John 9:1-41, “25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
The story of a man born blind in John 9 is one of my favorite healing stories in the bible. John dedicates a whole chapter to address the healing of this man and the response from both those who saw him healed and his own testimony. While this is a notable miracle, the emphasis here is not the miracle but the purpose of the miracle. This is a picture of salvation, the testimony that lasts. This is a picture of He who initiates the salvation process and completes it. This is a picture of being born of water and the Spirit (washing and believing)
Vs. 1 says, “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth”. It’s Jesus who saw him, it’s Jesus who corrected the disciples of their thinking and the Pharisees that though we are all impacted by the original sin, it was not for this reason this man was born blind otherwise it would be concluded that all those born with defects were more sinners than those who were not. His response vs. 3, “…“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him… 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This statement alone is the heartbeat of Christianity, the glory of God and not the happiness of man as commonly preached.
Watch what the Lord does, vs. 6, “When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing”. Unlike Naaman who first protested the means by which he would be healed, this man’s response was different. God gives grace to the humble and leads them by His ways, James 4:6. Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here He cured one born blind as the man later alludes that never before was it heard of one healed born blind. This miracle was to live as a monument to the Redeemer’s glory, and recommend His grace to all who desire the same precious salvation.
Of course his healing did not bring people to rejoice with him or over Jesus but rather question what had happened to him. His neighbors vs. 10 asked him how his eyes were opened. Not only did his neighbors question his testimony, the Pharisees did the same. They tried to cast doubt on the healed by labeling Jesus a sinner because He had healed on Sabbath. If that was not enough, the Pharisees sought his parents to cast doubts on his testimony too by declaring the same. Because his parents feared being excommunicated, they pushed the responsibility of giving the account back to their son. No one would stand with him only his faith in the One who had healed him and gave him a testimony, vs. 25, “…One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
The more they tried to cast doubt in him, the more he became bolder and bolder in giving his testimony. Vs. “30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” None of what they said derailed him, he was consistent. All against one man with a testimony yet in all his faith and testimony got stronger. He identified the One that healed Him as Jesus, as a Prophet, as a man from God and finally as Lord when Jesus revealed Himself. vs. 35 “… He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him”. It started with Christ who saw him, touched him, sent him, found him again and revealed Himself to him.
In the work of grace wrought upon the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which you heard the sound of, but cannot tell where it comes, nor where it goes. The more we stand, the more He reveals Himself. This is the testimony of God (1Corinthians 2:1), and this has become our testimony (Revelations 12:11).
Our testimony fails in comparison to His which never fails the reason we need to embrace and declare His testimony that salvation is of the Lord and nothing can cast doubt upon us who have received it by grace through faith. Blessings Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 