The Gospel of John: John 9.1-12

Read and meditate on John 9.1-12.
Jesus said He was the light of the world, and that He came to bring light and sight to those who were blind and in the dark. And in this miracle, He demonstrated that He meant business.

¹As Jesus went His way, He saw a man
who had been blind from birth. ²And then began
His followers to ask Him, “Rabbi, who
sinned, this man or his parents, such that to
him blindness should occur?” ³But Jesus said,
“Not him, and not his parents sinned; instead,
this man is blind so that in him the works
of God should be revealed. ⁴We ought to work
the works of Him Who sent Me while we can,
while it is day. The night comes, and no man
can work then. ⁵And as long as I am in
the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶And when
He said these things, He spat upon the ground,
and made some clay, which He then spread around
and on his eyes ⁷And then He said to him,
“Go to the pool called Sent (Siloam). In
it, wash your eyes.” And so the blind man went
and washed, and came back seeing. ⁸So then, when
the people who had known him saw this, they
inquired, “Is this not he who sat and begged?”
⁹Some said, “It is.” But others said, “No, he
is merely like him. He said, “I am he.”
¹⁰They asked, “But how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹He
replied, “A Man called Jesus made for me
some clay, and put it on my eyes. And then
He sent me to Siloam to wash. I went
and washed, and I received my sight.” ¹²They said,
“Where is He then?” “I do not know,” he said.

- John 9.1-12

Reflect
1. Jesus was departing Jerusalem after the Feast of Tabernacles. Review His teaching and disputation there, as we saw in in John 5 and 8. What are the main points Jesus made? Complete this prayer: Lord, You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Help me today to…

2.  It is possible to see in the healing of this blind man, an exemplifying – and thus a vindication – of all Jesus’ teaching at the feast. Explain. Lord, does my life exemplify the claims I make about You? Today, let me…

3.  Jesus came to earth to bring near the Kingdom of God. That Kingdom would begin to come in its fullness once Jesus had returned to heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit into the world. Jesus showed us that the Kingdom comes near when we proclaim Him and do the works of God. What does it mean to seek first the Kingdom and righteousness of God (Matt. 6.33)? Lord, use me to bring Your Kingdom near to others today, by…

4.  Jesus’ witness to Himself at the Feast of Tabernacles was profound, theological, thorough, and confrontational. This man’s witness was simple, personal, incomplete, and cordial. How does this episode add to your growing understanding of what it means to be a witness for Jesus? Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord, and help me to be Your witness today as I…

5.  The story about the healing of this blind man is just getting started. It gets more interesting as it goes on, and it shows us the power of Jesus to use little people to stir up big interest in Himself. How should this story encourage you in your witness for the Lord? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Why didn’t he have him wash immediately instead of sending him to Siloam?… For one thing, everyone would probably see him as he was leaving, having the clay spread upon his eyes. The strangeness of this spectacle would most likely focus the attention of everyone on him—both those who knew him and those who did not—everyone would be watching him closely. And, because it is not easy to recognize a blind man who has recovered his sight, Jesus first of all sends him this long distance so that he can be seen by many witnesses. This bizarre spectacle of a man walking with mud on his eyes would make these witnesses even more attentive so that no one could any longer say, ‘This is not he.’” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

How would you describe the nature, function, and effects of faith as we see them in this story? What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

Closing Prayer
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Sing to the Lord with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap theirhands;
Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
With righteousness He shall judge the world,
And the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98.1-9

Psalm 98.1-9 (Duke Street: Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord)
Come, let us sing unto the Lord new songs of praise with one accord!
Wonderful things our God has done: Jesus has our salvation won!

Now is God’s saving mercy known; His glory to the world is shown.
Faithful and kind is God our Lord; earth has the Name of Jesus heard.

Raise to the Lord your loudest voice! Break forth and sing! Rejoice! Rejoice       
Praise, praise to You our God and King, with all our hearts and strength we bring!

Now let the whole creation ‘round burst into song with joyous sound!
Jesus will come to judge the earth; let all proclaim His matchless worth!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.