one who had been BORN blind had ever been healed from blindness (see vs 32).
However, there was a 'tradition' among Jewish people that spittle had some effect on healing a blind person.
In ceremonies, they always used a charm, or token, with the spittle.
But, Jesus' action shows there's no necessity for charms or tokens!

People are "born blind" in sin!
There are no rituals or ceremonies that can cleanse their spiritual eyes.
Genuine Truth can only be realized when God works a miracle on the person.

Perhaps Jesus used this method (when He could have simply spoken) to show us something.
God's Holy Spirit works the miracle of conviction upon us, and makes us realize our personal self is as filthy as mud!
God's Holy Spirit also works the miracle of convincing upon us, and makes us realize Jesus is the ONLY answer!

THEN, God "SENDS" us to make a public confession of our faith.

Note, the blind man was told to go to the "pool of Siloam, (which is, by interpretation, Sent)."
When we are convicted of our sin, and convinced Jesus is the ONLY One Who can save us; then,
we publicly confess our guiltiness and filthiness, and confess that JESUS is the One who forgave us, cleansed us and saved us!
(See Matthew 10:32-33)

Jesus' way, for this man to receive physical sight, is the same way we all receive spiritual sight.
Note, in the following, this man made his confession of Jesus public, even when he was publicly scorned!

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.
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.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

One might say this poor man was really "put through the mill" for his testimony!

First, his neighbors didn't understand, and questioned him about his CHANGE.
Then, the Pharisees questioned him about his CHANGE.
Then, the Pharisees called his parents, and questioned them about his CHANGE!
Then, the Pharisees questioned the man AGAIN about his CHANGE!

Since the healing took place on the "Sabbath," the Pharisees claimed Jesus was "not of God."
Even today, some "pharisaical," so-called, Christians would rather hold onto tradition than TRUTH!

How can we explain the CHANGE Jesus makes in our lives?
We can only say, "whereas I was blind, now I SEE!" (vs 25)

Through the testimony of Jesus Christ, God's Holy Spirit causes people to see:
they were in the "darkness" of sin, and Jesus offered "light!"
Through the testimony of Jesus Christ, God's Holy Spirit convicts people:
of sinful filthiness, and yet convinces them that Jesus will cleanse and give eternal life!

Through the public commitment of trust in Him, Jesus has given believers:
a desire for daily prayer with Him,
a desire for daily Bible study,
a desire to attend a local body of believers regularly,
a desire to give for the propagation of the faith,
a desire to tell others of Jesus' wonderful salvation!

You see, they WERE "blind," but NOW they "SEE!"
They have been CHANGED!
(See 2Corinthians 5:17)

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

How important is the PUBLIC CONFESSION of faith in Jesus Christ?
It was important enough that Jesus took time to FIND the man!
Not only did Jesus find him, He led him to full surrender and public commitment!

Jesus asked if the man believed on "the Son of God?"
Which was the same as asking the man do you believe in the ONE and ONLY "Messiah?"

When the man asked "Who?," Jesus responded, "Thou has both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee."

What happened next was the man SURRENDERED FULLY to Jesus as Lord!
For the Scripture says, "he WORSHIPPED Him!"
He knelt before Jesus and honored Him with adoration!
He said, publicly, "LORD, I believe!"
(The Greek word, rendered "Lord" here, is the word often used for Diety -- Kurios -- Supreme in authority!)
And, this man was in the presence of many witnesses!

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

For better understanding of verse 39 above, let us consider another Scripture:
John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

Jesus is the ONLY "door" to spiritual sight and eternal life.
For those who surrender to Him, He OPENS!
For those who do not surrender to Him, He remains CLOSED!

The Pharisees (and many others) could not accept that God could come in a man!
They wouldn't accept it, even though the Old Testament definition of Messiah was exactly that!
(See Isaiah 43:11; Hosea 13:4; Micah 5:2)

This is the "judgment" for which Jesus came into the world:
That those who surrender to Him as Lord, may have spiritual sight and eternal life; and that those who refuse Him, shall remain in spiritual darkness and have eternal death.

Have YOU surrendered to Jesus?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.