Seven Signs: Born Blind – Now See

(Reflections on the sign of Jesus walking on the water in the storm found in John 9:1-41. This is part of the Seven Signs series, click here to catch up on other parts in the series.)

It is natural for people to have their favourites. When it comes to exploring scripture some students take the approach that the scripture they’re currently studying is their favourite. I can sympathise with that perspective. There are, however, for me some big episodes in scripture that are my favourites. Two of those episodes, at least, take place in the gospel account by John. This episode is one of those favourites.

Every time I read it I get excited and challenged by it from start to finish. That is no less the case when it comes to preparing reflections for this sign. As a large episode of the seven signs that Jesus exercised, it’s worth taking time to go through it section by section.

Seeing an Opportunity with the Blind (vs 1-5)

There is something about the approach of the disciples that should relate to. Here they are seeing this man and they know his blindness was something he was born with. That’s a miserable state for someone in the community. You’re not going to amount to much. You’ll always be a the mercy of anyone who can give you whatever you can get to survive. That level of misfortune understandably leads observers to query what is causing that.

Underneath that is something about finding a reason and then nodding our heads with that knowledge and at least an understanding that says at least we know who is to blame. Knowing why he turned that way does not change anything about the circumstance. Jesus’ response, turns things on their head by not referring to the simple options He’s given.

“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:3-6 (ESV)

Notice the direction Jesus brings the conversation. He takes the finger from the man or his parents and points it to God. He doesn’t point it to God in accusation, He points it in celebration not for what has happened but for what is about to happen. From God, Jesus points to the disciples and Himself. The issue is not what happens to others, the issue is about what is the opportunity God expects us to do.

Jesus isn’t even pointing to His disciples expecting them to do something there and then. He refers back to knowing what He is called to do and how He will do that for the glory of the Father. It’s particularly pressing for His disciples because of changing times. That is why as long as He’s there, He will be about doing what God calls Him to do in the setting. The heart of this is about the word “sent”. That will play a big part in what Jesus does and in what those He sends will do. They will do because it is what they have been sent to do.

Action and Reaction (vs 6-12)

Speaking of sent, Jesus goes straight to work. His methods are somewhat unconventional, for sure. He spits on the ground and makes mud. He applies the mud to the eye. As far as the man born blind is concerned all he experiences is the application of the mud to the eyes. He doesn’t know where the mud has come from or even how it was made at that time. What he does know is that he is blind – and he really only knows that because others have told him that, after all that’s how he’s always been, he knows no different. As well as that, this man knows that some guy has applied something to his eyes.

Something remarkable worth celebrating as well is the obedience of this man. He was told what to do and he did it. You might think that it’s simple and straightforward, but he could have thought it was weird for a guy to slap on some mud on his eyes and send him to a specific pool to wash it off. He could have just sought out the nearest place to get rid of the mud. Yet he is obedient to the instruction. We don’t know if that obedience is done out of desperate faith or with a sense of having nothing to lose. All we know is that the word was given and the man obeyed and returned a different man to the one that was sent to dip in the Sent pool.

A great part is that the one who is sent goes on to send the man born blind to the pool that means sent. It’s brilliant. The sent One, sends one to the pool Sent in preparation to be one sent. Come on. Come on!!!! Think about it. Do you really think that Jesus was sent to you and impacts your life and you’re not sent? Do you honestly believe what Jesus does to life because He’s the one sent means that those who experience it are not themselves sent? Seriously? What are the implications? Jesus has stressed that while we have light it’s time to work because a time is coming when there’s work will not happen. Jesus is sent to work to get others to believe He really is the Son of God and in believing life can be experienced in its fullness. An impactful relationship with Him must at some level give us a degree to which we are sent – at least sent to share that with others.

When the formerly blind man returns it causes an opportunity for him to address all of those who speak about him. It’s intriguing seeing the reactions to his return. This guy looks familiar. This is the blind guy, right? Well, it looks like him, could be a twin brother or something, right? They needed clarity to believe what they were seeing! This man is sent with a testimony to share of the great change that’s come over him – even though he has never seen the man that did it.

Inquisition Part One: We Don’t Get Him (vs 13-17)

So far, so awesome. A man born blind has had a life-changing encounter with the one who was sent. It’s evoked a widespread reaction of awe and amazement. it’s all going so well until John informs us that all of this took place on the Sabbath. Making mud on the Sabbath is a work in itself and applying it to incur further work – that’s just not the done thing. You’d have thought Jesus would have respected that. It’s time for an inquisition of the formerly blind man by the guardians of the law – the Pharisees.

It’s fascinating seeing how the Pharisees cannot get a grip on who Jesus is. How could he do this on a day where He’s clearly breaking the law to do this? It doesn’t make sense. Only the formerly blind man has a clear insight into a person he has never seen before. It really is intriguing how we can refuse to accept what is glaringly obvious.

This highlights how conditioning can blind the self-righteous. It also gives hope for those who we see acting in total ignorance and await an encounter with God who can bring light to their dark situation. We don’t have to be sophisticated and highly educated types to know what has happened to us after an encounter with Jesus.

Meet the Parents (vs 18-23)

The extent that the Pharisees go to in protecting their framework of knowledge is truly remarkable. Their logic is as follows – breaking the Sabbath is something that sinners do. Sinners cannot be used by God to do great things. There is a great thing that took place allegedly and it’s done on a Sabbath. That does not compute. So perhaps the whole thing is a hoax. The claim has to be validated. Who better to give insight on the condition that the man’s parents?

It says something about how much we’d want to defend our worldview that we go to great lengths to justify the stance that was held. It also says something about the degree of influence they have that this formerly blind man’s parents will go as far as confirming the identity and condition of the man. They only do this and pass the buck back to the man to avoid the cultural and community fallout from being kicked out of the synagogue.

Think about the level of influence of the authority of knowledge in the day. Consider what it costs to be someone who no longer has access to the community religious hub because of the edict given about Jesus. The formerly blind man might be fine being emphatic as to what happened to him, it is sad that when it comes to it his parents are not so bold.

What would we do if we were in their place? Would our joy at the great miracle for our child be easily squashed at the thought of being kicked out of polite society because of the undeniable?

Inquisition Part Two: We Don’t Get You (vs 24-34)

The scene is like a water being boiled. The Pharisees have tried being pleasant in their gentle enquiries. Their state of being baffled only heightens when they hear what the former blind man has to say about himself. Their efforts to discredit this guy are thwarted and now they resort to getting this guy to essentially swear to God because this cannot be done by someone who has to be a sinner. Though they turn up the heat on this guy, he only rises to the challenge not just with exasperation, but a degree of cheek. It becomes personal. The Pharisees have to go from oaths to throwing insults. Those insults underline ther smug self-righteous view of themselves – we follow Moses, we got the kudos, we got the standing. This Jesus – we don’t even know where He comes from. Which highlights the ignorance of their position.

Even their insults, however, only go to set this man up to further unerline just how nonsensical their position is.

Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

John 9:32-33 (ESV)

Here is the key line that pulls apart all the huff and puff that these big bad wolves look to employ to blow down this man’s house built on a firm foundation. This former blind man is engaging in antagnistic relations with the Pharisees. The experience of his amazing healing has him preferring to side with the one who healed him than the religious authorities of the day.

Contrast the response of this man to what had happened with the man at the Bethesda Pool. That guy was ready to hand in Jesus to the authorities after the other healing on a Sabbath. This former blind man is ready to take a stand for Jesus.

That’s a stinging point for those who make a claim to believe in Jesus – will that belief embolden you when it comes to engaging with self-righteous and self-serving figures in significant positions of influence and authority?

Jesus with a sign to see (vs 35-41)

This encounter is emotionally moving to me. The former blind man has been kicked out of the institution, but Jesus is standing by ready to offer an invitation. This is an invitation to believe. Expereince who JEsus is and then respond to His invitation to believe. This man was keen to do that and his response is breathtaking. This man was ready to respond to that invitation. As he does that, Jesus shows a greater insight into His calling,

For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

John 9:39 (ESV)

Jesus confounded those who thought they could see. Jesus brought hope to those who were blind. That’s the opportunity He capitalised on in this episode. Those that looked on would get a great vision of who He is if they had the eyes to see it.

The sign in this episode exposes just as much about the situation of the world that it took place in as it did to address the issue in the world. This is an incredible episode to reflect and meditate on. It should shape a lot of what we know about Jesus, why He’s worth following and how that should influence how we en Itgage and approach others.

It does not take much for our focus to shift away from the wonder and beauty of Jesus. And with that shift can creep in systems and philosophies that no longer have the room for the work of God in Christ. These works, however, can be captured by those who obediently receive what’s been offered knowing that no matter what, when you have received the life-changng Word of God in Jesus Christ, that experience is irrefutable. That experience should give you a story to tell that points people to the unmistakeable nature and status of Jesus.

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Questions based on Jesus giving sight to a man born blind

• What does this episode tell you about Jesus?
• What do you think is the significance of the name of the pool that the blind man washed in?
• What do you learn from the former blind man’s engagement with the religious rulers?
• The former blind man took a view that got him kicked out of the synagogue. Is this a stance that could happen in religious circles together, if so why?
• Jesus said that for judgement He came to the world so the blind will see and those who see will be blind – is there any bearing on this for church today?
• How does this episode help you when it comes to opportunities to do the works of God who has sent you?
• How is Jesus revealed as the Son of God worth believing in?

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden