HEALING OF A MAN BORN BLIND

John 9:1-41

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Jesus makes His claim in verse 5 and proves it by a mighty 
      miracle.
   B. Christ is ever the light of the world.  John 8:12

I. Verses 1-12
   A. Vs. 1 - He was not one going blind, or one who recently lost  
      his sight.
      1. Since the man was born blind, the miracle was even greater,
         for blindness caused by sickness or injury might suddenly go
         away.
   B. Vs. 2 - Like Job's friends, they thought that in back of every
      physical affliction was sin.
   C. Vs. 3 - God had a plan for this man.
      1. God allowed defects so that His Son could manifest His power
         while here on earth.
   D. Vs. 4 - To Jesus this man presented a challenge, an opportunity
      to work.
      1. Works are ended by the night of death.  Heb. 4:10
      2. Our allotted time is very short; much shorter than we might
         think.
   E. Vs. 5-7 - Jesus could have only willed the man cured and it     
      would have been done.
      1. However, He no doubt did this here for two reasons:
         a. To test the man's faith.
         b. To go against the traditions of the Pharisees.  (Vs. 14)
            (1) Jesus deliberately challenged the Jews and this 
                played a part in causing them to eventually put Him 
                to death.
      2. The blind man does not copy the immediate reaction of Naaman
         the leper, but promptly obeys.
      3. Lessons for us:
         a. The blind man's actions answer the arguments against
            baptism, "there is no power in the water," "water 
            salvation."
            (1) There was no power in the water in the pool of 
                Siloam; the power was of the Lord, but the man had to
                go to the water to receive sight.  So in baptism.
         b. Imagine the change in the man's life when he received 
            this blessing of sight.
           (1) The man could now see everything; the sun, the tress,
               the houses, and most interesting of all, people he had
               known for years.
           (2) However, having the eyes of spiritual understanding
               opened is more important.
   F. Vs. 9 - As we will see, this blind man proves himself to be of 
      great character, full of courage.
   G. Vs. 10 - He had to have faith or he would not have gone to the
      pool and washed.
      1. The events that subsequently follow his healing will greatly
         enlarge his faith.
   H. Vs. 12 - He had not seen Jesus as of yet, thus he could not 
      identify Him.

II.  Verses 13-18
   A. Vs. 13-15 - The Pharisees had been telling the people that 
      Jesus was an imposter and if anyone confessed Him they would be
      put out of the synagogue.  This meant being excommunicated or 
      cut off from the religious and social life of the Jews. 
      1. Jesus' great miracles spoke louder than anything they could 
         say or do.
   B. Vs. 16 -If we put the reasoning of the predominant group of
      Pharisees in the form of a syllogism, it would be:
      Major Premise: All people who are from God keep the Sabbath.
      Minor Premise: This man (Jesus) does not keep the Sabbath.
      Conclusion: This man is not from God.
      1. To prove a syllogism wrong, one must show that either the
         major or minor premise is wrong.
      2. Here, the minor premise is wrong.  The problem with the
         Pharisees was that they regarded their own trifling, 
         hair-splitting Sabbath-regulations as the law of God.
   C. Vs. 17 - A more pronounced confession than the one he gave in
      verse 11, where he simply said "a man called Jesus."  He will
      become much stronger as we proceed.

III. Verses 18-23
   A. Vs. 18 - They would think that perhaps Jesus had craftily 
      switched beggars so that the sighted man was not the one who 
      had been known as the blind beggar.
   B. Vs. 19 - A three-fold question to them: Is this your son?  Was 
      he born blind?  How does he now see?
   C. Vs. 20-22 - The parents have a chance to openly confess Jesus.
      1. They answer the first question honestly, but the third 
         evasively.
         a. They knew how his eyes were opened.  They had the freely-
            spoken testimony of their own son.
         b. John shows why they failed to confess Jesus.  Not because 
            they did not know, but because of fear.
   D. Lessons to be learned:
      1. Let us not follow the course of least resistance.
      2. Let us not be intimidated or pressured by religious leaders 
         or by anyone who would cause us to fail to do what's right.

IV.  Verses 24-34
   A. Vs. 25 - He was not aware that Jesus was a sinner, but one 
      thing he definitely knew--that once he was blind, but now he 
      sees.
   B. Vs. 26 - They try to entangle him in his talk in order to 
      justify themselves.
   C. Vs. 27 - He knew they would not listen to anything.
      1. He did not give them a chance to entangle him.
      2. He was not afraid of them, as was his parents.
         a. There are not many things in the Scriptures that are
            humorous, but this is one.
   D. Vs. 28-29 - These Pharisees would not admit defeat (though 
      proven wrong by overwhelming evidence).  Not many people will 
      concede to an error.
   E. Vs. 30 - The miracle plainly revealed Jesus' identity.
   F. Vs. 31 - God would not have heard Jesus, in granting Him power,
      if He were a sinner.
   G. Vs. 31 - There is no record of such in the O.T.
   H. Vs. 32 - Could there be any better sound reasoning?
      1. Syllogisms on his reasoning would be thus:
         Major premise: Only people who are from God can open the
         eyes of one born blind.
         Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
         Conclusion: Jesus is from God.

         Major premise: Sinners cannot open the eyes of one born     
         blind.
         Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
         Conclusion: Jesus is not a sinner.

   I. Vs. 34 - Here we have the Pharisees' reaction to his reasoning.
      1. Here we have a people so blind and prejudiced they could not
         be reasoned with.
         a. They were unable to expose or uncover any fraud regarding
            the miracle.
            (1) The fact that they examined the miracles in such     
                detail is proof that Jesus did indeed heal the man.
            (2) Our Lord's miracles bore up under the careful        
                scrutiny of bitter enemies.
         b. This great miracle of Jesus loudly proclaimed who He was.
            (1) Yet in all this, they persist in their unbelief.
         c. They were saying to the blind man, "Who are you to be
            teaching us, when you are altogether full of sin."
            (1) Jesus had already said that the blindness was not due
                to his sin or his parents'.
            (2) They were a people so proud that they would not      
                listen to the wisdom of common people.  John 7:45-49
            (3) Jesus had said that his blindness was not due to his 
                sins or his parents'.
 
V. Verses 35-41
   A. Vs. 35 - Jesus would not be unmindful of one so true to Him.
      1. Jesus' question is an important one to every human being.
         a. It is also a personal one, "Do you believe in the son of
            God?"
   B. Vs. 36-38 
      1. The blind man's faith was greatly increased by his firm      
         stand for the Lord.
         a. Faith is strengthened through opposition.
      2. The "works of God" (His power, love, grace) were displayed 
         in this man.  (Vs. 3)
      3. Jesus accepted worship which belongs only to God; thus, 
         Jesus is God.
   C. Vs. 39 - Jesus reveals His two-fold purpose for coming into the
      world.
      1. That those who do not see may see.
      2. That those who see may become blind.
         a. The Lord's coming brings salvation to some, but at the 
            same time condemnation to others.  It adds to their sins 
            the sin of rejecting the evidence.  John 3:18: 15:22-24
         b. An application of our Lord's words is made in the next
            verses.
   D. Vs. 41 - If you will admit that you are blind and in sin (being
      penitent), you will be forgiven.
      1. But as long as you say you have no need of light (or have no
         sin), you will not be forgiven.
         a. Thus, I must have the attitude: "I am a poor, blind 
            sinner and ask God to forgive me" and not "I am full of 
            light, have no sin, and no need of forgiveness."

Concl.
From this chapter we can choose what kind of character we will have:
   A. We can be like the Pharisees:
      1. They were blinded by tradition.  (Ex. man at pool of 
         Bethesda, man with withered hand, woman bowed over -- they 
         would allow acts of necessity, but not mercy).
      2. They had closed minds.  (Their minds were already made up --
         would not listen to the overwhelming evidence -- thought the
         Christ would come in great splendor, and establish a great
         earthly kingdom).
      3. They were full of pride.  (No one less than us will teach us
         -- vs. 34; 7:45-49).
   B. We can be like the parents:
      1. They were influenced by men.
      2. They followed the course of least resistance.
      3. They submitted to the pressure of religious leaders to 
         follow their wishes.
   C. Or, we can be like the blind man:
      1. He was obedient.  (He had faith in the power of Jesus).
      2. He honestly considered the evidence.  (--regarding the 
         identity of Jesus).  
      3. He made a strong stand in the face of opposition.
      4. He now had the light of life.  (He received light in two 
         senses all in one day).
         a. We, too, can have the light of life.  John 8:12

Chart #1
Major Premise: All people who are from God keep the Sabbath.
Minor Premise: This man (Jesus) does not keep the Sabbath.
Conclusion: This man is not from God.

Chart #2
Major premise: Only people who are from God can open the eyes of one
born blind.
Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
Conclusion: Jesus is from God.

Major premise: Sinners cannot open the eyes of one born blind.
Minor premise: Jesus opened the eyes of one born blind.
Conclusion: Jesus is not a sinner.

Chart #3
What Kind of Character Will We Have?
We can be like the Pharisees:
   They were blinded by tradition.
   They were closed-minded.
   They were full of pride. 
We can be like the parents:
   They were influenced by men.
   They followed the course of least resistance.
   They submitted to the pressure of religious leaders.
Or, we can be like the blind man:
   He was obedient.
   He honestly considered the evidence.
   He made a strong stand in the face of opposition.
   He now had the light of life.