John 9:13-25 CSB
They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. [14] The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Then the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," he told them. "I washed and I can see." [16] Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a sinful man perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. [17] Again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes?" "He's a prophet," he said. [18] The Jews did not believe this about him-that he was blind and received sight-until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight. [19] They asked them, "Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" [20] "We know this is our son and that he was born blind," his parents answered. [21] "But we don't know how he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he's of age. He will speak for himself." [22] His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. [23] This is why his parents said, "He's of age; ask him." [24] So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." [25] He answered, "Whether or not he's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!"
Tell us Again
I had a dog that I loved very much—as much as any animal I ever took in as my own. As my loyal pet grew older, he developed eye problems. He lost one eye and could barely see out of the other. He would go outside just to feel the warmth of the sun and stare in the direction of the sunrise, trying to get just enough light to bypass the cataracts to see some shapes. That blindness made his life a struggle toward the end.
I can put my mind into the mind of the blind man after he washed in the Pool of Siloam. His eyes were opened for the first time; perhaps it was a perfectly clear day. With the sun shining, he would have experienced the world in a way he had never done before. Imagine the wonder: every small leaf falling from a tree, every small animal scurrying on the ground, the amazement of how different people looked and the colors of the clothes they wore. It was all laid out in front of him for his amazement.
However, in Jewish tradition, healing someone whose life was not in immediate danger and kneading were forbidden on the Sabbath. It may seem like a stretch, but it could be argued that to the onlookers, Jesus making mud was the same as kneading dough.
The Pharisees did not want to believe. They gravitated toward anything they could grasp—any thought that would reinforce their belief that Jesus was not who He claimed to be. Many said, “This man cannot be of God; He healed on the Sabbath.” I am amazed at those words. To them, Jesus could not be from God because He healed someone.
There are really only three possibilities:
- The healing was a grand hoax, and the man wasn’t actually blind.
- The healing was from a source other than God.
- Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, and His Father blessed the healing.
Some leaders had a sound mind and asked, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” The religious group turned to the healed man for his input: “What do you say about this Jesus?” From his heart, though Jesus had not yet been totally revealed to him, the man proclaimed, He is a prophet.
The Pharisees looked for another solution: “Let’s call the parents.” But those who hoped it was a hoax did not get the answer they so desperately desired. The parents confirmed it: this was their son, and he was born blind. Yet, they would say no more. Fearing the religious rulers, they refused to acknowledge how he received his sight. To confess Jesus as the Messiah meant being banned from the synagogue—being shunned by the community and losing the ability to work. They simply said, “Talk to our son; he is of age!”
They summoned the son a second time, perhaps hoping his story would change enough for them to discount the miracle. They even gave him an out—a way to stay in their good graces. They told him to give glory to God by admitting that Jesus was a sinner. But the man confessed from his heart: “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”
I have witnessed people receiving miracles for many years now. I have seen those who ride sin to their utter destruction, beaten down enough to finally stop relying on themselves. Out of the depths of their hearts, they cry, “Jesus, please help me.” When the miracle happens, it is like a total rearrangement of the mind. They are immediately given power over their sin and leave as a new person. The Holy Spirit indwells them, giving them the strength to live another day.
They might be afraid that people at work will think they are crazy, or that friends won’t believe it’s real. But they know the truth. Like the man in Jerusalem, they can say: I once was blind, but now I see.
Reflection Questions
- The Pharisees missed the miracle because they were obsessed with their own rules. Is there a “religious rule” or tradition in your life that is keeping you from seeing what God is actually doing?
- The parents chose their social standing and comfort over testifying to the truth of their son’s healing. Where are you tempted to stay silent about Jesus because you fear being “shunned” by those around you?
- The healed man didn’t have a theology degree; he just had a story (“I was blind, now I see”). Who in your life needs to hear your simple story of how Jesus changed your life?
Prayer
Father,
We thank You for the Light that truly opens eyes. We thank You for the “true strength and knowledge” that we receive when we encounter Your Son. Help us to be bold like the man who was healed—to not worry about giving the “right” religious answers, but to simply stand on the truth of what You have done for us. Give us the courage to speak even when others want us to be silent.
Amen.
