We’ve all heard the statement “Are you blind?!” Maybe we’ve said it, but it has a myriad of uses. Whether you’re a parent, child, employee, sports fan, or hunter, it makes no matter. The moment is embarrassing and humbling.
This chapter invites us to step further into Jesus’ revelation of who He is. In an exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus tells them He is the Light of the world. They confront His truth with their religion.
Their father Abraham has done all they need, but Jesus tells them if Abraham were their father, they would know who Jesus was and not make plans to end His life. Instead, Jesus says their father is the devil, a liar and a murderer from the beginning.
Their attempt to stone Him fails.
As He slips away from the temple, He backs His claim with truth.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
What takes place in the first 5 verses, Jesus sees him/us in our blindness/darkness. Jesus reframes – reinterprets our maladies as opportunities for His power to be revealed. This is a community effort. Jesus brings to light His convo with the Pharisees.
Again, backing His words “I am the light of the World”.
The point – it’s not “just a miracle”, Jesus reveals his identity by a sign act. A revelation. Pointing to something more later.
Whose fault is it anyway? When fault or blame shifts or darkens our praise.
It’s not just the disciples, is it? Isn’t that us? It’s difficult seeing hardship as a positive. It’s easier to blame someone than look for a communication path or a silver lining.
Jesus reframes the entire conversation, literally shedding light, by correctly interpreting the scene: “so that the works of God might be displayed.”
Light reinterprets reality. “So the works of God might be shown in him.” From dark to light.
Suffering isn’t always a consequence, but it can be a basis for growth. It begs the question, where do we default to shame or blame instead of looking for God’s work or extending grace?
Where do we need Jesus to reinterpret our suffering?
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So, the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 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.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
Try it – you gonna like it! Does the status quo darken God’s invitation?
The things you think you know are different in God’s hands. He receives Jesus’ care, allows His attempt, and obeys, without question or even knowing who Jesus is. What did he have to lose? Imagine that moment of compassion… there’s no shame or condemnation but healing. I picture Jesus bent down, eye to eye. He has a habit of meeting us where we are.
And not only healing but also resurrecting, as His role is that of Co-Creator.
Jesus uses dust and spit—in the beginning, recreating, always working gently, spreading the mud salve on his eyes.
The neighbors are confused – Transformation disrupts the norm.
The truth of it to the man once blind - can only say what he knows. A man named Jesus made some mud, put it in my eyes, and told me to go wash, and now I can see.
Once his testimony was dark, formless and void, and now of light.
Where is Jesus inviting us to receive and obey before we fully understand?
What new identity is Jesus reshaping/resurrecting in us?
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
What exactly are we afraid of?
The Pharisees need to get a handle on things because Jesus has the hearts of the people. Their identity, power, and certainty are threatened. But certainty without exploration leads to stagnation, and also fuels fear. They have that uneasy feeling of… What if I’m wrong??
The healed man grows in courage. His testimony strengthens under pressure. “One thing I do know: I was blind, now I see.”
Experience doesn’t replace education; it enhances it by causing thirst for it. Now the Pharisees are at odds because THE truth is exposing their truth. They’re stuck, a hung jury. So they badger the parents.
The shocked parents shrink back in fear. It robs them of their joy! Prevents true witness. They fear their public image in the temple more than celebrating or defending their son.
The Sabbath commemorates God’s rest after creation.
He is not breaking the Sabbath; He is fulfilling it – By giving the rest He promises
Could it be he heals on the Sabbath to force their position???
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
2He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Spiritual growth may cost you relationships, comfort, or approval.
B/C Our testimony is more powerful than our theology.
The man is interrogated, doubted, and rejected. Who’d believe an actual blind leading the blind! Ironically, the ones who claim to see are the ones who are blind. Their blindness is not intellectual but moral, spiritual, and even worse, chosen. They refuse to see because seeing would require surrender.
A good note to take… is to Expect Resistance When God Opens Your Eyes
Jesus’ final verdict is devastating:
Blindness becomes self‑chosen when revelation is resisted. (grieving the HS)
Where Jesus is present, new creation comes—even in places of long-term brokenness.
Take note that Jesus Meets Us in Our Blindness
Everyone has blind spots—personal, relational, spiritual.
Invite Jesus to expose and heal the places you cannot see.
The man obeys Jesus’ command to wash before he understands who Jesus is.
Faith Often Begins with Obedience Before Understanding
Sometimes clarity comes after obedience, not before.
Testimony Is Powerful Even When Theology Is Incomplete
Your story is enough. You don’t need a seminary degree to witness.
Every encounter with Christ should move us toward deeper worship.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Jesus does not leave us where He finds us; He pursues us still.
The goal of revelation is thanks and praise.
The cycle of transformation is complete –
V 11 A man named Jesus - Introduction – V17 He is a prophet – Realizes authority
V33 He’s from God – recognizes divine mission -
V38 Lord I believe – Ushers in new life of Thanks and praise
Are you Blind?? Where is Jesus inviting us into deeper worship with Him?
What areas of our lives need His light to expose and heal?
Jesus brings sight where we’ve grown accustomed to darkness.
Are YOU blind??? He exposes the blindness we didn’t know we had.
This is to God’s glory, redeemed by the Son and sustained by His Holy Spirit.
Not your pastor or neighbor, aunt or uncle, God called YOU forward,
Are you blind??? He wants to open your eyes -
