Christian Life

As we continue our Journey to the Cross, we stop long enough to study one of the great narratives of John’s Gospel in John 9.  We shall clearly refer to the whole chapter, but our focus is on what happens in the first twelve verses and then people’s reaction to the event.

• This is the only miracle in the gospels where the person afflicted has been so from birth.
  
• The Acts of the Apostles mention two – Acts 3:2 and 14:8.
  
• The blind man must have been well known to the disciples and may have been at his regular spot.

Jesus heals a man born blind and there can be few accounts of healing in the New Testament that are told as well as this – and with as much of the surrounding material:  that is the reactions of others, the perception of the blind man and so on.

This is a highly significant passage to be planned for an occasion when we welcome a new minister who is to have responsibility for Chaplaincy within the life of Wesley Mission – as it will give us insight into the growing perception of the Person of Jesus … and the compassion of Jesus towards a person in need!

It is as Jesus and the disciples are walking along the road through Jerusalem that they come across the blind man, and I want you to notice the disciples proceed to talk about him as if he wasn’t there!  This is a common mistake which occurs when people do not share a disability. 

I used to listen to a radio program which specifically focused on the needs of those who faced physical challenges – and it had the intriguing title, which conveyed a message all of its own: “Doesn’t he take sugar?” 

The disciples reflect an insensitive mindset to the one whose life is limited by blindness.

Their insensitivity is made worse as they had the audacity to speculate on the causes of his blindness.  Jesus refuses to enter into the debate about the causes of the man’s blindness.  As Frank Lyman put it, “Speculation about the cause is fruitless, especially when there is opportunity to make the situation better.  Jesus understands this man’s blindness to be an opportunity for healing and teaching.  Jesus introduces the theme of light coming into darkness.”

What happens in this incident is a metaphor for what is taking place in the ministry of Jesus for the whole world.

In one sense, we must not restrict our understanding of what is happening in terms of physical blindness, but in another equally important sense we must not minimise the importance of the miracle.

Whilst it is true that the power of the miracle is told very clearly, there is another sense in which the chapter reminds us that, whilst the blind man received his sight, he did not immediately recognise Jesus for who he was and is.

Bruce Milne points out that “this chapter is the most unified in the gospel.  It gathers round a healing ‘sign’, the giving of sight to the man born blind.”

It is worth just reminding ourselves of a number of things:–

• The Feast of Tabernacles with its ‘festival of light theme’ provides the backcloth for the incident from the beginning of Chapter 7, when we are told that Jesus left the Galilee and, as the festival neared, he would go to Judea and to the Temple.  Although some people link it with the feast of dedication in 10:22, I am sure it makes better sense to see the overall ‘light’ theme.
  
• In the receiving of sight by the blind man, there is a reminder of a coming Messianic age, foretold in the Old Testament promise in Isaiah 29:18 and 35:5.
  
• Verse 5 makes an explicit connection with the claim that Jesus is the light of the world.  In John, we have ‘signs and discourses’ and this incident could be said to be an exposition and illustration of John 8:12.

Before asking ourselves what this miracle does, we remind ourselves that, as Jesus approaches the blind man, it is his disciples who ask, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Apart from the erroneous attitudes that emerge (on the lips of the disciples, but in the minds of many), it shows how important this story is because it is not the healing of a man who became blind, but one who was blind from birth.

The discussion as to who was responsible was focused on the question of personal sin.  Suffering of this kind, at the time, was thought to be directly related to happenings in a person’s life – or, since the sin concerned was difficult to understand in a man born blind, the sin as well as the disease must be congenital.

This is no new error and whilst the Bible allows for a relationship between suffering and sin (cf Genesis 3 and Romans 5 : 12f), it does not allow us to form a principle which individualises sin as the cause of all suffering!

In seeking to make a delineation, we can say that sin has produced a suffering world, but that a person’s individual suffering or a happening in a community is usually best not to be understood as attributable to personal sin.

However, our concentration is upon the healing power of Jesus:-

The power of Jesus activates sight – v.7

I have no doubts in my own mind about the importance of the healing works of Jesus in relation to his whole ministry.  The word ‘healing’ is uncommon in medicine and scripture.  Today the word is more often than not used for non-medical treatment of sickness.  Jesus saw people through and from the perspective of God.  He always saw people in wholeness.  What Jesus was doing as he brought sight to the blind man was bringing wholeness.

Some expressions of Christianity suggest the limit to God’s healing power is in the gospels.  I believe this to be a sad limitation and a mistaken perception.  The continuation of the ministry of Jesus through the Holy Spirit must never be seen as time-locked – for he is at work today! 

Let us together observe -

• The place of the miracle

This healing appears to take place at the man’s regular pitch.  This would make sense, if he was known by the disciples.  Jesus goes to the man’s point of need! – and this becomes a principle throughout the ministry of Jesus.  One gets the impression this is a casual encounter of Jesus with the blind man.

Merrill Tenney wrote, “Since blind beggars had little opportunity for employment they were dependent upon charity for sustenance; in a depressed economy they usually fared rather badly.”

The fact that the man had been born blind makes his situation fundamentally different from that of the blind man at the gate of Jericho, recorded in Mark 10.  Bartimaeus approaches Jesus as he leaves the city and shouts in a loud voice, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47)

• The manner of the miracle

The blind man is healed and there are some important things to notice in relation to how it happens.  Jesus makes clay spittle and puts it on the blind man’s eyes, sending him to the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem and tells him to wash.  We are told, when he follows these instructions, he “came home seeing”. (v.7)

The action of Jesus has caused many people to ask questions as to what and why he was doing this.  Barnabas Lindars suggests that the use of clay parallels the creative act of God in Genesis 2:7.  His argument is that since his blindness was congenital, the healing would be creative rather than remedial.

When you add to this incident the fact that the touch of a friendly hand would be reassuring and the weight of the clay on the eyes an indicator that something was clearly happening, we can see how this would be, as Tenney suggests, an inducement to obey the command of Jesus.

However, I do want to make the point, as throughout the ministry of Jesus, it is compassion that appears to be the great motivation and communication within his healing ministry.

• The power of healing was unmistakable

To reach the pool would demand exertion on the part of the blind man.  The Pool of Siloam was located at the southern end of the city and for visitors to Jerusalem today is a must to visit.  For a man who was used to sitting by the roadside to be sent on such a journey with mud on his eyes would be a clear sign that something special was happening.

We need to be careful not to allow health to become a god.  G K Chesterton pointed out, “The mere pursuit of health always leads to something unhealthy.  Physical nature must not be made the direct objective of obedience.”  When God brings healing to this man born blind, it is not merely physical healing that takes place – he is given dignity and quality of life.

The power of Jesus causes a disturbance – v.16

The growing hostility to Jesus becomes clear and is a sign that this is the twilight of his ministry.  It is explained by Jesus: “As long as it is day we must do the works of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no-one can work.  While I am in the world I am the light of the world.” (v.5)

The Pharisees had a prejudice against Jesus.  The fact that v.16 talks about ‘other signs’ would suggest the Pharisees were well aware of other miracles that Jesus was performing – and he was certainly causing a stir.

It is worth pointing out that we are told it is “some of the Pharisees” and this would suggest that not all took a negative view of Jesus.  Does this leave us room to think that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were among them? 

This conjecture is strengthened by the question, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” which comes from those not persuaded by the majority.  How similar to John 3:2, when Nicodemus states, “No-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 

His healing power causes a disturbance because:-

• It was a Sabbath day

This fact in itself was to prove a major plank in the argument of those who were against him.  The similarity between this incident and another healing at the pool in John 5 is impossible to ignore.  Bruce Milne comments that the Pharisees show no hint of being prepared to review their understanding of God’s purpose in giving the Sabbath.

From a strict Pharisaical standpoint, Jesus infringed the Sabbath tradition in at least two (if not three) ways:

• Firstly, he heals on the Sabbath, which is permissible only when life is in danger;
  
• Secondly, he made mud which involved kneading;
  
• Thirdly, some of the stricter teachers condemned anointing a man’s eyes.

Milne condemns their attitude by saying, “Their God was petrified in the past.”

• It challenged the established powers

The Pharisees become typical of those in every generation who condemn anyone whose idea of religion doesn’t neatly fit into their own.  Barclay comments, “They thought that theirs was the only one way of serving God.  But some of them thought otherwise and declared that no-one who did the things Jesus did could be a sinner.”

What happens is a clear indication that the cages of the religious establishment had been well and truly rattled.  They brought the man who had been healed to be examined and demanded to know his opinion of Jesus.

One has a clear picture that the case against Jesus is being built and will only come to a head in the events of the Passion.

• It is a pattern which will repeat itself

The pressure is building and the tempers are flaring – and the truth is that all those who are serving the gospel with integrity will sooner or later run into trouble.

It is when we consider this point that we remind ourselves of why such an incident should be considered on the journey to the Cross – and also that it is a pointer as to what may be happening in our lives when we feel something of the rejection by others, which accords with what we see in the ministry of Jesus.

The power of Jesus brings total wellbeing – v.38-39

Surely anyone who had become a witness to the healing power of Jesus in the life of a man blind from birth would rejoice, even sing and dance. Surely his family and friends, his neighbours and all who knew him would express their praise.  But none of that follows.  However, what we do have is a wonderful story of the progressive work of God in his life …

• He acknowledges Jesus as a man – v.11

He is brought to the Pharisees who denounced it all because it happened on the Sabbath.  As we have heard, there is a division amongst the Pharisees themselves. 

The man healed began by seeing Jesus as a man: “The man they call Jesus made some mud …” (v.11)  Instead of denigrating this insight, we do well to raise high the sheer magnificence of Jesus as a man.  You cannot talk about manhood without some reference to him – and in the list of the world’s heroes he must hold a place.  It is Barclay once again who says, “Whatever … there is never any doubt that Jesus is a man among men.”

• He acknowledges Jesus as a prophet – v.17

In the midst of his interrogation, he is asked to give his opinion of Jesus, especially in view of the fact that he has given him his sight.  The Pharisees ask him, “What have you to say about him?  It was your eyes he opened.”  The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

At this point in time, this is the highest designation that he could muster for Jesus.  It must not be understood as a way of saying he is less than who he is.  The blind man is on a journey and the acknowledgement that he is a prophet would find some support in the camp of the Pharisees.

• He acknowledges that Jesus is from God – v.33

The man is brought before the Pharisees for a second round.  There is a noticeable hostility against Jesus when they tell the formerly blind man to praise God but to denounce this so-called prophet.  They see Jesus to be an impostor and a sinner.  The blind man, who now can see, has had his eyes truly opened … for him the healing was ample evidence that Jesus came from God. 

Finally, the blind man came to confess that Jesus is the Son of God.  He is put out of the Temple and is found by Jesus who has heard about him being thrown out.  There is frankness in the exchange when Jesus asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (v.35)  He responds, “Who is he, sir?” and adds “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” (v.36)

The more we know about Jesus, the greater he becomes to us.  In one sense, it is the exact opposite in human relationships.  As we come to know each other, we know that even our idols have clay feet and those closest to us are not perfect, but the more we know about Jesus Christ, the better he becomes for us.

This incident is a passage of high drama and Charles B Cousar reminds us that John 9 shows there are seven clear stages to the passage:
1. Jesus, the disciples and the blind man – 9: 1-7
2. The blind man and his neighbours – 9: 8-12
3. The blind man and the Pharisees – 9: 13-17
4. The Pharisees and the parents – 9: 18-23
5. The Pharisees and the blind man – 9: 24-34
6. Jesus and the blind man – 9: 35-38
7. Jesus and the Pharisees – 9: 39-41

It is clear in much of the passage that Jesus is physically absent from the action.  As soon as the blind man goes to wash in the Pool of Siloam (after the instruction of Jesus), Jesus disappears and does not reappear until the blind man is cast out of the synagogue.

The blind man is removed from the synagogue; he is cut off from family and religion, from all that gave him stability in heritage and home … and yet he is sought by Jesus.

This carries a huge message of hope – that those who are cast out have a special place in the heart of Jesus; those who are ignored are given the opportunity to find grace; those on the outside can find a way into the kingdom.

The one who was blind from birth, who had never seen colour, form, motion, sky, earth, faces; who had never known the wonder of a sunrise or its setting over the hills of Jerusalem – could now see.

There is a story of a beggar who was sitting across the street from an artist’s studio.  The artist saw him and thought he would make an interesting portrait study.  So from a distance he painted the defeated man whose shoulders drooped, and whose eyes were downcast and sad.  When he was finished, he took the portrait over to the beggar so he could look at it.  “Who is that?” the beggar questioned.  The painting bore a slight resemblance to himself, but in the painting before him he saw a person of dignity, with squared shoulders and bright uplifted eyes, almost handsome!  He asked the artist, “Is that me?  I don’t look like that.”  But the artist replied, “But that is the person I see in you.”

Jesus sees all the possibility of life in you.  There is no limit to his gift of healing in your life.  Thank God that he is the One who brings the possibility of new life … and John will soon record Jesus saying, “Life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).