JESUS Opens Our Eyes - John 9:1-41 - March 11, 2007

Sunday school Lesson – JESUS opens Our Eyes - March 11, 2007

This is lesson two (2) in our series, “What Does Jesus Do for Us?”

Our scripture is John 9:1-41.

The “I AM’S” of John:

John 6:35 - I AM the bread of life.
John 8:12 - I AM the light of the world.
John 10:9 - I AM the door.
John 10:11 - I AM the good shepherd.
John 11:25 - I AM the resurrection and the life.
John 14:6 - I AM the way, the truth and the life.
John 15:1 - I AM true vine.
John 15:5 - I AM the vine.

In the Book of Exodus, GOD refers to Himself as “I AM.”

Exodus 3:14:

14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[6] Or I AM BECAUSE I AM, or I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

In the Book of John we see JESUS referring to Himself as “I AM.”

JESUS says, “I AM the light of the world.” Light reveals flaws. Light gives a contrast to the dark. Light dispels imaginations resulting from the dark. Light reveals truth once hidden by the dark. Spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. We are all spiritually blind and seek to know the truth. Finding the truth requires a step of faith. When we seek to know the truth, we step from darkness into the light as only CHRIST can reveal. Then we see. But although we see, some of us do not see all there is to see in the beginning. It is a journey of revelation as we seek to know our SAVIOR and LORD JESUS CHRIST.

JESUS opens the eyes of those physically and spiritually blind. When JESUS healed the blind HE did so in a variety of ways. Our journey as a Christian also begins in a variety of ways.

Touch – Matthew 9:29-30:

29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith!” 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out!”[15] Lit no one knows

Two (2) Touches – Mark 8:22-25:

22 Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people—they look to me like trees walking.” 25 Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly.
Spoke – Mark 10:51-52:

51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Rabbouni,”[14] Hb for my teacher; Jn 20:16 the blind man told Him, “I want to see!” 52 “Go your way,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.

Spit and made mud and instructed to wash – John 9: 6-7: (Our lesson this Sunday)

6 After He said these things He spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” He told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.

We must keep in mind that JESUS did and said only as the FATHER instructed HIM. JESUS had to be obedient to the FATHER both for HIM to be sinless and for the power of GOD to be manifested through HIM.

I put myself in the place of JESUS. It is easy to touch someone or speak and their eyes are healed. But when the FATHER said to spit on the person’s eyes or spit in the dirt, make mud and rub the mud on their eyes? I would likely question such action. This is why when we serve our LORD, we must have complete confidence and trust in JESUS and the FATHER to do exactly as we are instructed. This requires a loving intimate relationship with THEM to respond in complete obedience.

Let’s read John 9: 1-41 with on-going comments:

1 As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples questioned Him: “• Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

JESUS sees a man blind from birth. It is important that the man is blind from birth because no one has ever been healed who was blind from birth. JESUS sees this as a teaching opportunity for HIS disciples and a variety of other people.

JESUS’ disciples immediately associate the man’s blindness with sin. It was common in those days to associate sin with a disease, deformity or calamity. GOD is punishing someone.

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “[This came about]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 4 We[1] Other mss read I must do the works of Him who sent Me[2] Other mss read sent us while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

JESUS makes it clear that sin is not the problem but GOD can use this situation to reveal HIS power through JESUS. The power of GOD is manifested through JESUS.

We as Christians are servants of the LORD and GOD uses us to manifest HIS power to others. We live in an imperfect world and GOD through HIS grace provides for all humans.

Because we live in an imperfect world there are many fellow humans who have many infirmities. I believe GOD gifts mankind to minister to the needs and comfort of others. This could be through gifts HE gives to others such as care givers, physicians, surgeons, researchers, therapists, those who discover medicines, treatments, etc. or though HIS own divine touch. Through these gifts HE manifests Himself to draw all mankind closer to HIM and to reveal Himself and HIS handiwork.

JESUS is the light of the world and HE continues to be the light through every Christian and through HIS handiwork.

6 After He said these things He spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” He told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.

JESUS spits on the ground and makes mud from HIS saliva. This was not a strange thing in that day. Some thought the saliva of a prophet had healing power. Why does GOD instruct JESUS to spit on the ground, make mud, spread it on the man’s eyes and then go wash it off? Of course, I do not know for sure but here are some thoughts. JESUS Himself had to be obedient to the FATHER. The disciples raised the question about who sinned. This was a teaching lesson for the disciples and the other people. The disciples, the other people and the man to be healed are all on a spiritual journey. The blind man had to be obedient to what JESUS had instructed him.

Keep in mind that GOD made man from the ground. So using dirt mixed with spit in the hands of GOD results in a miracle. Did GOD want all the people involved to make the connection with the Genesis scripture when GOD made man? Did GOD want them to see the connection of GOD and JESUS through this miracle? Why was the blind man instructed to go wash in the pool of Siloam? Did GOD want the people to connect HIS SON JESUS with the living water that gives life to all who drink of it? GOD could have healed the blind man instantly without the spittle, mud, going to the pool or washing in the pool. GOD had a plan to lead others to seek JESUS. Just as the events were a process of obedience, so is the process an attempt for GOD to open the spiritual eyes of the religious leaders and all the people involved.

The blind man is obedient to JESUS and he receives his sight. The fact the blind man is obedient is a step of faith. He goes, washes and returns with his sight.

8 His neighbors and those who formerly had seen him as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the man who sat begging?” 9 Some said, “He’s the one.” “No,” others were saying, “but he looks like him.” He kept saying, “I’m the one!” 10 Therefore they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.” 12 “Where is He?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he said.

So a number of people see that the former blind man from birth has received his sight. It is hard for them to believe it. They want to know what happened. So the man tells them exactly what happened. It was “The man called JESUS.” “Where is HE?” “I don’t know.” JESUS is not around. Why? Let’s see. (The people need to process the facts even more and discover that GOD is truly in our midst. If JESUS had been there their efforts would have shifted to JESUS and not proving that the man was blind from birth and has been healed by GOD through JESUS.)

The Healed Man’s Testimony
13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the • Pharisees. 14 The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 15 So again the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” he told them. “I washed and I can see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He doesn’t keep the Sabbath!” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.

JESUS is in trouble with the religious leaders because HE has worked on the Sabbath by making mud using HIS spit. WOW!!! This is serious because anyone who would work on the Sabbath by healing a man’s blindness cannot be a man of GOD. Can HE? HE must be a sinner. However, some see it differently. Some say, HE must be a man from GOD because HE healed the man who has been blind from birth. So they question the man further to settle this question.

17 Again they asked the blind man,[3] = the man who had been blind “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” “He’s a prophet,” he said.

I said earlier that the blind man and the people are on a spiritual journey. This is the beginning of his journey. He first sees JESUS as a prophet and he makes the connection of JESUS being a prophet for the people. Remember it was thought that the spittle of prophets had healing power. The Pharisees find the man’s story hard to believe, so they will check into it further. GOD has directed the events to get the religious leaders, the Pharisees, to explore this miracle. JESUS could have just healed the man’s eyes but HE was obedient to the FATHER. The FATHER has a plan for the man, the religious leaders, the man’s neighbors, friends and the curious. In an effort to open the eyes of the various people from spiritual blindness, GOD allowed this healing to be more visible. So the religious leaders investigate the matter further.

18 The Jews did not believe this about him—that he was blind and received sight—until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, [the one]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. 21 “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as • Messiah, he would be banned from the • synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.”

The Pharisees want so much to disprove this miracle. They put he pressure on the Man’s parents. The man’s parents are afraid the religious leaders will ban them from the synagogue. They do not want to lie and they do not want to be in trouble with the religious leaders, so they say check with our son. He is of age.

Being of age meant he was at least 13 years old or older. So they go to the man a second time.

Can you see the noose getting tighter around the Pharisees neck as they try to disprove the miracle? They are proving the miracles more and more and condemning themselves at the same time. They had already considered HIM as Messiah. They knew the scripture like the back of their hand. The Book of Isaiah refers to the coming of the Messiah and what HE will do.

Isaiah 35:5:

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

They have already said that JESUS is not the Messiah therefore they must discredit the miracle. After all if HE truly healed the man blind since birth, HE must be the promised Messiah. But this cannot be true because the religious leaders have already made up their minds.

24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God.[4] Give glory to God was a solemn charge to tell the truth; Jos 7:19. We know that this man is a sinner!” 25 He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”

As a young Christian the blind man simply testifies to what has happened to him. He does not know scripture but he knows what JESUS did for him. Often we say we cannot witness to others. Your testimony is the most powerful witness you can make as a Christian. People can argue the Bible with you but they cannot argue your testimony because it is your personal testimony. We all were blind at one time and we encountered JESUS. When we encounter JESUS we have to make a decision. We either choose HIM as our SAVIOR or we reject HIM. When we are obedient and accept HIM our spiritual eyes are opened and we can see HIM through our spiritual eyes. Ephesians 1:18-19: 18 [I pray]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

26 Then they asked him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become His disciples too, do you?” 28 They ridiculed him: “You’re that man’s disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But this man—we don’t know where He’s from!”

The religious leaders question the blind man hard. He holds his ground because he knows that he was blind but now he sees. No one will take that away from him. The same is true when we accept JESUS as our personal SAVIOR. When we take that step of faith we know that a change has happened in our lives and we belong to GOD through CHRIST.

The former blind man is bold and chides them about them wanting to be a disciple of JESUS. We see the pride that comes out from the religious leaders. In essence they are saying we already know all there is to know about serving GOD and we are the disciples of Moses. They knew GOD spoke to Moses. They had preacher religion. They worshipped Moses and not GOD.

30 “This is an amazing thing,” the man told them. “You don’t know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Throughout history[5] Lit From the age no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything.” 34 “You were born entirely in sin,” they replied, “and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.[6] = they banned him from the synagogue; v. 22
WOW!!!! The former blind man preached a powerful message to the religious leaders. He uses the terms “God-fearing” and “man from GOD” which again shows that the person who healed him is being revealed to him further. The religious leaders are insulted. But the young convert presented them with an inspiring message which they refused. But they hear “God-fearing” and “man from God.” They throw him out of the synagogue. The religious leaders have made their decision about JESUS. However, the former blind man’s spiritual journey continues.
The Blind Man’s Sight and the Pharisees’ Blindness
35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, “Do you believe in the • Son of Man?”[7] Other mss read the Son of God 36 “Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” he asked. 37 Jesus answered, “You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you.” 38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped Him. 39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” 41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin.[8] To have sin is an idiom that refers to guilt caused by sin. But now that you say, ‘We see’—your sin remains.

JESUS is absent from all this but HE hears that the religious leaders have thrown the former blind man out. JESUS seeks the man and finds him. JESUS is always seeking a relationship with HIS children.

We see by the question JESUS asks the former blind man, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Son of Man” is a term used to embody all hat JESUS is both human and divine. The man responds with a polite and respectful term “Sir.” Who is HE, Sir? The former blind man is still on his spiritual journey. JESUS reveals Himself more clearly to the man and he believes.

This is the final step in the man’s spiritual journey. He sees JESUS as the SON OF GOD and worships HIM.

JESUS then reveals HIS purpose is to bring spiritual light to all who are spiritually blind. Some will see HIM as the SON OF GOD but others will become more hardened to their way of thinking and reject HIM.

When we, as humans, say we have it all figured out and we reject JESUS, we have condemned our selves and we stay spiritually blind. When we place our trust and faith in JESUS, then our blind spiritual eyes are opened and we see clearly that JESUS is the ONLY SON OF GOD. HE IS OUR SAVIOR and LORD.

Our journey begins with a simple step of faith. This step of faith places us on the spiritual path to get to know JESUS more and more as we walk with HIM and as we build an intimate loving relationship with HIM. The closer our relationship, the more we trust HIM and are willing to respond to HIM in obedience.

I think this last scripture is most revealing. JESUS says if they were truly spiritually blind then they would not be in sin. I think this gives us some insight why children who are conceived and die before being born or die before making a profession of faith will be in heaven. Those who knowingly reject JESUS are accountable and condemn themselves.

JESUS is the light of the world. Is HE your light? If not ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to open your spiritual eyes right now.