A Divine Encounter: The Healing of the Man Born Blind
The Gospel of John, chapter nine, presents one of the most profound and multifaceted miracles recorded in the New Testament: the healing of a man born blind. This narrative is not merely a testament to Jesus' power over physical infirmity, but a deep exploration of spiritual sight, blindness, faith, and the revealing of God's glory. The story begins as Jesus and His disciples walk through Jerusalem, encountering a man whose entire life had been defined by darkness.
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
The disciples, reflecting the common theological understanding of their day, immediately posed a question rooted in the belief that suffering was a direct consequence of sin:
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus' response shatters this misconception, offering a radical and liberating truth that transcends human understanding of suffering:
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
This declaration sets the stage for the entire narrative. The man's lifelong affliction was not a punishment, but an opportunity—a canvas upon which the magnificent works of God would be painted for all to see. It underscores a vital biblical principle: not all suffering is punitive. Sometimes, it is preparatory, designed to reveal God's glory and power in ways that health and ease might not.
The Miracle Performed: A Work of God Manifested
Having clarified the divine purpose behind the man's condition, Jesus then proceeds to perform the miracle. His method is unique and symbolic, drawing upon the very elements of creation:
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
The use of clay, reminiscent of God forming man from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7), highlights Jesus' identity as the Creator. He was not merely healing; He was performing a new act of creation, restoring what was missing from birth. The instruction to wash in the pool of Siloam, meaning "Sent," is also significant. Siloam was a real pool in Jerusalem, fed by the Gihon Spring, a vital source of water for the city. By sending the man to Siloam, Jesus implicitly connects this physical healing to His own identity as the "Sent One" from God, the Living Water (John 4:10, John 7:38). The man's obedience, even without full understanding, was key. He "went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." The immediacy and completeness of the healing were undeniable.
The Reaction: Doubt, Division, and Persistent Testimony
The miraculous healing, however, did not lead to universal rejoicing. Instead, it ignited a firestorm of controversy, revealing the spiritual blindness of those who claimed to see. The first reactions came from his neighbors and those who had known him as a beggar:
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
Their astonishment quickly led to questions about how he received his sight. The man’s simple, direct testimony was, "A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight" (John 9:11). This straightforward account, however, was insufficient for the religious authorities.
The Pharisees, obsessed with legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath law, immediately focused on the fact that Jesus performed the miracle on the Sabbath day. Their inquiry was not driven by genuine interest in the man's healing or the power of God, but by a desire to find fault with Jesus and discredit Him:
And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and do see.
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Their legalism prevented them from seeing the divine compassion and power at work. They were more concerned with their traditions than with the glory of God. The man, however, stood firm in his testimony, even when his own parents, fearing excommunication from the synagogue, refused to corroborate his story fully, telling the Pharisees, "He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself" (John 9:21).
The Man's Growing Faith: From Physical to Spiritual Sight
Throughout the interrogations, the man born blind displays remarkable courage, spiritual insight, and a growing understanding of Jesus' identity. Initially, he refers to Jesus as "a man that is called Jesus" (John 9:11). Under pressure from the Pharisees, he progresses to calling Him "a prophet" (John 9:17). When challenged further, he articulates a powerful theological argument:
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
His logic is irrefutable: only God could perform such a miracle. The Pharisees, unable to counter his reasoning or deny the miracle itself, resorted to insult and excommunication:
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Cast out by the religious establishment, the man was immediately found by Jesus. This encounter marks the pinnacle of his spiritual journey:
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
His physical sight was restored, and now his spiritual eyes were opened. He moved from merely seeing Jesus to believing in Him as the Son of God and worshipping Him. This is the true healing—the transformation from spiritual darkness to spiritual light, culminating in faith and worship.
Spiritual Blindness Contrasted with Spiritual Sight
The narrative of the man born blind serves as a powerful allegory for spiritual truth. Jesus uses this event to expose the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees and to declare His mission:
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Those who recognized their spiritual need, like the man born blind, received sight. But those who claimed to see, the Pharisees, who were confident in their own righteousness and knowledge of the law, became spiritually blind. Their pride and self-sufficiency prevented them from acknowledging the true Light of the World. When some of the Pharisees, hearing His words, asked, "Are we blind also?" Jesus' response was cutting:
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Their sin was not their lack of sight, but their arrogant claim to have it while rejecting the very source of light. Their refusal to acknowledge Jesus as God's Son solidified their spiritual darkness.
Lessons for Today's Believer
The story of the man born blind offers timeless lessons for believers:
Conclusion: Seeing and Believing
The healing of the man born blind is more than a miraculous event; it is a profound parable of redemption. It illustrates the journey from physical and spiritual darkness to light, from ignorance to saving faith. The man's story reminds us that true sight is not merely physical perception but spiritual discernment, granted by Christ alone. He is the one who opens blind eyes, not just to the visible world, but to the reality of God's kingdom and the glory of His Son.
Just as the man born blind was cast out by the world but embraced by Christ, so too are those who acknowledge their spiritual blindness and turn to Jesus for sight. May we, like him, not only see the works of God but also believe in the Son of God, and worship Him in spirit and in truth.