He Causes the Blind to See! (John 9:1-41)
Which of the five senses are you most afraid of losing? Sight, smell, hearing, taste, or touch?
For me, it is a tossup between taste and sight. I do appreciate a richly flavoured Hokkien Mee and the slight sourness of a frozen yoghurt. Perhaps some of you can’t live without the creamy and savoury taste of durian that leaves a long-lasting finish.
At the same time, I know how reliant I am on my sight to enjoy beautiful landscapes, see people, watch shows and go about my daily tasks. Life would just be so different without my ability to see. Thus I was quite concerned growing up when I added a hundred degrees every year.
Can you imagine life without sight? Can you imagine talking to people who you have no idea what they look like? Can you imagine walking around without the ability to appreciate architecture and various plants scattered around the island?
In today’s sermon text, Jesus shows great compassion to a man born blind. Knowing how much the man longed to see, Jesus does the impossible and gives him physical sight. But His aim was not to simply draw our attention to His ability to give 6/6 vision. Instead, Jesus wants us to see His power to give spiritual sight. Jesus wants us to see Him as the Christ who gives the light of life.
Believe in Jesus for spiritual sight and salvation.
Therefore, the big idea of today’s sermon is to believe in Jesus for spiritual sight and salvation.
My three points are
Jesus is the Light of the World who gives sight to the blind (Jn 9:1-7)
The proud and fearful remain in darkness (Jn 9:8-34)
Jesus seeks and saves the lost (Jn 9:35-41)
Jesus is the Light of the World who gives sight to the blind (Jn 9:1-7)
In the preceding chapter, Jesus experienced the hostility of the Pharisees. The religious leaders refused to accept Jesus’ testimony that He is the Light of the World who has the power and authority to give life (Jn 8:12). They even picked up stones to throw at Him.
Jesus leaves the crowd who refused to see Him as the one God had sent since there is no point casting pearls before swine. But He continues to teach those who followed Him with a beautiful illustration.
Outside the temple Jesus and His disciples see a man blind from birth. The disciples are quick to blame sin. However, they are curious if the sin should be attributed to the man or his parents. Could a baby in the womb sin or did his mother commit a crime while she was pregnant?
Jesus however corrects their belief that illnesses and deformities are always a result of sin. Whilst Moses’ sister, Miriam, was struck with leprosy as punishment for rebelling against the Lord’s anointed, Jesus says in John 9:3 It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Friends, we must be very careful about stating in absolute terms that illnesses are always an indicator of sin or a punishment for failing to please God.
Jesus says that this particular man was born without sight for a very special purpose. It was not coincidence that he was sitting outside the temple at the very moment that Jesus was passing by.
We see in John 9:4-5 that Jesus recognises God’s will for Him to help the blind man. Using the analogy of day and night to describe His time on earth and the time when He will depart after his resurrection, Jesus expresses willingness and urgency to perform God’s work of bringing healing and restoration to the blind man.
Whilst He is on earth, Jesus will do the works of God that glorify the Father and reveal truth. Jesus is the light of the world and He will help us see this truth by causing the blind to see.
Whilst He is on earth, Jesus will do the works of God that glorify the Father and reveal truth. Jesus is the light of the world and He will help us see this truth by causing the blind to see.
John’s description of Jesus spitting on the ground to make mud with his saliva in John 9:6 would evoke memories of God taking dust from the ground to form Adam in Genesis 2:7. Like the Father, Jesus has power to create. Jesus gives the man the sight he did not receive at birth.
Jesus’ command for the man to wash off the mud in the pool of Siloam is significant.
Remember in John 7 that the High Priest would take water from the pool of Siloam to pour over the altar during his prayer for rain? And that it was at that point that Jesus declared that He is the one who gives living water?
Well here, Jesus does a little show and tell. At his command the waters of Siloam are used to give sight to the blind man. The water that Jesus gives is transformed from something ordinary into something life giving. The man washed in the water and he received sight!
Secondly, the command to wash off the mud reminds us of Elisha’s command to Naaman to wash himself in the river Jordan. Unlike Naaman who was very reluctant to obey the prophet, the blind man demonstrates simple faith in Jesus and obeys immediately. He went and washed and came back seeing.
Friends, perhaps like the Pharisees you find it hard to believe Jesus’ testimony that He has been sent by God to be our Saviour. After all, anyone can make claims that seem impossible to prove.
But here Jesus graciously meets those of us who live by the mantra, “seeing is believing.”
In the presence of many witnesses, Jesus gives sight to a man who was blind from birth.
A man who lived in darkness his entire life could suddenly see colours and shapes. For the first time he could see what another person looked like. He could finally appreciate the grand architecture of the temple and palace. He could actually see what he was eating.
But beyond receiving physical sight, I believe the man also received inner healing. For years he must have wrestled with the clumsy question Jesus’ disciples had blurted out. Who sinned? Had his parents done something terribly wrong when he was conceived? Had he sinned by rolling around too much in his mother’s womb? He probably wondered many times why he had been cursed.
But on this special day, Jesus frees him from all the negative mystery. His blindness was not some sort of punishment. He had not been cursed. It was not bad luck. No, Jesus declared that he had been blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Like the prophets who had been chosen to be God’s instrument, this man had been chosen by God to display Jesus’ power to give sight to the blind. This man had lived in darkness so that he could encounter the Light of the World.
Friends, if you are presently living in darkness, suffering from an illness or struggling to cope with a difficult circumstance or relationship, I pray that you will receive some encouragement from God today. Our Heavenly Father is in full control and He does not allow meaningless suffering.
The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
If God has called us His children, we can rest assured that He cares for us and is working all things for our good. So let us not go down the darkened path of thinking we have been cursed, we have bad luck or worse, we are being punished by a vengeful god.
If you are walking with Jesus, you can rest in God’s love and sovereignty. Jesus has already paid the penalty for your sins when you first confessed them and your trials are not a punishment. Be encouraged by the blind man’s testimony that at the right time, the works of God will manifest in our lives.
Through our light momentary affliction, God is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Through our suffering, God will manifest Himself and be glorified. Through the valley, we will experience the goodness of our Shepherd. And at the appointed time, we will enjoy rest, fellowship, and celebration.
Will you exercise simple faith like the blind man and trust Jesus with your life? Will you do exactly what He commands knowing that the blind man’s obedience was greatly rewarded?
I really love John’s description of the man’s obedience and the outcome of his trust in John 9:7. He went and washed and came back seeing. May we do as Jesus commands and experience the blessings of trusting Him.
Sadly, many who witnessed this amazing sign refused to see Jesus for who He is. Let us turn our attention to how the people responded out of fear and pride by reading John 9:8-34.
The proud and fearful remain in darkness (Jn 9:8-34)
Over the years there have been great advances in Vision Correction Techniques. Using special equipment, eye surgeons can correct myopia and other refractive errors so that people don’t even need to wear glasses.
But never since the world began has anyone given sight to a man born blind.
A great miracle had occurred way back when there weren’t even any optical shops. Yet we see in our text that many refused to believe the truth that Jesus has been sent by God to give them the light of life.
Fear and pride are two very dangerous traits that can keep us shrouded in spiritual darkness.
Fear
The blind man’s neighbours had a front row seat to the miracle. They knew the daily routine of the man and had seen him begging on many occasions. Yet instead of rejoicing that the man had been healed, they dismissed the miracle by saying he was a different person who had an uncanny resemblance. But hey, where could the blind man have gone? Surely he hadn’t gone on vacation. If he did not beg, he would not have food to eat.
Even after hearing the man confirm his identity and recount how he was healed, they did not express any interests in Jesus.
This is in stark contrast to the crowds in Luke 5:15. After hearing reports of Jesus healing a leper, great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses. The natural response to hearing about a miracle worker is to seek him out.
Instead, John 9:13 says that the neighbours brought the man to the religious authorities. Although they may not have intended to make life difficult for the man, their actions revealed their reluctance to discern the truth about Jesus for themselves. They appear fearful of engaging in spiritual discovery.
Perhaps the neighbours had earlier witnessed the dressing down the Pharisees had given to the temple officers in John 7:45-48. In response to the officers’ remarks that Jesus’ teachings were extraordinary, the Pharisees accused them of being deceived and warned them to toe the line and accept their condemnation of Jesus.
So out of fear of getting into trouble, they referred the “Jesus matter” to the Pharisees. Better to report than to be reported on.
The next group of fearful folks might have caught us by surprise. Although the parents knew that their son who had been blind from birth was now able to see, they did not give thanks and praise to God. Instead, they were very guarded in their response to the Pharisees.
Like the man’s neighbours, they refused to acknowledge the works of God in their own son’s life. They claimed that since their son had already come of age and was already recognised as an adult in their community, the man should give his own testimony.
Why would parents not rejoice openly that something great has happened for their child?
If your child received an organ donation needed for survival, would you not rejoice openly? An overjoyed parent would share such news with family, friends and even post about it online.
So why were the blind man’s parents acting so strangely?
John says in John 9:22, “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.”
Sadly, the parents’ fear of man kept them from rejoicing and embracing Jesus as the Christ. The parents feared angering the leaders and losing their synagogue membership. Granted, being part of a synagogue was part of being a Jew. There was both a religious and social aspect to it. Perhaps their residence or schooling for their other children or even access to certain facilities was tied to their synagogue membership.
Thus the parents were not only afraid having a run in with the authorities but also fearful of the implications on their way of life. They feared being cut off from their social circle. They feared eviction from their neighbourhood. They feared being branded as outcasts. Because they feared man and losing the life they were accustomed to, they were unable to see the work of God in their son’s life.
Never since the world began has anyone given sight to a man born blind.
Yet fear kept the man’s neighbours and parents in spiritual darkness and under the grasp of the Pharisees.
Pride
The Pharisees were supposed to be reliable spiritual guides. They were familiar with Old Testament literature and were supposed to be committed to glorifying God. Yet we see in this account the shocking state of their spirituality.
In John 9:13-15, the Pharisees do not appear to refute any of the facts presented. A man who had formerly been blind was now able to see after doing what Jesus has commanded.
Yet the Pharisees did not marvel at the miracle. Instead of recalling Messianic passages like Isaiah 42:7 that prophesised that the Servant of the Lord will be a light that opens the eyes of the blind, the Pharisees zero in on the fact that Jesus performed the miracle on the Sabbath.
Although God had created the Sabbath as a day for man to enjoy fellowship with Him, the Pharisees had turned the Sabbath into a rather unpleasant day of legalism. The Pharisees had come up with their own rules to define what is pleasing to God. They restricted the number of steps you could take, the type of clothing worn, and the kind of work you could do.
This preoccupation with rules that governed outward behaviour resulted in the Pharisees missing the point of the miracle. Instead of asking the right questions, they focus on Jesus’ disregard for their legalistic display of piety. They could not overlook the giant red flag that Jesus had made mud on the Sabbath!
They said in John 9:16 “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
Friends, there is a proper place for traditions. The wisdom of those who have gone before us can aid us in respecting God. But we must be careful not to let traditions supersede the Word of God and allow them to stumble us.
The Pharisees’ practice of the Sabbath had clearly deviated from what God had stated in Scripture. The Pharisees had in fact assumed God’s rightful place to dictate what pleases Him. They imposed restrictions that God never gave. They turned a joyful day into a burdensome one by adding a hundred and one rules. Worse of all, their twisted view of the Sabbath kept them from seeing the work of God.
God had sent His Son to visit them, and Jesus had made it pretty obvious by performing a miracle that has never been seen before. Jesus had literally fulfilled a prophesy that they were familiar with. The chosen Servant of the Lord had brought light to a man who had lived in darkness his entire life. Yet the Pharisees, refused to acknowledge God’s Son. They had the audacity to call him a sinner!
Thinking of ways to disprove the miracle, the Jews even summoned the man’s parents. Perhaps they thought that the parents could quell all the talk of town if they were to admit that his blindness was a lie and that their son had been faking his blindness so that he could live off charity rather than work.
But lo and behold his parents say in John 9:20, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
Yet this credible testimony was still not enough for the Pharisees.
And so in John 9:24 they take a different approach. Instead of disproving the miracle, they try to get the man to condemn his healer.
But the man refuses to be pressured by the Pharisees into spewing lies. He turns the tables around and asks the Pharisees if they are seeking to become Jesus’ disciples.
John 9:28 tells us how offended the Pharisees were. They reviled the man, declaring that unlike him, they were disciples of Moses. But were they not forgetting Deuteronomy 18:15-18 where Moses declared God’s promise to raise up a new and greater prophet whom they should listen to?
If they were truly Moses’ disciples, they would have recognised Jesus as God’s Son. In fact, Matthew, Mark and Luke all record that Moses was present during Jesus’ transfiguration. Moses was called out of retirement to serve as a witness that Jesus is truly the Christ.
The man born blind displays divine courage in not backing off. He goes on to give the Pharisees a Sunday School lesson.
The man states in John 9:30-33 that clearly an amazing thing has been done by Jesus. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone can open the eyes of a man born blind. And since God does not listen to sinners, it is clear that if Jesus were not from God He would not have been able to perform such a great miracle. Therefore, the man expresses how baffled he is that the Pharisees are unable to see the truth that Jesus is clearly from God.
Sadly, the Pharisees lack the humility to admit that they have got it all wrong. Instead, they call the man a sinner and tell him that he has no right to teach them. They wrongfully practice synagogue discipline, and cast him out.
Friends, the Pharisees illustrate the problem with spiritual pride. If we think we are righteous because of our moral code or religious practices, we will wrongly conclude that we are spiritually healthy and not under condemnation.
The Pharisees were less interested in looking for a saviour and more intent on finding fault with Jesus. They created a religious system that affirmed their false beliefs and they condemned Jesus for not playing their game. In so doing, they failed to worship the God and rejected His Son.
Worse, the Pharisees used their power and influence to stop others from knowing Jesus. They pressured people into condemning Jesus as a sinner. They abused their authority and cancelled people who rightly believed Jesus is the Christ. They were more like bullies rather than spiritual leaders.
Friends, what keeps you from believing that Jesus is the Christ who alone can save you from sin and death?
Do you fear becoming a Christian because of your parents or community? Do you fear the ridicule of your secular schoolmates or colleagues? Do you fear the loss of a lifestyle you currently enjoy?
Or are you struggling with laying down your pride and admitting that you are not as righteous as you think? Are you willing to acknowledge your weakness and inability to figure out life on your own? Are you willing to admit that you have no idea what is going to happen when you die?
Charles Spurgeon once said, “It is not our littleness that hinders Christ; but our bigness. It is not our weakness that hinders Christ; it is our strength. It is not our darkness that hinders Christ; it is our supposed light that holds back His hand.”
Fear and pride are two dangerous traits that keep us from seeing Jesus and embracing Him as our Saviour. And if we are believers, fear and pride can also keep us from embracing Jesus’ lordship over our life.
Fear and pride are two dangerous traits that keep us from seeing Jesus and embracing Him as our Saviour. And if we are believers, fear and pride can also keep us from embracing Jesus’ lordship over our life.
Fear can keep us from applying all of God’s truths to our lives. Our fear of losing our comfort might keep us from doing what God has commanded. Our fear of being single might lead us to date a non-believer. Our fear of change might keep us from growing in Christian maturity. Our fear of man can keep us from speaking God’s truths. Our fear of being wrong can keep us from exercising faith in God.
Pride can keep us from admitting mistakes. Pride can keep bad theology and practices alive. Pride can keep us from pointing people to Jesus because we want people to value our wisdom. Pride can keep us from confessing sin and experiencing God’s transformative work.
So friends, let us take time to examine ourselves and confess our shortcomings to God. May the love of God drive away our fears and may God’s grace and tenderness melt away our pride.
May the Spirit remove our fear and pride so that we will embrace Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and not remain in darkness.
May the Spirit help us to declare, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (Ps 27:1)”.
The good news is Jesus desires to give us spiritual sight.
Jesus seeks the lost and gives spiritual sight to the humble (Jn 9:35-41)
The Pharisees had failed in their duties as the spiritual leaders of Israel. Instead of helping people identify the Christ and encouraging people to believe in the One God had sent, they put up obstacles. They condemned Jesus as a sinner and pressured people to accept their judgment. Worse, they used their authority to wrongfully punish those who refused to toe the line.
Because the man born blind refused to condemn Jesus and was now identifying as a disciple, they excommunicated him. They cancelled him. In an instant, the man was cut off from his community. His neighbours and even his parents would have treated him as a gentile. He was considered unclean. He was probably evicted from his residence and told to find a new home.
Thankfully our God is good and does not leave the man to suffer alone. Jesus intentionally seeks out the man.
How true are the words King David spoke of in Psalm 27:10, For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
Friends, refusing to cave in to the world’s pressure to denounce Jesus can result in persecution. The world can cancel us. But the Lord will never forsake us. Jesus promises all who turn to Him a room in His Father’s house. Even if our parents were to kick us out for our faith, the Lord will take us in.
The proof is in how Jesus offers the man eternal admission into God’s Kingdom. Jesus asks him if he has believed in the Son of Man.
The Son of Man is a very special title in Scripture. It is used in Daniel 7:13-14 to refer to the Christ whom God will authorise to rule and reign over His kingdom. In the gospel accounts, it used most frequently by Jesus to highlight His uniqueness and mission to save man. Jesus is the promised Son of Man who will undo the curse of sin and offer salvation to every man who believes in Him.
The man born blind immediately recognised the importance of the Son of Man and says to Jesus in v36, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Unlike the Pharisees who put up barriers and make it hard for people to know God’s Son, Jesus graciously reveals Himself — “Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” (Jn 9:37).
In many religions, the path of encountering their god can be arduous. Devotees might have to scale many flights of steps on their knees or offer countless offerings.
But Jesus is way different. Jesus does not wait for us to go to Him. Jesus does not even expect us to find Him on our own. Jesus knows that we are unable to earn our way into His kingdom. And so Jesus graciously seeks and saves us. He comes to us and He reveals Himself to us.
Friends, through the hearing of the gospel this morning, you have seen Jesus. It is He who has been speaking to us this morning. It is His Words that have been proclaimed. Jesus says, I am the Light of the World who gives life. Jesus says I am the Son of Man whom God has given authority to rule and reign. Jesus says I am the Christ who can give you spiritual sight. I am the One who has died for your sins. I am the One who offers you eternal life.
So friends, what is your response?
Consider the man’s response in John 9:38 — “He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”
The man expressed immediate faith. Without any hesitation, he declared his belief in Jesus. And the genuineness of his belief is made evident by his worship.
Whilst countless people had passed by when he was begging, Jesus stops and shows him compassion. Jesus knew his longing to see and opens his eyes physically and spiritually.
When the man lost his community, Jesus sought him out and welcomed Him into His Father’s house. Hence the man rightfully responds to his Savior in faith and worship.
Friends, Jesus has graciously sought you out. And He has revealed to you the truth about Himself. He is the Son of Man who can give you access to God’s House.
Will you believe and worship Him today?
I especially want to encourage those under 21 to consider your response to Jesus. Although you may not be old enough to vote at the upcoming General Elections, God considers you mature enough to believe in Jesus.
We do not know the age of the man was who healed in John 9, but we do know that he was of age and that his parents expected him to take ownership of his faith. In Jewish culture, 13-year-olds were already considered responsible for their actions.
So teens, God has already given you the ability to understand His Word and respond to it. You are old enough to take responsibility for your faith and you cannot piggyback on your parent’s faith. I pray that you will devote as much attention to your spiritual health as you would to your studies or CCA. As your church we are rooting for you. We would count it our joy and privilege to help you discern God’s truths. We pray often that the Holy Spirit will help you see your need for Jesus and give you faith to believe that He is the Christ who forgives sin and gives eternal life. If you have already trusted in Jesus for salvation and would like to take the next step of owning your faith, I encourage you to join me on 12 April for our Church Matters class where you can learn more about baptism and becoming a member.
For those of us who are still on the fence, consider the final verses of chapter 9. Let me read John 9:39-41 for us. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to give sight to the blind. But Jesus’ saving also reveals the judgment that falls upon those who refuse His salvation. Those who reject Jesus remain in darkness. They remain in their sin. They remain under God’s judgement.
When the Pharisees judged Jesus as a sinner and decided to condemn anyone who follows Him, they sealed their fate. They revealed their spiritual blindness and failure to lead the people towards God. If they were ignorant, Jesus could have helped them see.
But because they claimed to be wise and able to discern the truth for themselves, they were guilty. Because they insisted that they could see clearly and were right in condemning God’s Son, their guilt remains. In their spiritual blindness they perished.
Friends, this is a sober warning to not allow our pride or fear to keep us from experiencing Jesus’ saving work. All who willfully reject Jesus will remain under judgement.
So let us humbly ask Jesus for spiritual sight.
Never since the world began has anyone given sight to a man born blind.
Jesus is the Servant of the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind, who brings out from the prison those who sit in darkness. Jesus is the one who saves.
Therefore, Jesus’ healing of the blind man is not just another miracle. It is a sign that clearly displays the work of God. Through the opening of the man’s eyes, Jesus reveals that He is the Light of the World who gives life. Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecies Isaiah foretold. Jesus is the Servant of the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind, who brings out from the prison those who sit in darkness. Jesus is the one who saves.
Therefore, those who believe in Jesus shall receive spiritual sight and salvation. But those who reject Jesus shall remain in darkness and under judgment.
Friends, the Pharisees did all the heavy lifting of authenticating this sign for us. They interrogated the man, spoke to his neighbors, and even got his parents to certify his blindness from birth. So will you embrace the truth that Jesus is the Christ or will you allow your pride and fear to stand in the way?
May the Holy Spirit help us to cry out “Lord, I believe,” and enable us to give Jesus the worship He deserves as our Lord and Saviour.
Let us pray.