This week we will be looking at the sixth sign Jesus performed in the book of John. This sixth sign continues the events at the festival of tabernacles and plays off the imagery of light associated with the festival. The story begins when the disciples ask if a man’s blindness was caused by his own sins or the sins of his parents. Let’s read this sign found in John 9:1 – 12.
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
John wanted his readers to focus on the blindness of the man described in the first five verses. The disciples, wrapped in Old Testament legalism, concluded there were only two possible explanations for the blindness: either his parents had sinned or the man had sinned. The disciples saw neither the man nor his parents but an opportunity for theological discussion. They displayed no compassion, only curiosity.
Many Bible students are amazed to discover that the Old Testament contains no story of the giving of sight to the blind. The only New Testament example outside the Gospels is the encounter between Ananias and Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9.
John 8:12 forms a foundation by which we understand the events of chapter 9: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The light of life did not fix blame but offered grace, so Jesus rejected the alternatives of the disciples. In this man’s life, hurting was the preparation for healing.
Comparison of John 5 and 9 leads us to the conclusion that sin may result in sickness on some occasions, but we should never assume an essential connection. God can bring glory to himself through healing as in both of these accounts by John or through not healing, as we learn later in the New Testament from the struggles of the apostle Paul. The focus is not on the comfort of the creature but the exaltation of the Creator.
The contrast between blindness and sight now moves to the contrast between night and day. Jesus was the sent one, and the disciples assisted him in his work. But this will soon end when night comes. Night probably refers to the difficult days of the passion week, particularly the cross. If we had only this text, we might conclude that the disciples could function in God’s work only so long as Jesus was with them in the world; then all would be darkness.
For verse 5 interpreters tiptoe around the possible meaning of this verse. The Lord had not yet explained the role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating their future ministry. At this point he focused their attention only on him, his divine mission, and their involvement during the short period of earthly ministry. Later in this Gospel he explained that light would shine again after the resurrection and the ascension as the Holy Spirit reproduced the light of the world through them.
This verse can be best expressed as that Jesus does not stop being the light of the world once he has ascended. It means that the light shines brightly while he lives out his human life up to the moment of his glorification. After this we, with the help of the Holy Spirit are to be the light of Jesus to a darken world.
Beginning in verse 6 a strange thing happened as the blind man experienced healing by the Lord. We know Jesus did not need physical substance to work a miracle, so what was the point of the mud on the man’s eyes? Some interpreters point out that the Jews believed clay and spittle had some medicinal value, but that would put the power in the instrument rather than the healer.
Others argue that clay often depicts creation in Scripture. But perhaps we can find here something as simple as a man who needed some physical symbol to encourage his faith, not unlike Gideon and his fleece. This healing was not remedial, since the man suffered congenital blindness. Verse 7 reminds us of the importance of obedience and also reflects the experience of the ten lepers (Luke 17). The clay did not create the healing; obedience to the word of Christ brought sight to this man.
What followed was reaction from the neighbors. Miracles were uncommon in Israel. Even his neighbors showed their amazement. Somehow this man born blind could see. His first step of faith was acceptance of the fact that his blindness had departed. He had no idea what had happened to him; he had no idea who had done it; he had no idea where Jesus had gone. The miracles of Christ work similarly in our day, whether physical or spiritual. He performed his miracles in accordance with acts of faith (not always on the part of the one healed) and in obedience to God’s word.
This is also a reminder to not focus on the past, but to look toward the future. No matter what our past may look like, we can still be used in God’s kingdom. It does not matter what other may think, but it is up to you to have that faith to “see” Jesus as Lord and Savior of your live going forward.
If you are ready to “see” what Jesus can do in your life here is a prayer you can pray.
Father, I realize my helplessness in saving myself. I put my past into proper perspective, those things that are behind. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Jesus lives in me. The life I live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God. I trust you Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding.
I want to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
I am bringing all of my energy to bear this one thing: Regardless of my past, I look forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which You are calling me up to heaven because of what Jesus did for me.
In His name I pray, amen. lit(“&”),functi