The Purpose of the Blind Man’s Malady.

This passage is in a great contrast to the coming chapters, especially chapter 10 when Jesus Christ presents Himself as the Good Shepherd. This is the last look at the religious unbelief that takes place during the Feast of the Tabernacles. Jesus is self-identifying as the light of the world, as we studied a few weeks ago. This passage helps us to be aware of gospel opportunities.

God plans good works for us to do in defined moments. He superintends all our moments. He has these on His calendar for you to do even if they are not on your calendar. These works are specifically designed for you to do. Looking through this lens, we can learn from this passage why God allows certain struggles and hardships to enter our lives.

Jesus Brings Judgment

Jesus is the Divine force of God upon man. In verse 39, Jesus makes it clear that He has come so that those who don’t see or understand will, and those who think they see will be made blind. Jesus’ words and works are undeserved gifts that we must do something with. God brings the opportunity to man to decide. We each need to do something with this opportunity.

Those who think they see are the righteous unbelievers. They are spiritually blind, and they confirm their own blindness when they make the statements throughout the passage. All that Jesus did was so they would, in time, receive spiritual sight.

The Awareness of Our Savior (John 9:1)

Jesus was going through the natural rhythms of His life, but He saw the blind man. The Father would have the Son find this particular soul.

His Authority (John 9:2-5)

There were many traditions in Jewish culture that said God would allow babies to incur physical dilemmas because they somehow sinned in the womb. But we know sin has come into the world by Adam's sin in the garden. In Exodus 20:5, God gives a declaration of mercy and patience to the second and third generations of unfaithful people. It is according to His chosen and sovereign will that there are physical illnesses and sometimes even death. God is very specific about the results of our actions.

If it wasn’t because of his own sin or his parents' sin, why was the man blind? Jesus gave a reason: "so that the works of God might be displayed through him," that he would come to believe, and that he would have life in His name.

Jesus says that we must do the works of God while it is day. He has the authority to do the works of the Father and the authority to ask you to do the same.

His Effects (John 9:6-12)

Even though the Lord works a miracle in one person’s life, there will be many more affected. Jesus directed the blind man to go and wash off the mud. It is a similar situation as in 2 Kings 5:1-14, where Elisha told Naaman to do the same.

Unsaved people can pray and do spiritual things because they are made in the image of God. They can be faithful people, while still being unsaved.

In verse 8, the people were debating if the healed man was the same as the blind man. Jesus’ work was full and complete and left no sign of the man’s blindness. In verse 10, everyone wanted to know how this happened. The blind man was now able to give witness of Jesus’ work and direct the praise to God. This situation affected many, both physically and emotionally.

Application Points

Jesus is the Light of the world. He came to do the will of the Father and urges us to do the works of God while it is day.

• Do you consider that today could be the day of salvation for someone that God puts in your path? Situations happen for a reason, so let’s make the best of them and do the works of God.
• Is what you are going through causing you to lose patience with God? Jesus is never immobile or inactive. He hasn’t forgotten you. If you feel stuck in your situation, know that Jesus is using that to open up your eyes to who He is and how He is working in you and to affect others around you.
• Just because someone does spiritual things, it does not mean they are saved. They may be watching your spiritual routines and think not much of it. But it is your witness of God’s mercy and love and the works of God in your life that will bring others to salvation.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore:

• Matthew 5
• Romans 2 - Why God blesses and allows wants
• Exodus 20:5
• 1 Corinthians 5, 9, and 11
• 1 Peter 4:19

Quotes to Ponder:

D.A. Carson quotes Boltman: “In order to be grace, it must uncover sin. He who resists this binds himself to his sin; and so through the revelation, sin for the first time becomes definitive.”