The Miracles of Jesus Part 26: Healing a Man Born Blind
John 9:1-41. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.
Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” They said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.” They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they *said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.
Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”
John 9:1-41 NASB1995
This miracle is one of the most consequential events in the Gospels and can be called another metaphor for spiritual blindness, although a real supernatural healing occurs. I have included the entire text of John 9 because the follow-on events, in my estimation, are as important or more so than the miracle itself. This devotional is rather long, so please bear with me.
To set the context, Jesus is in Jerusalem and the events in the previous chapter of John 8 are set around the Festival of the Tabernacles. In that chapter, Jesus intervenes in the stoning of the woman accused of adultery. He then declares Himself the Light of the World while preaching and continues to tell the unbelieving Pharisees who He is and that the truth will make them free. He ends John 8 by declaring that before Abraham was, He was; He escapes from the temple as they pick up stones to go after Him.
Now he passes by near the temple and sees this man there begging who was born blind. His disciples wonder about this man’s sins or the sins of his parents, but Jesus declares that he is there so that the works of God may be displayed in him. He again says He is the Light of the World and must work because the night is coming. He approaches the man after spitting on the ground and making a clay out of the spittle and applying that to the man’s eyes. It’s important to note that Jesus approached this man and performed the miracle, without the man asking Him for sight. Here’s some commentary from Enduring Word about this healing method:
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva: Jesus used what was undoubtedly one of His more unusual methods leading to a miracle. We can suppose that Jesus wanted to emphasize at least two things.
Just as God used the dust of the ground and clay to do a work of creation in Genesis, so Jesus did a work of creation with dust and clay for this man.
Jesus found it important to change His methods of healing so one could never make a formula of the methods. The power was in God, not in a method.
“The emphasis of John seems to be on compassion rather than creation. The touch of a friendly hand would be reassuring. The weight of the clay would serve as an indicator to the blind man that something had been done to him, and it would be an inducement to obey Jesus’ command.” (Merrill Tenney)
“In His ministry to the souls of men Jesus adopted no stereotyped approach. He dealt with each man as his particular need required.” (Henry Morris)
Several commentators note that what seems so strange to us – using saliva as a medicine upon the eyes – was not so strange in the ancient world.
“Spittle, and especially the spittle of some distinguished persons, was believed to possess certain curative qualities.” (William Barclay)
“The virtue of the fasting saliva, in the cases of disorders of the eye, was well known to antiquity.” (Henry Alford)
Mark recorded two other healings that Jesus performed with the use of His saliva (Mark 7:33 and 8:23).
Jesus directs the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam (Siloam actually means “sent”) and the man obeys. Let’s think about this man’s obedience - he has had mud rubbed onto his eyelids by a stranger, then he has to find his way to the Pool, which is the outlet of the deep water tunnels built during the time of Hezekiah, then find his way down the steps to the water and rub that water into his eyes. The water from this pool is used to wash the temple altar after the Feast of the Tabernacles. The man’s sight is restored by obeying the Lord!
The neighbors of the man and others who were acquainted with his long-time begging near the temple cannot believe it is the same man, but he assures them that he was the blind beggar and that he now can see. He tells them that a man called Jesus put clay on his eyelids and told him to wash in the pool. He doesn’t know where Jesus went, so the neighbors and others bring the man to the Pharisees to tell his story.
Once again, Jesus did this healing of His own accord using the clay and did it on the Sabbath (He could have waited until the next day). Because of that fact, some of the Pharisees said that He was not of God because He didn’t keep the rules of the Sabbath (there were others who were more inclined to believe in His divinity but they mostly kept quiet). The designation of a Sabbath day was never meant to preclude acts of mercy and necessity and was given to men by God with love. Then men had to twist it to create ridiculous rules and rituals, so that even creating clay on that day was a violation. The healed man calls Jesus a Prophet when asked by the interrogators. His understanding of the Lord is growing.
The Pharisees did not believe that the man had received sight, so they called for his parents to testify. They do confirm that he is their son, who was blind. Then, fearing the wrath of the Pharisees and of being excommunicated from the temple, they pass the buck by saying that their son is of age, they don’t know when he might have gained his sight back, and to ask him. I personally found this to be incredible and perhaps an indication of the lesser value in those days that family members had for caring for grown offspring that had a disability. I know as Christians that we are to value life from conception to natural death and to actively work to support and love those who are disabled in any way.
The man is brought back again to answer for himself. It is apparent that these interrogators are full of anger and hardened hearts; they accuse him of being healed by a sinner. The man is showing more and more insight into Jesus and responds as follows (repeated here because it is so insightful):
“Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
Their response: They kick him out of the temple, excommunicating him. Their behavior is abusive and despicable. John, even more than the other Gospel writers, exposes the Pharisees for their spiritual blindness and hatred. The disciples were slow to the realization of who they followed but they got there; the Pharisees (with a few quiet exceptions) absolutely refused to recognize the Messiah in front of them (in spite of His fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies) and were used by the enemy in their rage.
Ah, but this is really a lucky day for the formerly blind man! Jesus hears about what has happened and finds the man and asks him if he believes in the Son of Man (some translations use Son of God). The man answers, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”. Jesus reveals Himself to this man as his healer. The man now sees His redeemer before Him and falls down to worship Him. Here’s Enduring Word again on this man’s road to belief and also on the spiritual blindness of the religious “leaders” (actually all of us are born with spiritual blindness):
When the man worshipped Jesus, Jesus received the worship. This is something that no man or angel in the Bible does. The fact that Jesus accepted this worship is another proof that Jesus was and is God, and that He knew Himself to be God.
The formerly blind man showed an increasing awareness of Jesus.
…
“We ought not to suffer any person to perish for lack of knowing the gospel. We cannot give men eyes, but we can give them light.” (Charles Spurgeon)
In saying those who do not see, Jesus used blindness in a spiritual, metaphorical sense – of those who cannot see the light and truth of God, especially as it is revealed in Jesus Christ. One may say that this entire chapter paints a picture of how Jesus heals blind souls.
We are all spiritually blind from birth.
Jesus takes the initiative in healing us from blindness.
Jesus does a work of creation in us, not reformation.
In this work, we must be obedient to what Jesus commands.
Jesus commands us to be washed in the water of baptism.
We become a mystery to our former associates, not even seeming to be the same person.
We display loyalty to Jesus when we are persecuted, boldly and plainly testifying of His work in our lives and confounding others.
We pass from little knowledge to greater knowledge, and this brings us to greater worship and adoration.
We never know the name of this man born blind. Jesus is the important One; a true disciple is content to remain anonymous if his Lord gets the glory.
Such great commentary on how we progress from blindness to the light. He gets the Glory! And the road to the cross is becoming more and more defined as the unrighteous anger grows among the Pharisees.
So what did we learn from this miracle?
Jesus heals a man blind from birth: Once again, Jesus demonstrates His mastery over His creation and can cure a congenital defect, a blindness that has been there since this man’s birth. The man’s story enrages the Pharisees, but he grows in faith and courage from not knowing Jesus to worshipping Him (and probably becoming a member of the larger entourage).
My next miracle is the healing of a young boy with an unclean spirit, found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord: Please help me to follow in the footsteps of this healed blind man and grow in faith in your healing, protection, and power. May I follow your commands without question and be obedient, so that I can also gaze on upon the face of my Redeemer. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
The Miracle List:
Water to wine: Jesus can overcome time, He creates beauty and abundance, and He shares in our joy.
Healing of the official’s son: Jesus can overcome space (distance), He does not need to see the person He heals, He has infinite power, but He also wants us to believe without signs and wonders.
Casting out of the evil spirit in the synagogue: The authority of Jesus is recognized by the demons and He triumphs over evil and silences it.
Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-Law: Jesus does not need crowds to demonstrate His power and He has compassion about the needs of one person, even if those needs seem smaller and only worthy of a couple of verses of scripture.
Healing and casting out demons of many in Capernaum (at Peter’s house): Jesus has compassion on all who come to Him and has no conditions that He places on giving them His mercy. He can heal instantly with a light touch and again demonstrates authority over demons and silences them.
Miraculous catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee: Jesus demonstrates His powers over His creation, He once again brings abundance, and He teaches humble fishermen that their task of bringing souls to Him is the most important thing they can do. They must follow Him.
Cleansing of the Leper: Jesus is willing to heal us, is compassionate towards those who suffer and can instantly cure a dreadful and feared disease. We must have faith when circumstances seem hopeless.
Healing of the Centurion’s Servant: Jesus came so that anyone who believes on His name is saved, Jew or Gentile. One of the most humble and devout persons that He encounters during His ministry is a Roman Centurion who cares and loves a servant who is sick or paralyzed. Jesus has instant authority over this illness, again eliminating space (distance) as a barrier to healing; He also marvels at this man’s faith.
Healing of the paralytic passed through the roof: Jesus demonstrates His ultimate authority as the Son of God to forgive sins and to heal a condition that seems irreversible. He can sense and read the hearts and thoughts of others. He turns a major disruption into a lesson on forgiveness. The friends of the paralytic show tremendous faith in how they solve this problem.
Healing of the withered hand on the Sabbath: Jesus can instantaneously heal a chronic condition, restoring a hand to full function. The man he heals exhibits great faith in His ability to heal and obeys Him. Jesus also challenges the assumptions and rules that have taken the place of faith and wisdom in the hearts of the Pharisees and Scribes. His anger is righteous; their rage is murderous.
Raising of the widow’s son from death: Jesus is filled with compassion for the suffering and grief of others. He has power over death and can restore us to joy and hope in the face of a hopeless situation. His endless grace and the power of His word are sufficient. We are to spring into action, serving Him and bringing His hope to the hopeless.
Taming the storm on the Sea: Jesus has the unlimited power to tame nature and He calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee instantly. His disciples, after seeing one miracle after another before this, are struck with memory loss when this crisis hits and forget that He is the Creator of the Universe and creation will obey Him. Jesus is there in the storms of life for those who believe on His name.
Casting demons into a herd of pigs: Jesus has the ultimate authority over evil and demons must have His permission to even enter into animals that immediately die. Demon possession is a real thing, but is likely rare and would not occur in a believer who is under the power of the Holy Spirit. We should not get so comfortable with evil surrounding us that we are fearful of holiness and good. Jesus wants us to tell others about His power and healing and to be without superstitions.
Healing of a woman with a bleeding disorder: Jesus knows when His healing powers are used and, with great love and compassion, tells this daughter of the Kingdom that her faith has made her well. Casual contact with Jesus doesn’t save us. We are saved by coming to Him with everything (sins, sufferings, distractions, hopes, and belief). Jesus cleanses and revives us!
Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead: Jesus, the Son of God, has power over life and death. His power is infinite - healing can come from a touch of His garment or a touch from His hands. His compassion is infinite. His words can bring a person back to life and He knows for those who believe that death is just sleep. Just as in His time, our age is filled with mockers and scorners and we must pray for those lost souls.
Jesus heals two blind men: Faith and persistence leads to miracles. Jesus extends mercy and compassion to those who are suffering and recognize Him as the Messiah, by healing two blind men who follow Him.
A mute demoniac is healed and speaks: Jesus has ultimate authority over evil and easily casts out a demon, allowing a man to finally speak. The Pharisees are not impressed and accuse Him of being a demon. As He continues His ministry and healings, He laments the lack of harvesters.
A man is healed by Jesus by the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath: Jesus homes in on a man among the many who has hopelessly waited for healing in the pool for 38 years. He asks him if he wants healing, then tells him to stand, take up his pallet, and walk. We are all waiting for something, but we should stop waiting and be actively seeking Him in our everyday lives through our worship and prayers. Human-made rules and rituals can separate us from our Creator, who is working to sustain us and His creation.
The feeding of the 5000+: Jesus is compassionate and involves his believers in provided abundance. Nothing is too meager or small for the Lord to use in a big way. The disciples continue to look for worldly answers to solve problems and He points them, once again, to His supernatural abilities. People are physically hungry and God’s resources should not be wasted. The Word is also needed to feed the masses spiritually.
Jesus walks on water: Jesus again demonstrates mastery over creation by walking on deep waters. His disciples don’t initially recognize Him, but when they do, Peter wants to join Him (Matthew account). Peter walks in faith a short distance, then is distracted by a worldly fear (the wind). Jesus grabs him to help home and asks him why he has so little faith and is full of doubts. The disciples declare Him the son of God.
Healing the many in Genneserat: Jesus has absolute power over Nature and over sickness. He heals many, often just from their touch of His garments. The crowds recognize Him but do not know Him.
Jesus heals the demon-possessed daughter of a Gentile: Jesus travels to a Gentile region and the only recorded act there is His response to the deep faith of a Gentile woman, who even turns aside His gentle remonstrations. She is the only person who is told directly that her faith is strong. The healing is once again a remote and instant casting out of the demon in the woman’s daughter.
Jesus heals a deaf and (mostly) dumb man: Jesus uses His supernatural healing powers in many different ways. He has compassion on this man and sighs heavenward when seeing the suffering in front of Him and uses unique healing techniques. He instantly heals this man’s hearing and speech, leaving many astounded.
The feeding of the 4,000+: Jesus can provide sustenance to those who are hungry for His word. He again miraculously creates adequate real food for thousands who are listening to Him, while also having to deal with the blindness and deafness of His disciples, who cannot put the big picture together and think outside their narrow worldly boxes of “reality”.
Jesus restores the sight of a blind man near Bethsaida: Jesus uses natural and supernatural methods to restore the sight of a blind man, giving His disciples a lesson in overcoming spiritual blindness.
Jesus heals a man blind from birth: Once again, Jesus demonstrates His mastery over His creation and can cure a congenital defect, a blindness that has been there since this man’s birth. The man’s story enrages the Pharisees, but he grows in faith and courage from not knowing Jesus to worshipping Him (and probably becoming a member of the larger entourage).
Barb, this was so beautifully written. Thank you 👆also the enduring words progression of the blind man’s faith that whole section is full of great insight.