I Was Blind, And Now I See!

Free online resources based on Jesus healing the man born blind. This sign can be found only in John’s Gospel. See below for links to sermons, stories and entertaining sites for this important story.

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. — John 9:24-25 <KJV>


Jesus Restores The Sight Of The Man Born Blind – Summary

Jesus was walking with his disciples in Jerusalem when they came across a blind man. Because of religious misunderstanding, they asked who had sinned to cause the blindness – the man, or his parents. Jesus answered,

“Neither. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus turned to minister to the blind man. He spit on the ground and made mud. Then, he placed the mud on the man’s eyes and said,

“Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.”

The man obediently made his way to the pool and washed the mud out of his eyes. His eyesight was fully restored. Thrilled by the miracle he made his way through the streets of Jerusalem. People noticed him, and asked if he was the blind man they once knew. Some thought he was, others assumed it was somebody else. He made sure they knew the truth by saying,

Yes, I am that man!”

The crowd asked how he regained his sight. The man was eager to share the details with all who would listen. He explained,

“A man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.”

His testimony caused quite a stir, so the people took him to the religious leaders, who wanted to know what happened. They asked the same question and got the same reply. This led to division among the religious leaders because Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath. They doubted any man of God would heal on the Sabbath. They asked the man what he thought, and the man said that he was prophet. Desperate to discredit Jesus, the religious leaders sent for the man’s parents, thinking that perhaps the man had not been born blind. They questioned his parents who confirmed that he was their son, and he had been born blind, but did not know how he received his site. They told the religious leaders to ask the man directly.

Frustrated, the religious leaders turned back to the man. They had decided Jesus was a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath, and demanded that the man agree. The man didn’t know if Jesus was a sinner or not. He said,

“I was blind, and now I can see!”

The religious leaders demanded to know again how it happened. Having already explained everything multiple times, he asked if they wanted to be Jesus’ disciples. This last statement provoked them. They claimed they were Moses’ disciples. They knew he spoke to God, but did not know anything about Jesus. The man chuckled and said,

“That is quite strange. He restored my sight, and yet you don’t know where he is from? In all of history have you ever known someone to give sight to a blind man? If Jesus were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”

The religious leaders were livid. They declared the man a sinner, appalled that the blind man would assume he could teach them something about God. In their rage, they had him tossed out of the Synagogue.

Jesus heard that the man he healed had been kicked out the Synagogue and tracked him down.

He asked him,“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man asked, “Who is he, in order that I may believe on him?”

Jesus answered, “You have seen him, and he is speaking to you!”

The man said, “Yes Lord, I believe!”

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”
“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. — John 9:39-41 <NLT>

This was the sixth sign in the Gospel of John out of eight total. It is linked to the third sign – healing the impotent man at the pool called Bethesda. Both took place on a Sabbath, near pools of water, and in Jerusalem. Sin, as a cause, is discussed in both cases. In his Gospel, John calls Jesus’ miraculous works “signs” because there is a deeper Truth presented. In this sign, Jesus came to heal, not just physical blindness, but spiritual blindness as well. God’s chosen people as a nation had been born blind. The Law was their tutor. It was to lead them to Jesus. Now, he was in their presence and the religious leaders did not even recognize him. Note the closing remarks in John 9, the religious leaders asked if Jesus was declaring them blind? Jesus responded that since they thought they could see, since they did not recognize the sin in their own lives, or their Savior in their midst, they remained guilty. As Jesus said in Matthew,

“Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” — Matthew 15:13-14 <NLT>

Jesus is the Light of the world. He also was Israel’s long awaited Messiah, the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. He was rejected, crucified, and raised from the dead. The Kingdom was announced again, and rejected again. Now its postponed, but every prophecy and promise to Israel will be fulfilled at the proper time. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise. (Matthew 15:1-20, 23:1-39, John 1:1-18, Galatians 3:10-29, 2 Peter 3:8-9)

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”
“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”
“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
— John 9:35-38 <NLT>

The man healed of blindness had no problem acting on Jesus’ words and receiving his sight. The same goes for the next question – Did he believe in the Son of Man? All he needed to know was who it was. When Jesus identified himself, the man immediately confirmed his belief in Jesus. You must know in whom you believe. When you know that someone is trustworthy, you can trust their Word. Everything begins with believing Jesus is the Son of God, and confessing him as Lord. This is not possible without first hearing God’s Word, not just with your physical ears, but receiving revelation from God. As Jesus said after Peter’s bold statement of faith, “Men have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.” Faith, the foundation for pleasing God and receiving anything from Him, is built on a spiritual revelation of His Wisdom, because the entrance of His Word gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. Hearing God with your spiritual ears is compared to planting a seed. Both God’s Word, and a seed if sown in good ground, will produce a harvest. And God’s Word in particular is incorruptible seed. (Psalm 119:130, Matthew 16:15-17, Romans 10:5-17, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, Hebrews 11:1-6, 1 Peter 1:22-25)

And they stormed at him [they jeered, they sneered, they reviled him] and retorted, You are His disciple yourself, but we are the disciples of Moses. We know for certain that God spoke with Moses, but as for this Fellow, we know nothing about where He hails from. — John 9:28-29 <AMP>

The religious leaders put their faith in their profession, education, and status. They knew ABOUT God’s Word, but did not KNOW God’s Word. Since Jesus was not one of them, not educated in their schools, or subject to their discipline, they could not control or intimidate him. They were afraid of people turning to Jesus, and also their loss of power.

Moses was a mighty prophet of God who promised Jesus would come. Earlier, Jesus said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me.” They claimed to be followers of Moses, but did not have a revelation of what he had written. In another place Jesus had contended with religious leaders and told them that the Words he spoke are Spirit and Life. And then added, “No one can come to me unless the Father attracts him to me.” Its God’s Word, His Truth, that changes hearts, if you have ears to hear and eyes to see. Paul said the natural man cannot receive the Spiritual things of God – they are foolishness to him. Don’t get stuck in the trap of religious reasoning. Put God’s Word in your mouth and in your heart. Expect the Holy Spirit to guide you and reveal God’s Truth to your spirit. And then renew your mind with His Word. Don’t become so religious that you fail to receive the Word of God. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Proverbs 20:27, John 5:46, 6:63-65, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Ephesians 4:20-24)

His parents answered, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But as to how he can now see, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age. Ask him; let him speak for himself and give his own account of it. His parents said this because they feared [the leaders of] the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ, he should be expelled and excluded from the synagogue. — John 9:20-22 <AMP>

The religious leaders doubted that the man had been born blind so they summoned the man’s parents. They demanded to know if the story was true. The parents confirmed that he was their son, and that he had been born blind, but refused to speculate as to how he received his sight. Instead, they deferred to their son, since he was mature enough to speak for himself. To understand their odd answer, you must understand the power of fear. Surely, they were happy that their son could now see. However, there was a powerful force holding back their joy. The parents were afraid of the religious leaders, of being excommunicated, or possibly something far worse. Fear is the very opposite of faith. There is NO fear in Love because God IS LOVE. (1 John 4:8-19)

This was God’s chosen people, called out from among the nations. And these were the religious leaders who were supposed to teach the people and set an example for them to follow as good shepherds. Instead, there was fear, intimidation, and condemnation. When men choose their own way to God, ignoring His Word, religion is the result. This should not be the case among Believers. Christianity is about relationship, not religion. Jesus told the woman at the well, “God is a Spirit. And they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth.” In Hebrews, You can never please God without faith. And Paul writes in Romans, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. This is God’s formula for success. Sowing His Word in your spirit produces faith and spiritual fruit. Believers are children of God, not servants. Religion likes to ensnare people in rules and rituals. And the enemy uses these works of the flesh to sow strife, condemnation, and division. Religion enslaves folks in the reasoning of men, denying them the Liberty and Joy they have in Christ. Once you know God’s Truth, it will make you free from ALL types of bondage, even the religious kind. (John 4:21-26, 8:31-36, Romans 10:17, Galatians 2:1-5, 5:1-26, Colossians 2:4-10, Hebrews 11:6)

The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. — John 9:8-9 <KJV>

Imagine being blind from birth, and having to depend on others just to stay alive. You really could not get much lower than that in 1st Century Israel. Note the change in the man after he received his sight. Suddenly, there was now hope, joy, and a world full of opportunity. This event transformed him from the inside out. This is why his neighbors weren’t sure if it was him. There is no indication that he changed his clothes, or had a “makeover” before they saw him. He simply experienced the goodness of God. Jesus came to give you LIFE. And that means a complete renovation of your spirit, mind, and body. As Jesus changes you, people will notice. There are no beggars in God’s family. You are made alive IN CHRIST, and seated in Heavenly places. (John 10:10, Romans 8:10-11, Ephesians 2:1-22)

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. — John 9:6-7 <KJV>

The blind man had no hope. His lot in life was to depend on others, relying on the mercy of the people. He was a son of Abraham, an heir to the Blessing, but was living far below God’s best. In Psalms it is written, He sent His word and healed them, delivering them from their destructions. Jesus is the Living Word. He came as promised to save mankind. Everything was created by the Word. So it should be no surprise that the Word was used to heal the man. Don’t get stuck focusing on the spittle or the clay. It was the Word that created faith inside the man. Why else would a blind man stumble through the streets of Jerusalem, searching for a pool to wash the mud out of his eyes applied by some itinerant preacher? God’s Word is powerful. When you believe it and act on it, nothing is impossible. His Word is incorruptible seed, accomplishing exactly what He pleases. Repairing the eyesight of a blind man is nothing to the Creator who designed them and placed them in the man. Remember though, God gave man dominion over the Earth. He needs your cooperation to receive every good thing He has provided in His Word. The man proved his faith by acting on the Word of Jesus. And he came back seeing. (Psalm 107:19-21, Psalm 103:1-5, 115:9-18, Isaiah 55:10-11, John 1:1-3, Mark 6:5-6, 1 Peter 1:13-25, 2:24)

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. — John 9:1-5 <KJV>

You cannot separate sin and sickness, they have the same source. When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually that day. They traded life in the Light, with spiritual darkness. The environment around them changed and physical death entered the world. The disciples were attempting to find a cause and effect answer to this man’s blindness. Jesus was given two possible choices, but replied that neither choice was true. The world is in darkness and Jesus came to be the LIGHT of the world. THAT is all that matters. Jesus came to destroy ALL the works of Satan, and give you life in abundance. After the Holy Spirit was given, Paul was able to more fully explain the spiritual battle between the forces of darkness, Jesus’ triumph over them, and the authority of Believers. Don’t attempt to figure out the why. Focus on the solution, Jesus, the Living Word and Light of the world. (Luke 10:17-20, John 1:1-14, Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 John 3:8)

The incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus was a turning point in human history. God Himself, paid the ultimate price to set His children free from all bondage. Now, the ball is in your court. Are you willing to believe His Word? Are you willing to possess everything He has given you? Don’t walk in darkness. Let His Light shine in you. (Psalm 119:130, John 1:1-5, 10:10, Luke 4:18-19, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 1:1-12, 2:1-10, Hebrews 11:5-18, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Peter 1:1-4, 1 John 3:8)

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].  Luke 4:18-19 <AMP>

 

Read the story in five popular translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:

Jesus Heals The Man Born Blind MiracleJohn 9:1-41

 

Additional Resources

Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind – A children’s lesson based on John 9

Here’s Mud In Your Eye – A lesson and activity pages based on John 9

Healing A Man Born Blind – Additional resources for John 9

Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind – Activity pages

 

 

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Suggested Search Terms: Jesus heals the man born blind, John 9, religious hypocrisy, healing, miracle of Jesus, I was blind and now I see, divine health, The Word, faith, authority, blindness

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