With Christ's muddy touch and a simple command to wash, sight was restored, and saving faith was awakened.
It really happened!
What was so weird at that time? It was so incredibly strange that not everyone celebrated what just happened. Does that remind you of this generation today?
Some people there marveled, others doubted, and the religious elite resisted what any normal person's conscience would easily dictate. Let the Holy Spirit point you to Jesus -- don't be like those bullheaded stubborn sophisticated fools.
It kind of reminds me of what Jack Nicholson once asserted: “You Can't Handle the Truth!”
Jesus had power beyond the control of those dead religious folk. But the healed man stood firm in his new faith. I like the later response.
The healed man didn’t have all the answers, but he knew this—once blind, and now he could see. Wonderful solution! Jesus is the ultimate Solution no matter the issue or problem!
Then the man's faith grew stronger, even when questioned and they chucked him out like trash. Have you ever been marginalized or cast out?
Jesus found him again, revealing His true identity and the man believed and worshiped the Lord!
Hey, problems like he had and suffering aren’t always some punishment from God.
Was it due to his own sin? Nope, perhaps it was simply due to Adam's sin.
Sometimes the problem is an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed through your life. God allows tough stuff to happen so that you will glorify Him.
"..in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 nkjv
"In" it praise the Lord, not "for" it.
You know how trials can refine a believer's faith if we allow them to, and hardships can draw us much closer in our relationship to Christ. So run towards the Lord, not away from Him when you have pain or problems.
I challenge you. When trouble comes, don’t just ask, “Why me?” Perhaps ask, “Why not me? Lord, what do You want me to learn and go do?”
A little bit of faith Godward can see a whole lot of blessings arrive! The Spirit moves, we are the responders and God is the initiator. The blind man gets healed by Jesus. His eyes were opened spiritually and physically! His whole life has been made new!
Was everybody excited that the man got healed? Check it out. Some indeed were, and others were not.
Some were glad and the others weren't even sad -- they were mad!
Were the religious authorities glad? Nope. It's amazing all were happy for him. Some folk weren't at all excited about it. The Bible says:
While He (Jesus) was passing by, He noticed a man who had been blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me 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 giving guidance through My word and works.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva, and He spread the mud like an ointment] on the man’s eyes. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:1-7 amp
Jesus used mere saliva and dust to heal the man—reminding us He formed us from the dust of the earth. The religious leaders just fixated on their rules, missing God's miracle. The skepticism wasn’t from lack of evidence but from their hardened hearts. Some people see, yet remain spiritually blind by choice. (Don't let your heart stay hard. Warning. Some reject the gospel and their hearts grows harder even inside decent churches).
Following Christ comes at a cost. The healed man lost his place in the synagogue but gained something far greater—friendship with the Son of God.
There's a good natural outgrowth "Go..tell" Mark 5:19
True faith doesn’t stay silent so never be embarrassed to tell people about Jesus. True faith testifies boldly, and unashamedly.
Opt to surround yourself with those who edify, strengthen, not weaken, your walk with Christ!
And remember: many say, “Seeing is believing.” But in God’s kingdom, believing is seeing.
So how do we unpack John chapter 9 verse 1?
We initially notice there are four different human reactions to Jesus Christ's healing of a man born blind:
1. The neighbors revealed their surprise and skepticism;2. The dead inside Pharisees showed arrogant disbelief and prejudice;3. The parents believed but kept real quiet for fear of excommunication from the Synogoge; and4. The man born blind that was healed physically and spiritually.. showed consistent, growing faith in Jesus. He was so grateful to Christ and he glorified God the Father.
We notice how each reaction to Christ of him who was healed allowed the healed one to reach a clearer understanding of this One who had just done the miracle!
Look at John 9:2 through 3. Think about the common belief in Jewish culture back then that "calamity" and "suffering" was the result of some great sin in the sufferer's life, but in reality this isn't always the case. It's not always due to the sufferer's sin.
Christ basically used this man’s suffering to teach about faith and how to glorify God in it.
We do live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and really bad behavior (which we see a lot of..) is not always punished.
Therefore, innocent people sometimes do suffer and sadly religious types who appear righteous on the outside.. are quick to falsely judge them.
If God took suffering away whenever we believers asked Him to, we would follow him for His comfort and convenience-pay-off, but not out of pure unfeigned love and devotion.
Do you currently suffer from some trials or hardships? I am SO sorry about that and would be glad to pray for you today.
Regardless of the reasons for our personal suffering, Jesus Christ has the power to intervene and help us deal with it. His timing is perfect. He can heal anything, but He doesn't always do His healings before we arrive in heaven.
When you suffer from a disease, a tragedy, a trial, or a disability, try not to ask, Why did this happen to me? or What did I do wrong to deserve this? Why not ask: Why not me and what am I to learn from this? -- we've all sinned. God, what do you want me to know and do?
Yes, ask God to give you His insight, wisdom, illumination, strength for that trial and His clearer perspective on what is happening. We need to be discerning and aware of His plan.
Man can assemble from already-created materials, but God can create from nothing!
Now look at John 9 verse 6. When Jesus spit on the ground and made mud in order to repair the man’s eyes, he chose here to work with original materials. He made the dust from nothing earlier.
Genesis 2:7 states that God formed Adam’s body from the dust of the ground. Jesus as God was demonstrating a Creator’s awareness of the materials He first used to shape the human body.
See Verse 7. Remember.. the pool of Siloam was built by Hezekiah. His workers constructed an underground tunnel from a spring outside the city walls to carry water into the city. Thus, the people could always get water without fear of being attacked by enemies. Seems like now people had other enemies huh, like in our day. This then was especially important during times of siege (see 2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30).
Look at verses 13–17. While the Pharisees conducted investigations and debated about Jesus, people out in the world were being healed and lives were being changed forever.
The Pharisees’ skepticism was NOT based on insufficient evidence, but it was based on their jealousy of Jesus’ popularity and his influence on the people.
Zoom in upon verses 14–16. The Jewish Sabbath (Saturday), was the weekly holy day of rest. The Pharisees had made a long list of specific dos and don’ts regarding the Sabbath. Kneading the mud and healing the man were considered work and therefore were forbidden. Did Jesus purposely make that clay in order to emphasize his teaching about the Sabbath?.. that it is only right to care for others’ needs even if it involves working on a "day of rest."
What does verse 25 tell us? By now the man who had been blind had heard the same religious questions over and over and over. He was honest and didn't really know how or why he was healed, but he knew that everything had changed! He knew his life had been miraculously changed my God and he was not afraid to tell the truth about the Lord.
You don’t need to know all the answers in order to start sharing Christ with others in need. It is important to go tell them how he has changed your own life. Trust the Lord asking Him to use your life and words to help others believe in him, too.
Now check out verses 28 and 34. The man’s new faith was severely tested by some of those authorities. I always hate to see people cast out, but the man was cursed and then evicted from the synagogue.
It's biblical when persecution comes to righteous people sharing their faith in Jesus. Keep following Christ anyways. You may lose some friends you don't need -- you may even lose your life. But no one can ever take away the abundant and eternal life that Jesus gives to you.
Meditate upon verse 38. He got a double dose of the Holy Ghost so to speak. This healed man gained not only physical sight but also spiritual sight as he recognized Jesus Christ first as a prophet (9:17), then as his saving Lord. Are you physically blind or spiritually blind? Is Christ your Savior and Lord? He can be right here and now!
When a person repents and believes in Jesus Christ, they begin to see him much differently.. and see life differently.
The longer you walk closely with Christ ..His way.. yes, following where He leads you step by step, the better off you'll be and the better you will understand who He really is. You'll understand better who you are too.
The Apostle Peter tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Read the word daily, pray a lot about everything, and wisely apply the Word as the Spirit will lead you to. If you want to know more about Jesus, grab your Bible and keep trusting him in every area of your life.
See verses 40 and 41. Those Pharisees were so full of themselves and were totally shocked that Jesus thought they were spiritually blind. Are you spiritually blind and dead inside? Maybe you often go to church but aren't sure if you are really saved? Let's see that fixed right now!
So We Saw The Irritation (John 9:1–12). By putting clay on the man’s eyes, Jesus encouraged him to obey and wash on the Sabbath. Sometimes the Lord irritates us before He illuminates us. His power is so great that He can use common things like dirt and water to produce a miracle. The man could hear but not see, and the Word produced faith (Rom. 10:17).So We Saw The Interrogation (13–34). The man was questioned by the neighbors (v. 10) and by the Pharisees (vv. 15, 19, 26). Instead of seeking the truth and the freedom it brings (8:32), the Pharisees denied the truth and ended up in worse bondage. If we ask questions sincerely, with a willingness to obey, the Lord will lead us to the truth (7:17). If we are not honest with God, He will never show us His light.So We Saw The Identification (35–41). The Pharisees were heartless, cruel false shepherds who threw the healed man out, but Jesus, the Good Shepherd took him in! When the world (including the religious) throws you out then Jesus will take you in as well. That's what He does.
So what will we do with Jesus? What did the healed man do with Him? He knew that there was “a Man called Jesus” (see verse 11), “a prophet” (v. 17), and “a Man of God” (v. 33); but he needed to learn that He is “the Son of God” (v. 35).
Guess what.. the man decided to believe in Christ and was forgiven. He was saved.
Have you had a vision of life after death? Have you had a liver-quiver? Beware of this -- a spiritual feeling or experience that comes short of true salvation.
The healed man got saved (regenerated inside) and that is the greatest miracle that Jesus still does.
I don't like a witnessing situation minus giving that sinner a simple opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. I don't like any church service where people aren't given an opportunity to repent and get saved.
Sometimes at school, or at the store, or out on the streets we plant some seeds of faith as we witness, and sometimes we get to do that as well as reap a harvest. If we have a little bit of time, let's all give people an opportunity to accept a.k.a. receive Christ when we can.
A. Jesus changes everything. What did the man say? “I met the man named Jesus! He rubbed clay on my eyes and said, ‘Go to the pool named Siloam and wash.’ So I went and while I was washing the clay from my eyes I began to see for the very first time ever!” So the people of the neighborhood inquired, “Where is this man?” “I have no idea.” tpt
When you meet the man named Jesus everything changes! Would those religious people really expel him from their synagogue? (They did), but he gave glory to God.
B. Don't be embarrassed about Jesus. Speak up.
The Apostle Paul said, "I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'” Romans 1:15-17
When I became a Christian I realized that I needed a new set of friends. Yes, of on-fire (spiritually), not lukewarm, religious, or worldly partier friends (using drugs and alcohol).
It will cost you to follow Jesus. You might lose some friends, but God will give you better friends.
C. We each need friendship with Jesus Christ the most (nothing beats righteous fellowship with God). We need koinonia fellowship with strong growing Christian friends as well. Why? Because it's so easy here to be pulled downward or back into our old life.
We become a lot like our closest friends.
We tend to talk about what we're passionate about. What does your social media feed look like?
Out of the abundance the heart the mouth speaks. What's deep in the well will come up in the bucket. Are you silent in conversations until they get on the topic of movies and then you just speak up? Or some people only want to talk about sports teams or music bands and DJs?
What would your friend say you talk about the most?
Do you talk about food a whole lot cuz you're a foodie cuz meat every post needs to be about Jesus but are you obsessed with food (They watch the Food Channel and they only go to certain restaurants? They've done a lot of research on. That is sort of strange in a Western Land where there's such a high percentage of people with diabetes and morbid obesity. Food can daily help, or due to inner issues or idolatry, it can become an enemy that will kill you young.
Some people are not engaged in conversation and tell the topic of politics come up and then they're all into it -- the politics?
Christians should live prayerfully in the word, praying without ceasing ..and primarily be passionate about Jesus Christ, not religion.
But I want all people to like me Jesus said beware when all men speak well of you.
Enemies can be turned into friends as you prayerfully engage them with the gospel message.
Are you lovingly and tactfully sharing Christ's message with people in need? Choose to be the witness for Jesus, choose to give clear witness (verbally) of Christ.
We care about politics and are involved we eat food cuz we want to live.
If you stand up for Jesus He will stand up for you. So what are you waiting for?
We hear from many who say this: Seeing is believing.. but in this story: Believing is seeing.
