Those Who See Him

John 9:1-12

According to the previous chapter Jesus had declared that He was eternal; “Before Abraham was I am” (8:58). The Jews had accused Jesus of being a Samaritan, and of being possessed of a demon. They were blind to His true identity.

It is not by accident of coincidence that John takes us to this healing of the man born blind. He was born physically blind, but the blindness of the Jewish leaders was due to hardness of heart.

In choosing the man born blind Jesus was saying several things. He was showing the condition of all who are born of woman – all are born spiritually blind and needy. The condition of all, whether admitted or not, is one of darkness, and hopelessness. We are blind beggar who need to depend on someone to help us. We have been that way from birth.

There is a difference in one born blind and one who goes blind later in life. Sometimes, if one goes blind because of an accident there is a possibility of sight being restored; and if sight is lost due to health reasons there is a hope of restoration. In the case of the man born blind there was no accident or sickness, and no hope of ever seeing. He had never see the light of the sun, the stars, moon, or planets in the heavens; he had never seen the beautiful birds that fly and soar through the air; he had never see the gree grass in fertile valleys, nor the white snowcapped mountain peaks. He had never see the hands that fed him as a babe, nor looked into that face of his mother and father who loved him. What pain, loneliness, and darkness must have been his – at least that is what those of us who have physical eyes to see think of this. We really do not know how that would feel. He knew nothing else. Yet he had need. He may not have realized that there was hope, until Jesus gave him that special attention.

Oh, for the special attention of Jesus. He gives it to all who look to Him, and His finished work of the cross. However, His power has no efficacious [effectual] power for those who refuse Him. He opens the eyes of those who are blind, and blinds the eyes of those who claim that they see, but do not see. Those cannot see Jesus in truth are blinded by their own self-righteousness.

I. JESUS NOTICES AND HAS COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO ARE NEEDY (v. 1).

A. He has just passed through a crowd who hated Him, despised Him, accused Him of being demon possessed;

1. They were going to stone Him, “but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (8:59).
2. This certainly makes note of their blindness.

B. He notices the need of the man born blind.

II. THIS IS FOR THE REVELATION OF THE GLORY AND POWER OF THE SON OF GOD (vv. 2-5).

A. We need to realize that all sickness is due to the fall of mankind from the garden of Eden.
B. Though we are born into sin, not all sickness, disease, sorrow, or trouble is due to personal sin.
C. There are some sicknesses, diseases, blindness that is for a purpose, and that purpose is to reveal the glory and power of God.

1. We see Jesus reveal Himself as the Light of the world.
2. The darkness of blindness must flee when the Light Himself is present, and recognized in a person’s life.

III. WITH HANDS OF CLAY, JESUS TAKES THE CLAY, AND CREATES NEW EYES, AND SENDS THE MAN TO WASH (vv. 6-7).

A. There are two reasons for our Lord’s use of clay.

1. As a picture of His incarnation.

a. As the first Adam was made from the dust [clay];
b. The second Adam [Jesus] is in the likeness of, yet without sin.

2. As an irritation to encourage the faith of the man born blind so he would seek irrigation – Warren Wiersbe writes, “The Holy Spirit irritates bringing lost sinners under judgment.”

B. Could there be a picture, a type, of salvation and baptism here?

1. The eyes being irrigated by the truth of our humanity aggravated/activated by the Holy Spirit, driving us to the baptismal waters for the answer of a good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21).
2. Think of the Ethiopian eunuch who immediately following His believing asked to be baptized (Acts 8:36-38).

C. The man born blind, with clay on his face, obeys the Savior, goes to the pool, meaning “Sent”, and sees.

IV. THE MAN, NOW SEEING, IS OBVIOUSLY LIVING A DIFFERENT LIFE (vv. 8-12).

A. The neighbors notice that he is different.
B. Others say it is him.
C. He testifies that he that same man who had been blind.
D. He testifies that it was Jesus who opened his eyes, and now he can see.
E. This man can now live and serve others; he can be a blessing on society; he can do for himself and for others.

SUMMARY-

i. We can know that Jesus cares for us and for all who are in need.
ii. All things that Jesus does, and all things that are in our lives, or happening in our lives can be for the power and glory of Jesus Christ.
iii. Jesus can with those hands of clay,  put them on blind eyes and cause them to see.
iv. When Jesus touches a life, that life is forever changed to become more like the image of Christ.

-Tim A. Blankenship