JOHN 9
JESUS RESTORES THE SIGHT OF A MAN BLIND SINCE BIRTH
Jesus is with His disciples when they encounter a blind man. The disciples ask Jesus what caused the man to be born blind, believing either his own sin or his family's sin caused his blindness. It was commonly believed that sickness or disability was a result of personal or generational sin.
Jesus responds to the disciples' question and tells them that sin did not cause his blindness. Instead, the man was blind so that God’s glory would be displayed through his healing. Jesus spits onto the dirt, making mud with His saliva, and puts the mud on the man’s eyes, instructing him to go into the pool of Siloam, a popular gathering place.
When he washes the mud from his eyes, he is miraculously able to see! The people who witnessed his healing want to know who restored his sight. The man has never seen Jesus, but knows His name and tells the people.
Because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath day, the Pharisees are angry with His actions. Some of the Pharisees believe that Jesus could not be from God because of His disregard for the Sabbath, but others believe that no one besides God could perform these acts. When the Pharisees ask who healed him, the man says Jesus is a prophet who healed him.
Still in disbelief, the Jewish people call the parents of the blind man to confirm he was truly blind at birth. The parents confirm that he is their son and that he was born blind, but they do not cite Jesus as the source of his healing.
The man is frustrated by their constant questions and wonders why they are so interested in the works of Jesus. He asks if they want to become His disciples too, which offends those who did not believe Jesus. When the man affirms his belief and claims Jesus is a messenger from God, the people throw him out onto the streets.
Jesus finds the man and reveals Himself as the Son of God. The healed man believes and worships Him. Jesus proclaims that He came to bring light to the world and give sight to the blind. He also teaches that those who claim to see but do not recognize Him will be exposed for their spiritual blindness.
