John 9: The Miracle of Seeing

                Jesus passed by a man who was blind from birth, the Apostles assuming that this ailment was brought on by sin, they ask Jesus; “…Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents…” (John 9:2-3)

Jesus explained that the works of God would be made manifest in him, and Jesus reached down and spat into the ground and mixed it up with His finger to make clay. Jesus then applied the clay to the man’s eyes, by way of anointment, and commanded the man; “…Go, wash in the pool of Siloam…” (John 9:7) and the man went and came seeing! The scribes and Pharisees immediately questioned the man as to his miracle and wondered where Jesus was. They gathered together and exclaimed; “…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 division among them.” (John 9:16)

The Jews go and question the blind man again, and some decide that he might be lying. So they call his parents and ask them if he was born blind. His parents answered in a comical way; “…We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.” (John 9:20-21)

So the Jews gather the man in for questioning again and he answers in a very simple way; “…Whether he [Jesus] be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25) The Jews argue with the man and ask him how it was done that he could see. The man tells them that he had already explained once how Jesus did it, and yet they kept asking. He accuses them of not listening and for chastising the Lord, when they knew not God. He explains; “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:33) The Jews were angered and cast the man from their presence, saying; “…Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?” (John 9:34)  Why did they cast him out and tell him he was a sinner? It is simple; they themselves were sinners and couldn’t admit the truth he was speaking.

When Jesus heard that he was cast out he goes to comfort the man and ask him if he believed in the Son of God. The man ask who the Son of God was, and when Jesus tells him that it is Him, he worships Him. Jesus explains; “…For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” (John 9:39)