John 9:1-16 – Bible Study & Exploration
Healing of the Blind Man
(Verses 1-5) The disciples make the simple mistake of assuming this man was born blind because either his parents or he himself had sinned. We can often find ourselves thinking in this fashion. It’s happened to me on many occasions.
By the age of twelve, I had lost both my father first and then mother several years later. My mind would often drift to thoughts that I pretended would help me understand why all this happened to me. I would ask God the question, “what did my parents or their parents do that they deserved such a fate? A fate that so dreadfully to impacted the lives of two young boys.”
While we know that God disciplines people for their actions, we don’t know all the reasons behind His actions. Nor does He have to answer to us in our search for answers to these types of situations.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:34)
It’s important that we should always fully trust in the Lord our God. Understanding that all His ways are holy, righteous, and just.
Fortunately for the disciples, Jesus provided a clear answer to the reasons why this man’s been blind since birth.
If the curious question by the disciples of the man’s blindness were true, than we would all be blind. Because all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This would make us all blind from birth. In fact, we are spiritually blind from birth.
The Process of Healing the Blind Man
(Verses 6-15) Why do you suppose Jesus went through the steps He did to set the blind man up to be healed? Then gave him instructions to wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam.
After all, we witnessed Jesus with only a few words heal the royal officials son while not even being in his presence. Remember in chapter four, Jesus was in Cana and at the request of the royal official, Jesus healed his son who was lying sick in Capernaum.
It’s likely that Jesus was testing the man’s faith to see if he truly believed that Jesus could open his eyes to see. As Paul once stated himself that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
In this case, the blind man was hearing the words of life from the very source of eternal life, Christ Himself. Hearing the voice of Christ gave him faith. Faith healed his blindness.
Was Jesus concerned with his physical blindness or his spiritual blindness? Or was He concerned with both? In a moment, we’ll take a closer look.
Healing the Blind Man on the Sabbath
(Verse 16) While Jesus performs incredible miracles before their eyes, the Pharisee’s continue maintaining their grip on the law. They focus on the laws of the Sabbath that no work shall be done on this day.
The very law that they can’t keep and in fact condemns them, they continue to cling to. Whereby the Savior stands before them extending His hand of forgiveness of their sins and they’re blind to it.
Unfortunately, this is the same blindness that continues in the eyes of God’s chosen people today. The veil of blindness will be removed when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Then they will accept Jesus as their Messiah. This will occur at the end of the tribulation when all Israel (Remnant) will be saved.
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27)