John Chapter 9

Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies

Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net

Introduction: Last week we saw Jesus attempting to reach the Jews with the truth concerning His relationship with the Heavenly Father. He told them that if they were truly of their father Abraham, that they would do his works. And they marveled when Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus come, and thought He was lying when Jesus said “Before Abraham, I am.” It was true, because Jesus was God manifested in the flesh.

Overview of John 9: John 9, in its entirety, deals with Jesus’ giving sight to a blind man and the ensuing debate with the Pharisee which took place afterward.

I. The Blind Man Healed

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Upon leaving the Temple and the uproar among its leadership, Jesus “passed by” a man blind from birth. His disciples wanted to know whose sin was responsible for the man’s blindness: he or his parents. As implied in John 5 and the healing of the impotent man at Bethesda, sin may indeed be the cause of physical impairment. It was routinely assumed by the Jews that disease was the result of sin.

Though this often may be true, Jesus here made it clear this was not the case for this man. In fact, their logic is inane in assuming that the man prior to birth could have sinned thus causing his blindness.

Matthew Henry said this about the Lord being the light of the world.

The compassions of our Lord Jesus towards him were very tender. He saw him; that is, he took cognizance of his case, and looked upon him with concern. When God is about to work deliverance, he is said to see the affliction; so Christ saw this poor man. Others saw him, but not as he did. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him, and anticipated both his prayers and expectations with a surprising cure. Christ is often found of those that seek him not, nor see him, Isa_65:1. And, if we know or apprehend any thing of Christ, it is because we were first known of him (Gal_4:9) and apprehended by him, Phi_3:12.

We see that the man which was near Jesus was blind from his birth. How horrible that a person could never see the wonders and beauty to God’s creations. But even if in this life we have our eyesight and yet never come to know Jesus as Savior, we are spiritually blind which is far worse. If a person never had eyesight in this life and still knew Jesus as Savior, the day will come when those eyes will be able to see when we receive our glorified bodies from the Lord.

Man is born with a sinful nature and is blinded to his sin.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Today, the Jews eyes are blinded to the truth that Jesus was the Messiah who came to earth almost 2000 years ago.

2 Cor 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.

Who is responsible for blinding people’s eyes to the truth? It is the ultimate deceiver, Satan himself.

2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Jesus explained that God allowed this man’s blindness “that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” This man’s blindness had been permitted by God in order that Jesus might heal him, thus glorifying Him.

Jesus clearly teaches that this man was not born blind due to his sin or his parent’s sin. It was done truly for the Glory of God. When we face trials, it may seem hard at the time, but God may be using the trial to bring a more excellent thing into our lives. We grow the most when we are under the test. Jesus warns that He was to be about the Father’s work because the night was coming when no man can work. If Jesus could see the urgency of the day back then, how much greater should our eyes be opened to the task at hand. Truly, the fields are all white ready for the harvest.

Jesus, in knowing His ministry would not continue much longer (approximately 6 months), expressed a sense of urgency. Night was coming spiritually. In a day when artificial electric light was unknown, work had to be completed before darkness set in. Jesus therefore noted the urgency of the hour. The world (kosmos) was not Jesus’ home.

II. Jesus is the Light of the World

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus is ascribed as being light.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

While Jesus was in the world, He remained a light to the world. The light shined in the darkness, yet the darkness comprehended it not. The time was fast approaching when His light would be taken from the world physically

We live in a wicked world today. Each week I hear more and more that makes me glad that this world is not my home. Just like Abraham who lived as a pilgrim on earth passing through, our destination is heaven to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. And Jesus was always about doing the good works of God. Do people see God in our lives, or has Satan got us so busy with trivial matters that we don’t live for God. That should not happen. Just like Jesus, we should be busy doing the works of the Father.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

John 9:7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Jesus took steps to heal the blind man. It was a folk remedy of the Jews that saliva held curative powers for the eyes. However, it could never open blind eyes. Moreover, it was forbidden to be applied on the Sabbath. Jesus’ saliva likely held no therapeutic power. Rather, He evidently followed traditional custom in inaugurating His healing. The word translated as anointed (epicriw epichrio) literally implies he spread the clay thinly over his eyes. He then sent the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. This was a pool used for ceremonial cleansing.

The pool was actually the terminus of Hezekiah’s conduit which had been built centuries earlier to bring water into the city during times of war and siege. Again, the pool held no therapeutic power to heal. It was a means to wash the clay from the face of the blind man. (This is the same pool which Jesus so alluded to in Luke 13.)

Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

At one time there was a tower nearby which collapsed onto men seeking ceremonial cleansing, killing them. Upon washing, the man “came seeing.” The work of God was manifest!

We see Jesus doing a very unusual thing with the man. It says he spit on the ground and then made clay from the wet soil, and placed it on the blind man’s eyes. Would wet clay mixed with human saliva form a healing concoction today that could heal a child’s eyes who was blind from birth? No… it was not the method, it was the one who performed the miracle. The miracle of healing was due to the man exercising faith in Jesus Christ. It probably also speaks of how the simplest of things can be used to heal if God so chooses. It says that our old bodies come from the dust and then return to the earth from which we came.

Eccl 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

John 9:8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

John 9:9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

John 9:10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

John 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

The man's neighborhood began to buzz about what had happened and if he in fact was their neighbor. The blind man confirmed it was he. The people take notice that this man’s eyes have been opened. They say “Is this not he that sat and begged?” Blind people had no way of making a living in those days, and all they could do was sit and hope that someone would have compassion on him.

In the book “Exploring the Gospels – John” by John Phillips, he had these comments about the blind man receiving his sight.

“In verse 8-12 it say the man was heard. His voice was raised in testimony and praise of the one who had given him sight. We note what the multitudes said, a mixed reaction to the miracle. The second fact about the man: the man who was blind, was blind no more; the man who had begged, begged no more. A genuine work of grace always turns persons into useful members of society, as well as opens their eyes to divine truth. Still puzzling over the transformation, some people said :He is like him." :Others said “This is he” They demanded to know “How were your eyes opened? “ That is the wonderful thing about a miracle of grace. People want to know what happened.

A transformed life is a powerful testimony. The man said “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes…” They said “Where is he?” “I know not.” It is remarkable that this man is so ignorant of Jesus. He did not know who he was or where he was. It is instructive of the fact that we do not have to know much about Jesus in order to be saved. All this man knew was his name—Jesus, the one who saves. One does not have to be a theologian in order to experience salvation. One does not have to have thorough knowledge of who Jesus is . But we need to know his name and be willing to respond in faith.”

I would like to add that no one will ever come to Jesus without first being drawn by the Holy Spirit. If we are drawn by the Spirit, convicted of our sins, repent and accept Christ by faith, the Bible clearly teaches that we will be saved. In John Chapter 6, Jesus said that all that come to Him are given to Him by the Father.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

The people enquired how he was healed. The man where upon rehearsed what Jesus had instructed him, which he did as recorded in verse 11.

Continue Study by downloading PDF:

Follow