Today’s Scripture gives the account of a significant miracle of Jesus, one only recorded in the Gospel of John. With most of the miracle healings that Jesus performed, the people were healed and went on their way, perhaps giving God thanks, perhaps not. Their lives were changed, but we hear nothing more about them. However, with this healing we learn much more. We learn some background information, and we especially hear about how the religious authorities reacted, and the lesson that Jesus desired to teach through this event. This was like a living parable, where Jesus wanted us to learn some important truths. Let’s take a look.
One day Jesus and His disciples encountered a man who was known to have been born blind. Many people in that day believed that suffering and illness was directly tied to a specific sin, and the disciples wanted to know who had sinned in this case, since he was born blind (vs. 1-3). Jesus let them, and us, know that some suffering exists so that God’s works may be displayed. The man’s blindness was not a result of sin, and it was not meaningless. It had a divine purpose, which would shortly be evident. Jesus then made a bit of clay and put it on the man’s eyes, and told him to go to the pool and wash. He did so, and returned with his blindness healed (vs. 6-7). The Light of the world gave sight to the blind, bringing light into his life.
This miracle was undeniable. This was a man who was born blind, and even today with modern surgery it is extremely rare for sight to be given to someone born blind. He was changed so dramatically that people hardly recognized him (vs. 8-12). This gives us a picture of salvation - when Jesus spiritually opens a person’s eyes, and they accept Him as Savior, the transformation is unmistakable.
As our Scripture continues, we see that the Pharisees began to get involved. They had heard about this miracle, and wanted to question everyone, the man healed, his parents, and any who had witnessed the healing (vs. 13-34). They especially fixated on the fact that this healing was done on the Sabbath, just as they had done on numerous other occasions. They felt that no one who did anything on the Sabbath could possibly be a man of God. However the man who was healed, not only had his physical vision healed, but was gaining spiritual vision, as well. When first interrogated by the Pharisees he called Jesus a prophet (vs. 17). They next interrogated the man’s parents, questioning whether he was actually born blind and how this was done. The Pharisees struck fear into everyone, including these parents, because of their opposition to Jesus (vs. 18-23).
The Pharisees then turned back to the man healed, and told him that Jesus must be a sinner because He healed on the Sabbath. This man used logic and common sense with the Pharisees. How could a “sinner” heal anyone, much less a man born blind? As they argued and threatened him, he gave a simple but powerful testimony: “One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” After exposing the Pharisees illogic with courage, they cast this man out of the synagogue. That was more than just forbidding him to attend worship services, it was a very strict form of shunning, banning anyone from employing him or socializing with him. He would be an outcast in the neighborhood. This confirmed the Pharisees own spiritual blindness.
After hearing what happened, Jesus sought the man out, bringing him to the point of personal faith (vs. 35-38). This second encounter of Jesus with this man is the climax of the whole event. First Jesus brought him physical sight, now He brought him spiritual sight and saving faith, resulting in the man worshiping Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The Pharisees had rejected Jesus, but this humble man received Him. Loyalty to Jesus may cost us earthly acceptance, but He never abandons His own.
Our Scripture concludes with Jesus pronouncing judgment (vs. 39-41). He explains the spiritual meaning of this miracle - those who admit their blindness receive sight, while those who claim that they see remain blind. We are born spiritually blind, and only Jesus can give us spiritual sight. This is the heart of the Gospel - Jesus Christ saves the humble but resists the proud. We are never told this man’s name or anything else of what happened to him, and it is quite possible that he spent the rest of his life telling people what Jesus did for him, and that He was the Messiah.
In closing, we need to trust God’s purposes in any suffering or hardship we may face. Our trials may be the stage on which God will display His glory, as He did with this man. Like this man, we need to boldly testify of Jesus Christ. We don’t need a theological degree to say that we know that Jesus changed us. Finally, just as this man did, we must stand firm, even when rejected by others. If following Christ costs you relationships or acceptance, He Himself will draw near.
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