“A Journey with John” Day 17: A blind man and blind men (John 9)

Last time, our guide took us to see an interesting event where the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery, before Jesus, asking Him what punishment she should have. It seems that they were setting a trap for Jesus. If He says to not stone her, then they can accuse Him of breaking the Law of Moses. We watched with amazement as the wisdom Who created all things, gave one simple instruction: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” The woman’s accusers scattered, and Jesus sent her off, telling her to leave her life of sin. Jesus then becomes embroiled in yet another argument with the religious leaders as to the source of His authority.

Before checking out today’s itinerary, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:

>A wayward woman, caught in the very act of adultery

Now, let’s set out for today’s adventure with our guide:

When Jesus and the disciples leave the scene of the religious leaders trying to again stone Him, they pass by a man who was born blind. The disciples ask Jesus as to who had sinned, causing this blindness. Jesus says that it wasn’t because of anyone’s sin, but so that the works of God could be revealed through the blind man. Jesus then makes paste with His saliva and some clay and places it on the blind man’s eyes. He then instructs him to go wash himself in the pool of Siloam. Having done so, the blind man can now see! This miracle sets people at odds as to whether this man had actually been blind or not. When the Pharisees catch wind of this, they bring the blind man in, demanding as to how he had been healed. Oh, did I mention, this is on the Sabbath? The blind man tells them exactly what happened, but they seem dissatisfied with the answer. They, too, question whether or not he had actually been born blind, dragging his parents in to ask whether he was born blind or not, and if so, how he was made to see. The blind man’s parents—fearing being cast out of the synagogue—defer to their son to answer, as he is of age. At this, they call back the formerly blind man, asking again how he was healed. The healed man sticks with his story, because it is true. Additionally, the blind man gets “smart” with the religious leaders who then accuse him of being born in sin and throw him out. Jesus—hearing that he has been thrown out—looks him up and actually reveals who He is to the blind man. Jesus then makes a very interesting comment about the fact that He came into the world so that those who were blind could now see, and that those who could see, would be made blind.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When 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. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then 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.” Therefore 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. But 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. His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but 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.” So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He 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.” The 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! They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. Jesus 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?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.””

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭5‬-‭9‬, ‭13‬-‭16‬, ‭18‬, ‭20‬-‭21‬, ‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭30‬, ‭34‬-‭37‬, ‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

What does Jesus mean by saying: “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

Next time, our guide will take us to hear Jesus talk about a Shepherd and His sheep.