¹Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

²And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

The Believer’s Study Bible

John 9

John 9:2

9:2 The Bible reveals that there are several purposes/reasons for suffering. The Scriptures trace various sufferings from moral causes. Death, for instance, is the result of Adam’s sin (Rom 5:12-21), which affects the entire race. The sins of parents are sometimes the cause of suffering in children (Ex 20:5; 34:7; Num 14:18). Then also, one’s personal sins may be the cause (Deut 28:15-68; Jer 31:30). Among the Jews it became misguided tradition to trace suffering to some particular sin. The concept of prenatal sin, the idea that an unborn fetus could commit some act of sin, is apparently one misconception in the minds of the disciples.

John 9:3

9:3 Jesus’ reply negates the disciples’ assumption and assigns the condition of the blind man to the purpose of God. By it, God can be glorified. It is a blessed comfort to be aware of this important fact when we, and those about us, suffer. (cf. Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 2:21).

John 9:3 (NKJV)

³Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

John 9:4 (NKJV)

⁴I^£ must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

John 9:5 (NKJV)

⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:6 (NKJV)

⁶When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

John 9:7 (NKJV)

⁷And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:8 (NKJV)

⁸Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was ^£blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”

John 9:9 (NKJV)

⁹Some said, “This is he.” Others said, ^£“He is like him.”

He said, “I am he.”

John 9:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

M The powerful influence of your friends negativity toward what God is doing in your life can literally turn you away from the Lord’s miraculous touch.

M Unspiritual people delight in dragging others down to their level of defeat and spiritual poverty.

M Their response to your joy is controlled by their skepticism, doubt and unbelief.

M Even in your presence they will use language designed to squash your joy by deliberately speaking in derisive tones.

John 9:11 (NKJV)

¹¹He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to ^£the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”

M The best answer to give a skeptic is a direct, descriptive response which faithfully details what the Lord has done for you.

M The reality of the miracle (whatever it is) is more powerful than any argumentative defense you can create. Tell the story as it is - no need to embellish it with any argument. (I went, I washed, I see!!)

John 9:12 (NKJV)

¹²Then they said to him, “Where is He?”

He said, “I do not know.”

John 9:13 (NKJV)

¹³They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees.

John 9:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

John 9:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

John 9:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”

Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

M Spiritually dead religious leaders will never see the miracle (though it stares them in the face) nor will they believe in the miracle, for they cannot recognize the true works of God due to their spiritual blindness.

M Pastors, denominational leaders, local church leaders - anyone who is in a place of spiritual leadership - must be able to recognize God’s Hand in someone’s life so they can encourage that person.

M In reality, there should be no schism (division) among spiritual people about the works of the Lord. In fact, spiritual people will recognize the Lord’s hand and immediately celebrate His miraculous touch upon another persons life.

John 9:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

John 9:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight.

John 9:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

John 9:20 (NKJV)

²⁰His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

John 9:21 (NKJV)

²¹but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.”

John 9:22 (NKJV)

²²His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

John 9:23 (NKJV)

²³Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

M Our family ought to be our strongest support base in life. All of us want to be able to trust our family to stand with us in the challenges we face. That’s the perfect scenario but sadly it’s not true for many people.

M Especially when it comes to spiritual matters. If you are part of a family which is committed to Jesus and which faithfully follows His Word - you are indeed blessed beyond measure.

M Many Christian have no spiritual support from their family and are left to answer the critics on their own - like the man in this story. Even if the family can see the difference in your life, they yet remain uncommitted to your defense.

M But, don’t be discouraged …. because the power of the miracle in your life is greater than the non-support of the family. The reality (truth) of what God has done in your life sustains you. Remember - the miracle has been done to you. Don’t expect others to rejoice as you do. (YOU were blind - YOU now see.)

John 9:24 (NKJV)

²⁴So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”

John 9:25 (NKJV)

²⁵He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

John 9:26 (NKJV)

²⁶Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

John 9:27 (NKJV)

²⁷He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

John 9:28 (NKJV)

²⁸Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.

John 9:29 (NKJV)

²⁹We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

John 9:30 (NKJV)

³⁰The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!

John 9:31 (NKJV)

³¹Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.

John 9:32 (NKJV)

³²Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.

John 9:33 (NKJV)

³³If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

John 9:34 (NKJV)

³⁴They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.

M Don’t be ashamed to declare what Jesus has done for you. Your testimony is your most powerful weapon against the tyranny of unbelief.

M Stand firm in your testimony. The skeptic may remain a skeptic; the unbeliever may remain an unbeliever; the spiritually dead may remain dead and your family may remain un-supportive. NONE OF THEM CHANGE THE MIRACLE. I WAS BLIND AND I NOW SEE!!

John 9:35 (NKJV)

³⁵Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of ^£God?”

John 9:36 (NKJV)

³⁶He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

John 9:37 (NKJV)

³⁷And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”

John 9:38 (NKJV)

³⁸Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

M The revelation of Jesus in your life will change you forever. This man did not know who Jesus was at the time of the miracle, but upon learning who He was he immediately surrendered his life to Jesus.

M 2000 years later, we know more about Jesus, than the blind man knew. But, many yet remain in blindness because of their refusal to follow Him.

M Jesus is an enigma to many who call themselves Christian. They don’t fully know who He is or what He is able to do. They follow Him in name only and know nothing of His miraculous power to truly change their life and fill them with great joy.

M Our generation watches in stunned disbelief as the name of Jesus is besmirched, his Divinity denied, His Word mocked and His death, burial and resurrection ridiculed.

M But, like the blind man who received his sight at the hand of Jesus, we tell the story and the accountability is on the hearer.

M We can’t make anyone believe - BUT WE CAN BELIEVE!!