HEALING OF A MAN BORN BLIND
John 9:1-41
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Jesus makes His claim in verse 5 and proves it by a mighty
miracle.
B. Christ is ever the light of the world. John 8:12
I. Verses 1-12
A. Vs. 1 - He was not one going blind, or one who recently lost
his sight.
1. Since the man was born blind, the miracle was even greater,
for blindness caused by sickness or injury might suddenly go
away.
B. Vs. 2 - Like Job's friends, they thought that in back of every
physical affliction was sin.
C. Vs. 3 - God had a plan for this man.
1. God allowed defects so that His Son could manifest His power
while here on earth.
D. Vs. 4 - To Jesus this man presented a challenge, an opportunity
to work.
1. Works are ended by the night of death. Heb. 4:10
2. Our allotted time is very short; much shorter than we might
think.
E. Vs. 5-7 - Jesus could have only willed the man cured and it
would have been done.
1. However, He no doubt did this here for two reasons:
a. To test the man's faith.
b. To go against the traditions of the Pharisees. (Vs. 14)
(1) Jesus deliberately challenged the Jews and this
played a part in causing them to eventually put Him
to death.
2. The blind man does not copy the immediate reaction of Naaman
the leper, but promptly obeys.
3. Lessons for us:
a. The blind man's actions answer the arguments against
baptism, "there is no power in the water," "water
salvation."
(1) There was no power in the water in the pool of
Siloam; the power was of the Lord, but the man had to
go to the water to receive sight. So in baptism.
b. Imagine the change in the man's life when he received
this blessing of sight.
(1) The man could now see everything; the sun, the tress,
the houses, and most interesting of all, people he had
known for years.
(2) However, having the eyes of spiritual understanding
opened is more important.
F. Vs. 9 - As we will see, this blind man proves himself to be of
great character, full of courage.
G. Vs. 10 - He had to have faith or he would not have gone to the
pool and washed.
1. The events that subsequently follow his healing will greatly
enlarge his faith.
H. Vs. 12 - He had not seen Jesus as of yet, thus he could not
identify Him.
II. Verses 13-18
A. Vs. 13-15 - The Pharisees had been telling the people that
Jesus was an imposter and if anyone confessed Him they would be
put out of the synagogue. This meant being excommunicated or
cut off from the religious and social life of the Jews.
1. Jesus' great miracles spoke louder than anything they could
say or do.
B. Vs. 16 -If we put the reasoning of the predominant group of
Pharisees in the form of a syllogism, it would be:
Major Premise: All people who are from God keep the Sabbath.
Minor Premise: This man (Jesus) does not keep the Sabbath.
Conclusion: This man is not from God.
1. To prove a syllogism wrong, one must show that either the
major or minor premise is wrong.
2. Here, the minor premise is wrong. The problem with the
Pharisees was that they regarded their own trifling,
hair-splitting Sabbath-regulations as the law of God.
C. Vs. 17 - A more pronounced confession than the one he gave in
verse 11, where he simply said "a man called Jesus." He will
become much stronger as we proceed.
III. Verses 18-23
A. Vs. 18 - They would think that perhaps Jesus had craftily
switched beggars so that the sighted man was not the one who
had been known as the blind beggar.
B. Vs. 19 - A three-fold question to them: Is this your son? Was
he born blind? How does he now see?
C. Vs. 20-22 - The parents have a chance to openly confess Jesus.
1. They answer the first question honestly, but the third
evasively.
a. They knew how his eyes were opened. They had the freely-
spoken testimony of their own son.
b. John shows why they failed to confess Jesus. Not because
they did not know, but because of fear.
D. Lessons to be learned:
1. Let us not follow the course of least resistance.
2. Let us not be intimidated or pressured by religious leaders
or by anyone who would cause us to fail to do what's right.
IV. Verses 24-34
A. Vs. 25 - He was not aware that Jesus was a sinner, but one
thing he definitely knew--that once he was blind, but now he
sees.
B. Vs. 26 - They try to entangle him in his talk in order to
justify themselves.
C. Vs. 27 - He knew they would not listen to anything.
1. He did not give them a chance to entangle him.
2. He was not afraid of them, as was his parents.
a. There are not many things in the Scriptures that are
humorous, but this is one.
D. Vs. 28-29 - These Pharisees would not admit defeat (though
proven wrong by overwhelming evidence). Not many people will
concede to an error.
E. Vs. 30 - The miracle plainly revealed Jesus' identity.
F. Vs. 31 - God would not have heard Jesus, in granting Him power,
if He were a sinner.
G. Vs. 31 - There is no record of such in the O.T.
H. Vs. 32 - Could there be any better sound reasoning?
1. Syllogisms on his reasoning would be thus:
Major premise: Only people who are from God can open the
eyes of one born blind.
Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
Conclusion: Jesus is from God.
Major premise: Sinners cannot open the eyes of one born
blind.
Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
Conclusion: Jesus is not a sinner.
I. Vs. 34 - Here we have the Pharisees' reaction to his reasoning.
1. Here we have a people so blind and prejudiced they could not
be reasoned with.
a. They were unable to expose or uncover any fraud regarding
the miracle.
(1) The fact that they examined the miracles in such
detail is proof that Jesus did indeed heal the man.
(2) Our Lord's miracles bore up under the careful
scrutiny of bitter enemies.
b. This great miracle of Jesus loudly proclaimed who He was.
(1) Yet in all this, they persist in their unbelief.
c. They were saying to the blind man, "Who are you to be
teaching us, when you are altogether full of sin."
(1) Jesus had already said that the blindness was not due
to his sin or his parents'.
(2) They were a people so proud that they would not
listen to the wisdom of common people. John 7:45-49
(3) Jesus had said that his blindness was not due to his
sins or his parents'.
V. Verses 35-41
A. Vs. 35 - Jesus would not be unmindful of one so true to Him.
1. Jesus' question is an important one to every human being.
a. It is also a personal one, "Do you believe in the son of
God?"
B. Vs. 36-38
1. The blind man's faith was greatly increased by his firm
stand for the Lord.
a. Faith is strengthened through opposition.
2. The "works of God" (His power, love, grace) were displayed
in this man. (Vs. 3)
3. Jesus accepted worship which belongs only to God; thus,
Jesus is God.
C. Vs. 39 - Jesus reveals His two-fold purpose for coming into the
world.
1. That those who do not see may see.
2. That those who see may become blind.
a. The Lord's coming brings salvation to some, but at the
same time condemnation to others. It adds to their sins
the sin of rejecting the evidence. John 3:18: 15:22-24
b. An application of our Lord's words is made in the next
verses.
D. Vs. 41 - If you will admit that you are blind and in sin (being
penitent), you will be forgiven.
1. But as long as you say you have no need of light (or have no
sin), you will not be forgiven.
a. Thus, I must have the attitude: "I am a poor, blind
sinner and ask God to forgive me" and not "I am full of
light, have no sin, and no need of forgiveness."
Concl.
From this chapter we can choose what kind of character we will have:
A. We can be like the Pharisees:
1. They were blinded by tradition. (Ex. man at pool of
Bethesda, man with withered hand, woman bowed over -- they
would allow acts of necessity, but not mercy).
2. They had closed minds. (Their minds were already made up --
would not listen to the overwhelming evidence -- thought the
Christ would come in great splendor, and establish a great
earthly kingdom).
3. They were full of pride. (No one less than us will teach us
-- vs. 34; 7:45-49).
B. We can be like the parents:
1. They were influenced by men.
2. They followed the course of least resistance.
3. They submitted to the pressure of religious leaders to
follow their wishes.
C. Or, we can be like the blind man:
1. He was obedient. (He had faith in the power of Jesus).
2. He honestly considered the evidence. (--regarding the
identity of Jesus).
3. He made a strong stand in the face of opposition.
4. He now had the light of life. (He received light in two
senses all in one day).
a. We, too, can have the light of life. John 8:12
Chart #1
Major Premise: All people who are from God keep the Sabbath.
Minor Premise: This man (Jesus) does not keep the Sabbath.
Conclusion: This man is not from God.
Chart #2
Major premise: Only people who are from God can open the eyes of one
born blind.
Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
Conclusion: Jesus is from God.
Major premise: Sinners cannot open the eyes of one born blind.
Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
Conclusion: Jesus is not a sinner.
Chart #3
What Kind of Character Will We Have?
We can be like the Pharisees:
They were blinded by tradition.
They were closed-minded.
They were full of pride.
We can be like the parents:
They were influenced by men.
They followed the course of least resistance.
They submitted to the pressure of religious leaders.
Or, we can be like the blind man:
He was obedient.
He honestly considered the evidence.
He made a strong stand in the face of opposition.
He now had the light of life.