There was nothing unusual about Jesus
observing a blind man begging on the side of the street (John 9:1). John
records that somehow Jesus’ disciples knew this man had been blind from birth.
So, they ask Jesus what seems a foolish question; who
sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (Jn 9:2). For
the disciples, someone had to be responsible for this man’s blindness from
birth.
Popular theories of the time included
sin in the womb, even though there is no such thing. Another was reincarnation,
but as Scripture states, man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment
(Heb 9:27). A third favoured option was that it could have been a curse of
generational sin. In other words, this man was blind as punishment for the sins
of an ancestor. This belief came from misinterpreting Exodus 20:5 and 34:7. However,
God categorically states that the soul who sins
shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the
father suffer for the iniquity of the son (Ezekiel 18:20).
Jesus then sets the record straight in
John 9:3, it was not that this man sinned, or
his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. In
this one statement, Jesus undoes centuries of error and released those trapped
in false guilt because they suffered illness or disability. Jesus then
exercises sovereign prerogative by healing the man’s blind eyes without even
asking permission (Jn 9:6-7).
Well, as was often the case when Jesus
exercised mercy and power, the Pharisees went to battle against Him. They
interrogated the healed man, they challenged the man’s parents, they denied and
rejected Jesus, and they successfully made fools of themselves. No amount of
unbelief or hatred towards Jesus could change the facts. Jesus had healed the
man born blind, with God being glorified through His Son, which was the whole
point of this encounter (Jn 9:3).
However, the best was yet to come. I’m
sure the healed man appreciated receiving his sight that day. But Jesus went on
to give him spiritual sight which proved to be of even greater value. Following
the dispersal of all concerned parties,
Jesus seeks the healed man out who had been condemned by the Pharisees and
kicked out of their presence. Jesus asks him, “Do
you believe in the Son of Man?” (Jn
9:35). To which the man answered, “And who is
he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and
it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped
him (Jn 9:36-38).
What a brilliant end to a turbulent
day. That morning, this man awoke blind and would have expected another day of
darkness. He didn’t go out seeking or believing for a healing, but he graciously
received it anyway. As was typical of Jesus, He was interested in far more than
eyes that couldn’t see. The man understood that Jesus was claiming to be God in
human flesh, plus, he obviously wasn’t going to deny the healing power of Jesus.
So he responded by believing in Jesus. Having been awakened to Jesus’ divine
identity and authority, he worshipped his Healer. There could be no better
response!
Once again, Jesus’ life changing words
were proven accurate. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes
him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over
from death to life (Jn
5:24). May our lives respond to Jesus in belief and worship as with this man who
was born blind.