John 9:1-41

Read John 9:1-41 The man born blind

The healing of the man born blind is the sixth of the 7 “signs” in John’s Gospel.  In the previous passages, Jesus revealed himself in a new way, saying, “I am the light.”  This story is a physical illustration of that spiritual point, a living parable about how Jesus is the light.

Verses 1-5 A man’s blindness provides an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate the work of God, and he calls us to do the works of God while we can

Jesus’s disciples believe that if something bad happened to someone, it must be because someone sinned.  If this man was born blind, either he sinned even before he was born (some rabbis thought that was possible – see 9:34) or his parents sinned.  In verse 3, how does Jesus respond?

In the second half of verse 3, Jesus says that this situation is not because of someone’s sin but “that the works of God might be displayed in him” (9:3b).  This is sometimes described as God’s providence or the providential plan of God, which is God’s active involvement in the world and his constant work to fulfill his purposes even by bringing good out of bad (see Romans 8:28).  How do you experience God’s providence in your life?

Sometimes people bring injury open themselves – for example, by driving drunk and being injured in an accident.  But when people experience birth defects, illnesses unrelated to their behavior such as cancer, or injuries from acts of nature (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), to what extent can we apply what Jesus says here: that those misfortunes are not because someone sinned but instead are opportunities for God to do good?

How can we apply Jesus’s thinking to every difficulty in our lives: that every difficulty or misfortune we face is an opportunity for God to work in us or to do good through our situation?

What are some examples you know of, where God has brought good out of situations that were not, on the surface, good?

In verses 4-5, Jesus is partly talking about himself.  What is the time he refers to as “day,” when he can do the works of God, and what is it “night,” when no one can work?

It is day when Jesus says this, as he is making the work of God visible. vWhen Jesus submits to his arrest, crucifixion, and death, he goes through a “night” where they will not see him doing the kinds of works he had been doing.  He then rises from the dead, ascends to heaven, and sends the Holy Spirit to continue the works of God in our lives.

In John’s telling of this story, Jesus uses the word “we” in verse 4.  In John’s mind, the “we” would have included Jesus’s followers, so it applies to us, too.  When are the times when it is “day” and we can do the works of God, and when is it “night” when we cannot do God’s work in the same way?

Before turning to the man, Jesus adds one more thing in verse 5: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  Because Jesus has given us his Holy Spirit to live in us, he is always present with us (Matthew 28:20; John 14:16-20).  Therefore, his light is always shining in our world.  How can you find comfort and strength in embracing him as your light, regardless of the circumstances?

This story offers a contrast between Jesus, the light, and this man who, because he is blind, lives in darkness.  In this way, it is like a parable or illustration of the spiritual point he is making.  How does Jesus bring light into the darkness of the world?

How does Jesus bring light into your darkness?

Verses 6-12 Jesus heals the blind man

What does Jesus do, physically, to heal the man?

Jesus could have healed the man with a simple word.  Why do you think he goes through the steps of combining saliva and dirt into clay, applying it to the man’s eyes, and telling him to wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam?

People can go to the Pool of Siloam in our day.  Archaeologists have found the remains of two pools in Jerusalem that are near each other and near Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chron. 32:30), and the locations are consistent with other ancient writings describing the Pool of Siloam and Solomon’s Pool (Biblical Archaeology Society, “The Siloam Pool”; Steinmeyer).

Unlike the lame man Jesus healed on the Sabbath in chapter 5, this man knows who healed him.  As of verse 12, we do not yet know the degree to which the man believes in Jesus.  How do you think he is feeling as his neighbors and others who have seen him in the past quiz him about what happened?

Verses 13-34 The religious authorities are unable to make sense of what Jesus has done, even when the man explains

Jesus is again in trouble with the authorities, because he performed this healing on the Sabbath (verse 14), and making clay to heal the man would have been considered “work” that is prohibited on the Sabbath.  In verses 15-17, we see 3 different opinions about Jesus.  What do the Pharisees say about him?  What do other people in the crowd say?  What does the formerly blind man say?

In verse 18, the religious authorities (the “Jews”) get involved.  They don’t even believe the man was born blind until his parents confirm the fact.

In verse 22, John says that the man’s parents are afraid they will be expelled from the synagogue, and, indeed, the blind man is thrown out in verse 34.  This risk had special meaning to John and his community, because at the time John was writing, Christians who were Jewish were being kicked out of synagogues.  How would this story of a man who is no longer blind and has received the “light of the world” give comfort to Jewish Christians facing expulsion from the synagogue in John’s time?

How can this story give you comfort when you face pressure for being a Christian or are out of step with the world in other ways because of your faith?

After the parents establish that the man was indeed born blind and therefore has been healed miraculously, the religious authorities demand to know how the healing occurred.  But they aren’t willing to accept the answer.  In verse 24, they say that Jesus could not have healed the man because Jesus is a sinner.   How does the man respond in verse 25?

In the song “Amazing Grace,” John Newton drew from the man’s statement in verse 25 – “One thing I know: I was blind, and now I see.”  How does this statement apply in your life?

In verses 29, the leaders say that they do not know where Jesus is from.  The man is quick to reply.  What does he say in verses 30-33?

Do you think the man’s argument in verses 30-33 is convincing?  Why or why not?

Verses 35-41 Jesus distinguishes physical blindness from spiritual blindness

The man has gone through quite a spiritual journey in a short period of time.  In verse 11, he only knows that a man named Jesus healed him.  By verse 17, he is convinced that Jesus is a prophet of some kind.  By verse 33, he is describing Jesus as being “from God.”  Now, in verse 38, the man comes to believe fully in Jesus as the Son of Man and calls him “Lord.”  How does the man respond with his newfound faith in verse 38?

The term “Son of Man” has now been used several times by John, invoking Daniel 7:13 where “one like a son of man” is presented to God and given eternal dominion over all nations and peoples.

What do you think about the man’s journey of faith?  Does it have any relevance to your faith or to the steps people in our day go through as they come to faith in Jesus?

Notice the trust the man shows.  When Jesus asks if he believes in the Son of Man, the man basically says: You tell me who it is, and I will believe in him.  He trusts Jesus completely.  How can we grow in faith so that we can trust Jesus’s answers to the questions we have?

The one who was blind now sees physically and also sees spiritually.  In verse 39, where Jesus says that he has come for judgment, the word is nuanced and could mean that he has come for a decision.  With his coming, those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.  What is the meaning of that statement?

People need to make a decision about Jesus that will affect them for the rest of their lives and into eternity: Will they accept the light that Jesus offers, and see (even if they are physically blind), or will they reject him and be spiritually blind (even if their physical eyes can see)?

Some of the Pharisees take the hint and say, “We’re not blind, are we?” (verse 40).  How does Jesus respond?

In verse 41, Jesus says there is no sin in being blind.  He is not speaking just of physical blindness.  There is no sin in being spiritually ignorant, if one is willing to be taught.  How can we cultivate an attitude that accepts that we are always “blind” in some ways and always have more to learn?

Jesus ends by saying that the Pharisees remain in sin because they claim to see when they do not.  How can we recognize when we are claiming to know more than we do, and become humble enough and teachable enough to receive sight from Jesus?

Take a step back and consider this:

People who have good eyesight tend to take it for granted.  Take a moment to consider what it might be like to live in total darkness.

We may also take our spiritual eyesight for granted.  The blind man gains his physical sight and gradually gains spiritual insight, while the religious leaders remain in darkness. Take a moment to consider what it might be like to live in spiritual darkness – to not know about Jesus, to not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to not know that God is your Father.

If you were living in spiritual darkness, how would that affect your ability to deal with the ups and downs of life?

When we are in a dark place, even a small amount of light – for example, from a flashlight or nightlight – can make a significant difference.  But that pales in comparison to the bright light of the sun or even to the amount of light indoors in a well-lit house with the lights on.  Similarly, we may think we are enjoying the bright light of life with Jesus even if we are partially blocking his light.

How can you more fully embrace all of the light that Jesus wants to bring into your life?