MESSIANIC MIRACLE II: BLINDNESS FROM BIRTH

In John 9, Jesus saw a blind man. This man must have been pretty popular, not because he was blind alone, but because he was blind from birth. The Jews had a belief – that a person born blind from birth was paying the price for his own sin in the womb or for sin in the lives of his parents. They gleaned these from the writings of the prophets in the Old Testament. Hosea 12:2-3 for instance showed how God started counting Jacob’s deeds from the womb – ‘The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God.’ Jeremiah the weeping prophet wrote in [31:27a, 29]: “The days are coming…people will no longer say ‘the fathers have eaten sour grapes but the children’s teeth have been set on edge.’” The prophet Ezekiel echoed this in his writings [18:2].

So it is little wonder that when the disciples saw this man, they asked Jesus, ‘Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?’ [John 9:2] Because the Jews believed this form of blindness was caused by sin, they also believed that it could only be healed by one who had the power to forgive sin, who could override this punishment or curse caused by sin. Well aware of this context, Jesus heals this man. He puts mud on this blind man’s eyes and directs him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. Verse 7 says the man went and washed, and came back seeing!

For the Jews, their teachings had always told them this would be a sign of the Messiah! But they couldn’t believe it was happening right before their eyes! Verses 8-12 say, ‘His neighbours and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Is this the same man- that beggar?” Some said he was, and others said, “No, but he surely looks like him!”😆 And the beggar kept saying, “I am the same man!” They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and smoothed it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash off the mud.’ I went and washed, and now I can see!” “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied. The people knew what the implication of this healing was, so they did what anyone would do if they were confronted with such a phenomenal happening – they sent him to some of the Jewish leaders – the Pharisees [verse 13].

This now-seeing man recounted his story, for what may have been the umpteenth time that day. The Pharisees were confused! Verse 16 says “Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.’ Others said:

‘But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?’

There was a deep division of opinion among them.” They questioned him again. It just couldn’t be true. The Pharisees once again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “This man who opened your eyes– who do you say he is?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” The rest of the scripture tells the story beautifully in NLT, so let’s consume it verbatim:

“The Jewish leaders wouldn’t believe he had been blind, so they called in his parents [bomboclaat!😂]. They asked them, ‘Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he see?’ His parents replied, ‘We know this is our son and that he was born blind, but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. He is old enough to speak for himself. Ask him.’ They said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. So they called in the man who had been blind and told him, ‘Give glory to God by telling the truth, because we know Jesus is a sinner.’ [Imagine the conconbility!😆] The man replied, ‘I don’t know whether he is a sinner. But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!’. ‘But what did he do?’ they asked. ‘How did he heal you?’ ‘Look!’ the man exclaimed [At this point he had had it up to his neck!!😂😂]. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? [This man doesn’t respect😂 These were Jewish leaders!😂] Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 🤭 Then they cursed him and said, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we don’t know anything about him.” “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know anything about him! [I suppose he expected Jewish leaders of all people to know a sign of the Messiah when they saw one!] God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

Never since the world began has anyone been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.

If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do it.’ [vs 18 to 34]

The Pharisees bore!😂 They said: ‘You were born in sin! Are you trying to teach us?’😂🤭 And they threw him out of the synagogue.😂

So Jesus heard what had happened, and verse 35 says he found the man and said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ The man answered, ‘Who is he, sir, because I would like to.’ “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” ‘Yes, Lord,’ the man said, ‘I believe!’ And he worshiped Jesus. [Verse 35-38]

And here is the second messianic testimony of this amazingly wonderful man called Jesus!

Love,

Rad!♥️