Bible Studies for Life: April 6

The Sign of His Light • John 9:1-11; 30-33

By Clay Anthony

Losing my eyesight would be horrendous. To think that I could never see my wife again is heartbreaking. A simple recall of my life’s memories causes me to shutter at this thought. All the Christmas mornings missed. My children growing into who that are today. The beauty of God’s creative genius. May such a travesty never occur to me. John introduces us to a man born blind. For all purposes, in his present state, he has no idea what he has been missing from the inability to see. 

Within the first five verses we read of a conversation that he misses out on. Many people knew this man and had witnessed his daily begging for money. Weather it was out of curiosity or pity, we do not know but for some reason the disciples wanted to know the origins of this man’s issue. What had occured in the past that caused this man to suffer with blindness? Was his sin so dark that it physically harmed him? Did his parents do something wrong in their past and this was God’s revenge on them? 

Praise be to God that neither of those questions lead to any good reasoning for the man’s blindness. Psalm 103:10 is a promise that God deals with us as He should, not by what we deserve. This man was born blind so that through his life, God would be glorified. We have used this word many times in church but never stopped to think about what it means. To give someone glory means simply to give them credit. Whatever has happened or will happen with the life this man lives, God is going to get credit. 

The actions and dialogue in this scene both seem odd at different times. First, the actions taken by Jesus are out of sorts. We have other accounts of Him healing sick people, even blind people, but here He uses saliva and dirt to make mud. No, there was no healing power in the dirt itself. Again, in other places Jesus just speaks, and eyes are opened. For whatever reason Jesus takes an unusual action here to open the eyes of this blind man that He does not repeat elsewhere. 

The scene moves from joyous to stressful once questions start being asked.  Neighbors are not sure this is the former blind man. How can anyone born blind receive such a healing? Is this really him? Of course, the Pharisees have questions. Who did this healing? Does He not realize the importance of the Sabbath? Was this man truly blind? Only speaking directly to the man would they be satisfied, or it would seem, since they did not believe his story. They demanded to speak to the man’s parents. Perhaps they could give truthful insights. Then finally they looked to question the man once again. 

What occurs next is moving. First, the man born blind proves that there is nothing wrong with his hearing. Verses 30-33 reveal that he has heard enough of the story of God as to know more than the Pharisees themselves. How can Jesus do Godly things and yet not be from God? From Genesis until now, has anyone ever been able to accomplish what Jesus has done? This man may have been born blind, but his spiritual eyesight was 20/20.

Next, by going back further in the conversation we encounter a heart-breaking moment. If you are a parent of a child born blind and now, they can see, what is your reaction? Whatever you are thinking, the reaction of this man’s parents was the opposite. Ask him; he is of age (vs. 23). Imagine the first time your son has ever made eye contact with you and you back away wanting nothing to do with the situation. This is what spiritual blindness looks like. The Pharisees and the parents refused to see Jesus for who He truly is: Messiah and Savior. This blind man’s greatest need was never to see but to be saved. 

Read back over the text from John 9. Can you see that indeed Jesus is the light that we need? Neither the money that was begged for nor the law that was pushed by the Pharisees could do this man any lasting good. Only Jesus has the power to open blind eyes as well as closed hearts. Whichever we encounter daily, let us rely on Jesus’ power alone. May we never diminish Jesus’ miracles and signs as revealed in Scripture. They give us eyes to see the glorious Savior that He is. 

Anthony is Missions Pastor at Harrisburg Church, Tupelo.