“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,”he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.” John 9.1-12
Jesus healed several blind people. This is the second miracle in a row of him healing a man who was blind after spitting on his eyes. The second healing in as many miracles.
This one is interesting because his disciples asked him a basic question which must have been prevalent of the day — “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Now apparently this was a common thought — illness or sickness was a result of breaking the Law of Moses and sinning against God.
Now sometimes, in terms of the dietary restrictions in the Law, people might become sick if they ate something they should not have, or did something God commanded not to do. It would be the same today. Like eating bats from wet markets in China. Lol.
But in this case, nothing like this happened. And how would the man born blind sin before he was born and thus be born with this infirmity? And does God punish us for our sins by inflicting hardship and physical illness or handicaps upon us? Not necessarily although there could be some exceptions.
Jesus answers, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Jesus said no one sinned and caused the man to be blind. His blindness happened “so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Now let’s allow this to resonate with us. The blindness that happened was allowed by God — but not caused by him. It was allowed by God so that at this point in his life he might meet Jesus who would bring healing to his life. And two thousand years later, we might read about this man’s encounter with Jesus and praise God for the miracle.
Jesus also makes the point that while he is in the world, he is the light of world. “As long as it is day,” he says, “I must do the work of him who sent me.” What is that work? Restoring God’s creation to it’s rightful, perfect, holy state.
It’s unfortunate that this man was born blind and lived much of his life without sight. But once Jesus came along, he regained his physical sight and his spiritual eyes were opened as well to the truth of God of Jesus working in his life.
What work has Jesus done in our lives? What miracles has the Lord performed so that God might be glorified? How has he worked through our past mistakes, sin or ailments so that others might see his glory and so praise God in heaven?
Why not live this day as one who was blind, but now can see? Why not fix our eyes on Jesus — that author and perfector of our Faith?
“O Lord God, thank you for your goodness. Thank you for your grace. Thank you that I might see you with my eyes and my soul. Thank you that I might walk in accordance to your ways, running from sin, and toward a Savior. Come now, Holy Spirit, bring your Kingdom Come. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen