John- Now I See
Orient John 9:1-41
John 9 turns us once again to the reoccurring task of the author, to convince the reader to believe in Jesus. In the broader section, we see who Jesus is by another public miracle, the blind man healed of his sight. Conflict with the Jews is again present (notice the repeated argument about the legality of healing on the Sabbath) and teaching his disciples is also included in this section. As in previous miracles, there are responses to the miracle itself by different groups—the Jews, the man, and his parents. In the opening, Jesus refers to Himself as “light,” a common metaphor that John introduced in the prelude and Jesus referenced previously at the Feast of Booths. The metaphor of blindness/sight is meant to point us to the spiritual realities of seeing our condition before God and need for the Savior Christ.
Introduction
When my daughter was younger, she played on a youth soccer team. That seems to be a rite of passage in the northwest, even if you aren’t athletic. This team was a mix of players, those like my daughter who were on a team for the first time and other kids, who it was pretty obvious, would probably continue in the sport and actually accel at it. She did have fun and really liked the girls on her team and often was found in the position of goalie. Her performance was inconsistent; sometimes she would run out and scoop up the ball and sometimes it would roll right by her. We didn’t understand how she could make a great play and then in the same situation minutes later, not see the ball coming in time. In time, we found out that she had insufficient binocular vision. Her eyes didn’t work together well causing problems with focus and tracking. She wasn’t able to articulate what was wrong as it was the sight she had lived with this perspective her whole life. This same situation is true in our narrative today. Jesus encounters many blind people. Some know they can’t see and receive their sight. Some don’t know their blind because they are still in their sins. All of us since Adam are born with a sin-nature and Jesus came as to enlighten men to their true condition.
Opening Prayer
Father, in every season of life, You have positioned me to display Your works. You are the Light and as I battle my flesh, the devil, and the world. I’m often drawn to darkness. Through this time with You today, open my eyes so I can see my true condition and need for You. Let Your word restore and refresh me so I can be sent. Amen
Meditation
Read and reread the following passage, taking God’s word in deeply. As you do be sensitive to a phrase or verse the Holy Spirit emphasizes to you personally.
9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed 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 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So 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 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” 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 sight19 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 how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to 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 said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. 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 And 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, “Why, this is an amazing 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 if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’your guilt remains.
Paraphrase
Rewrite the phrase or verse that the Holy Spirit highlighted during meditation. What is your take away?
Reflect
1. In biblical times, and even today, people associated suffering with sin. Conversely, we see in this passage that sometimes God allows suffering so His mercy and power are displayed. Jesus essentially tells His disciples that they ask the wrong question. Instead of wondering why the man is suffering they should have asked what God can do? Sproul says this: “Only God knows why we go through the things that we go through, but the promise of God is that He brings good out of everything that befalls us (Rom 8:28) and uses the worst pain, the worst suffering, the most confusing events in our life to bring about ultimately, His glory[1].” Have you ever found yourself wondering in hard times if you have done something to deserve what is happening to you? That you are being punished? God does warn us against sin as a loving Father as He doesn’t want its natural consequences to harm us. What truth do you glean from Jesus here that puts suffering in its correct place?
2. One of the best things about the life of faith is God-given purpose--and what a noble purpose it is! The High King has sent me as His ambassador[2] to proclaim to others who He is. While it is light, I am to do the works He has sent me to do. Ephesians 2:10 tells us a life looking to fulfill our mission is one of the reasons for our salvation. We are to work while it is light, the time where Jesus lives within us through His Holy Spirit[3], we are empowered to walk in His ways. The man in this story is healed when he is sent by God. What unique things has God sent you to do?
3. Fear keeps people from speaking about Jesus-even these parents whose sons were healed. You would think they would be the first people to tell others about the Lord! Despite our judgement of them, we are often like them. God blesses us yet we are quick to disassociate ourselves from Him. The bible calls this tendency the fear of man[4] and warns in Proverbs 29:25 that The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Salvation comes down to who you trust in. The Pharisees had created a religious system that caused the blind man’s parents to fear them. They trusted in their own ability to save themselves. Whenever we trust in anything other than the saving work of Christ on our behalf we are lost. In what situations are you tempted to be like the man’s parents and deny Christ?
4. Unlike the lame man who was healed by the pool in Bethsaida, this man ultimately comes to faith. When questioned by the Pharisees in verse 25, they ask Him if Jesus is a sinner. He gives His testimony, his transformation from blindness to sight, but not the gospel. At this point He didn’t know who Jesus was. Yet experiencing new vision does bring Him eventually to trust in the Lord as Savior. There is a difference between your testimony and the gospel. Though our testimony should be shared as it is our personal story of what God has done in us, it isn’t ultimately the message people need to hear to know Christ. How familiar are you with the gospel? Do you tend to leave it out when sharing your faith? Check out this article at https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-is-the-gospel-2/ for a quick overview.
5. The blind man, in speaking plainly and logically about Jesus gets cast out. This situation is one we should come to expect as followers of Jesus. Living in a post-truth culture, many believe it is arrogant to claim one way to God and mention that people aren’t inherently good but are born in sin. As we will learn in John 15:18-27, Jesus knows we will be hated because the world hates Him and what He reveals about human nature and their need for salvation. When have you been rejected or persecuted because of your faith? Does knowing it’s to be expected help you be bold in sharing the gospel?
Closing Prayer
Jesus, when I suffer, let me turn to You for strength. I may never know why You allow pain in my life, but I trust that You are still good. Help me remember, all things are ultimately for your glory. Give me eyes to see what You can do in and through my suffering, knowing that one day You will wipe away tears from Your children when death is no more. Until that da,y let me embrace my purpose, doing good works to show others Your kingdom is real. Before all people, let me proclaim the riches of the One who called me out of darkness and into His glorious light! Let me always be free and eager to tell others about You. Keep fear of aligning myself with You out of my life. Let the gospel message, the goodness about freedom and life, be always on my lips. When I am rejected or cast aside because of my faith, let me remember that You were rejected and despised and can sympathize with me as my High Priest. One day every knee will bow before You and our faith will be sight. Every trial or pain will be put into context. Bring many I know and love into Your kingdom. Holy Spirit, work in a mighty way so the blind will see the majesty, grace, and power of Christ.
Continue praying personally to the Lord with what He showed you during mediation and reflection.
[1] John by RC Sproul, pg. 173
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:20
[3] Ezekiel 36:27
[4] Read this article at https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fear-your-fear-of-man if this is a new concept for you
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