The Healing of the Blind Man John 9
The Healing of the Blind Man – John 9 The sixth miracle in John
The Seven Miracles in John’s Gospel 1. Turning water into wine – Chapter 2 2. Healing of the Official’s son – Chapter 4 3. Healing at the Pool of Bethesda – Chapter 5 4. Feeding of the five thousand – Chapter 6 5. Walking on the water – Chapter 6 6. Healing the blind man – Chapter 9 7. Raising of Lazarus from the dead – Chapter 11
Many of Jesus’ miracles was to show His Messianic credentials… Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Isaiah 35: 5
I. Outline Scene 1 – The theological discussion as the setting to the miracle 1 -5 Scene 2 – The muddy miracle 6 -7 Scene 3 – The general public’s reaction to the miracle 8 -12 Scene 4 – The Sabbath problem with the miracle 13 -17 Scene 5 – The Pharisee’s attempt to discredit the miracle 18 -23 Scene 6 – The Pharisee’s attempt at a false confession 24 -34 Scene 7 – The healed blind man receives Christ 35 -41
The people in this story: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Jesus The disciples The blind man The general public The parents The Pharisees
Scene 1 – The theological discussion as the setting to the miracle 1 -5 Where does pain and suffering come from… 1. The fall – Genesis 3 2. Parents can damage and hurt their children – Exodus 20: 5 3. Individual sin – Achan in Joshua 7: 25 4. Sins by others – Uriah in II Samuel 11: 17
Israel’s theology was infected by some stinkin thinking… The rabbinic theology of the day took the sound truth that all suffering is a result of the fall in Genesis 3 to a very specific level that individual sin cause defects, disease, hardships, etc. This was reminiscent of Job’s friend’s theology. This created a tension for the disciple trying to sort this out. How could the man been born blind as a result of his sin? Was it a type of prenatal sin or maybe it was his parent’s sin?
Satan has cashed in on this as making it a corner stone in Hinduism… In Hinduism, if you see a person suffering it is wrong to stop and help them. For they are reaping the consequences of their karma and you might be interfering with the process.
Jesus clears up the issue… Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9: 3 Conclusion: It is wrong to assume that all pain or suffering is the result of individual sin. Some is the result of the fallen world we live in. Nevertheless, stand back and watch God do something big with this man who was born blind.
Scene 2 – The muddy miracle 6 -7 Something to note, Jesus did not employ a ridged method on how He restored sight to the blind. Other ways Jesus healed: 1. Put spit in his eyes and laid His hands on him – Mark 8: 33 2. Touched two blind men’s eyes – Matthew 9: 29 Why do you think Jesus used different ways to heal?
Two miracles in one… When a person born blind is given his or her sight it does not mean they can immediately see. They have the hardware but the brain can not make sense of the images. It requires software also. This comes slowly through time as babies mature. Jesus not only gave new eyes, He gave the brain the power of recognition.
Scene 3 – The general public’s reaction to the miracle 8 -12 • At first, the general reaction to the identity of the healed blind man was mixed. Some thought he was the blind man who was healed; others thought he just looked like the blind man. As the story unfolds his true identity is confirmed as the blind man who now can see. • The healed blind man confirms his true identity and accurately relays the details of his encounter with Jesus and how the healing took place.
Let’s meet the blind man… Many people who beg in America can work but choose not to work, or can’t work but don’t take advantage of the government’s help. Regardless, a blind poor person in first century Palestine had only two options, beg or die.
Personality profile of the blind man… 1. A life of struggle and dependence on others shaped his life 2. He was not in fear of losing social status, wealth, or privilege. He had never known these things. 3. He wouldn’t be intimidated 4. He was blunt 5. He was honest 6. He was real
If you had to find one verse to summarize the healed blind man’s attitude of life, it is… Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10: 28
Scene 4 – The Sabbath problem with the miracle 13 -17 There are two major theological errors in this passage which our Lord confronts. The first was the lie that all pain and suffering was a result of someone’s direct sin (vs: 3). The second error was the Jewish codification of the Sabbath. That is, taking a simplistic rest from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and rewriting the code to include prohibitions of every unimaginable kind.
The Sabbath Law… "For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20: 11 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. ' Exodus 31: 14 -16
Jesus addresses more stinkin thinking… Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? " -- so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? "How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. " Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. Matthew 12: 9 -14
Jesus’ Sabbath violations • • Plowing Kneading Anointing Healing
Scene 5 – The Pharisee’s attempt to discredit the miracle 18 -23 What the religious leaders held over the heads of the followers of Christ: “ …for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put of the synagogue. ” 22 b This meant excommunication, not only from the religious life but from the common life of Israel too. At the time of this incident there were three categories: a minor ban, a thirty day ban, and a life time ban.
Scene 6 – The Pharisee’s attempt at a false confession 24 -34 • Vs: 24 – “Give glory to God” is akin to putting the healed blind man under oath. It was used in cross examination and meant, “Tell the truth, because God is watching. ” • Vs: 25 – The healed blind man refuses to play the Pharisee’s silly little game. He is a defense attorney’s dream witness – stick to the bare facts and not be manipulated. His message is simple: “Once I was blind, but now I see – you do the math. ”
• Vs: 30 – The healed blind man in essence is saying, “As disciples of Moses, and leaders and protectors of religious truth for Israel, you don’t know anything. You are suppose to tell me how Jesus healed me, not I tell you. ”
The healed blind man’s theology… • Vs: 31 – God answers the prayers of those who fear and obey Him • Vs: 32 – My new sight is a gigantic miracle of an answered prayer. • Vs: 33 – Jesus must be of God or He could have not done this miracle. Conclusion: You Pharisees are in opposition to God and someone Whom He approves and is working through.
Scene 7 – The healed blind man receives Christ 35 -41 The blind man was ripe for a conversion experience: • He was broken • He had experience God • He was teachable
Steps to the healed blind man’s conversion… 1. Jesus sought him out – vs: 35 a 2. Invitation to trust the Savior – vs: 35 b 3. Spiritual help by another – vs: 36 -37 4. Confession and belief – vs: 38 a 5. Worship Christ as God – vs: 38 b
The purpose of this incident: 1. Corrects theological error regarding suffering 2. Corrects theological error regarding the Sabbath 3. To show the Christ’s Messianic credentials 4. To heal and show compassion to the blind man 5. To save the blind man 6. To expose the false teaching of the Pharisees 7. To teach future generations spiritual truth
Applications: 1. Ask God for the boldness of this healed blind man 2. Understand the danger of adding to the Bible 3. Your testimony is your testimony, use it. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar. You message is simple, “Once I was blind and now I see. ” 4. Are there spiritual truths in my life that I am blind to?
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