John 9:1-7 Jesus heals a man born blind
Proverbs 3:34, “Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.”
Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
As he was walking by, Jesus sees a blind man. It is an act of grace to see those around us that are in need, physical or otherwise. A need cannot be met until it is first seen. How many walked through that busy place without seeing the needy along the way? But Jesus sees every need.
The disciples notice Jesus noticing the blind man. With their eyes on Jesus they saw what he was looking at. The religious view of the Jews was that suffering follows sin directly. Many times it does, but like choppy water where the waves can come from any direction at any time, the effects of sin in our fallen world are many times unequally and randomly distributed. There was a little bit of controversy among the Jews about whether it was possible for someone to sin in the womb. This might be part of what the disciples were asking.
Just as Jesus failed to be trapped by the Pharisees questions he now uses this moment to teach the disciples that their categories needed reframing. It is not what caused the suffering that is important. Instead, the question should be how can it be turned into God’s glory? How can this moment, before it slips away, build up the Kingdom of God? Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
It takes light to do almost anything. Jesus is the light by which we see the world and everyone in it. John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” and Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Why does Jesus spit on the ground to make clay? Since it was the Sabbath day making clay was work and healing was work so perhaps, Jesus is asserting his prerogative as Lord of the Sabbath to make the rules as he saw fit. Kindness and compassion are right even if they break the rules.
Jesus sent the man to wash at the pool of Siloam. Still blind, with mud on his face he had to go and wash. The step of faith that takes God at his word goes out not seeing but returns seeing. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Healing a man of blindness was a wonderful miracle but healing us from the blindness of sin and death is eternal transformation 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
brotherpayne 