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What Did The Blind Man See?

Introduction: There are different types of blindness; night blindness, physical blindness where a person can not see at all or only partially, and spiritual blindness. Physical blindness becomes obvious as you are around such a person, it can be compensated for or even corrected. Spiritual blindness is likewise obvious to all except the one that is spiritually blind. There is an old saying, "No one is as blind as one that will not see."

A) Israel during the days of Isaiah, chapter 29.9

B) Later on Jesus quoted parts of Isaiah, Isaiah 42.18-20

1. The blindness during the days of Isaiah, Jesus, and now is caused by sin.

    a. Quoted by Jesus Matthew 13.14-15 and Paul Acts 28.26ff

2. Jesus could heal the physically blind (Matthew 12.22); but he could not make the spiritually blind see.

3. The Pharisees, Sadducees were blind leaders of the blind, Matthew 15.14

4. No where is this more easily seen then in John 9.

II) Jesus Heals A Blind Man, John 9

A) A man blind from his birth, v. 1

B) Jews equated the blindness to sin, whose sin is the question, v. 2

C) The man’s blindness was not due to sin but to expose those in sin, v. 3

D) Jesus heals the man, vv. 6-8

1. Jesus spat on the ground, took the clay, rubbed it on the man’s eyes

2. The man was told to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

E) The end result, this man could see! V. 7

1. How was this possible? V. 10

2. The Pharisees reasoned: Breaking the Sabbath is sin, Jesus broke the Sabbath by healing on it, and therefore, Jesus was a sinner.

3. How could Jesus do this if He were a sinner? Presents a problem the Pharisees could not over come.

A) A man called Jesus, v. 11

1. He understood the source of the miracle

2. He did not confuse the power with the clay or his act of washing it away, vv. 12-15

    a. Obedience does not negate the power of God but understands it.

    b. Those that argue man is saved by God therefore there is nothing we can or should do in     order to be saved need to talk with this man.

3. Again the Pharisees charge Jesus with sin, v. 16

B) He is a Prophet, v. 17

1. Understood a prophet is one sent by God, a spokesman for God, Deut. 18.15

2. He speaks with authority from God

3. Jesus came to reveal the will of God

4. Question of whether he was the blind man so they called in his parents, vv. 18-21

5. Three questions:

    a. Is this your son?

    b. Was he born blind?

   c. How can he now see?

6. Their answers were: yes, yes and we do not know ask him.

    a. How sad they did not rejoice in their son being able to see but showed their lack of faith.

C) "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that thought I was blind now I see" v. 25

1. He knew he could now see.

2. Imagine what was going on in this man’s head; never being able to see and now seeing his parents, friends, the temple, etc.

D) "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" V. 27

1. He saw they were not listening. Can not teach a person that will not consider what is being said.

2. No matter how many times it is asked the truth will not change.

3. He understood they were not interested in being a disciple of Jesus.

E) "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears Him" v. 31

1. Principle in the Old Testament, God will not hear the impenitent sinner, Proverbs 15.29

2. God does listen to the righteous.

F) "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing" v. 33

1. God heard Jesus therefore Jesus is not a sinner.

2. Jesus performed a miracle; Jesus was from God.

    a. Earlier when he said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know" shows this man was thinking this through to its logical consequence.

    b. The miracles were to confirm the word of God, Hebrews 2.4

3. At this point the man is cast out, v. 34 and Jesus approaches him, v. 35 "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

G) "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" v. 36; "Lord I believe! And he worshipped Him" v. 38

1. He did not respond by saying, "I thought you would be bigger" or, "I thought…"

2. He could see because he was willing to see. Similar to Matthew 16.16

A) The progression of the blind man

1. He did understand it all at once but gradually he understood who Jesus was.

2. In our studies we may need time to fully comprehend what we are reading.

3. As we study with people we need to have patience.

B) Jesus could not change the heart of the Pharisees

2. Notice their questions: How were your eyes opened? V. 10 Where is He? V. 12 What did He do to you? v. 26; How did He open your eyes? V. 26; Are we blind also? V. 40

C) To not accept Jesus as the Son of God is to be lost, v. 41

1. Jesus came to seek and save the lost but they had to be willing to be saved, John 1.11

D) We can go from blindness to seeing the Son of God, "I believe", John 1.12-13

Conclusion: Can you see what the blind man saw? If so then act upon it. If not then ask yourself why? Be willing to consider what the Bible says with an honest and open heart.