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John 9 notes

March 15, 2016 By
  • Overview
    • Chapters 9 & 10 when read together offer a pattern prevalent throughout John of an action…followed by conversation…followed by Divine teaching.
    • Back to the question: Who is Jesus?
  • Healing a Blind Man (vv. 1 – 12)
    • Jesus encounters a man blind from birth
      • His “disciples” ask who has sinned…him or his parents.
        • Are they wrong for asking this question?
        • What is the basis for the question?
      • Significance of Jesus’ response
        • Sometimes a setback is a Divine setup for a “get up”!
      • Talk of “day”, “night” & “light”
        • A possible connection between the physical blindness of the man and the spiritual blindness of the hearers
        • If Jesus is the “light of the world” he is able to offer “light” (or sight) to someone who has lived their entire life in the darkness
      • The “miracle” with instructions
        • The making of mud demands working (or kneading) the clay which is not allowed on the Sabbath
        • “Siloam” means “Sent”…possibility of apostolic language here?
          • He once was blind, but now he “sees”!
        • The crowd’s reaction & the formerly blind man’s witness
          • They “see” the man as he was…not as he is!
          • First indication this once blind man was also a beggar
          • The once blind man retells his healing story…straight…no chaser
            • He is unable to tell the crowd of the whereabouts of Jesus

*The aim of this miracle story is not the restoration of sight, but rather the manifestation of the works of God.  The “works” of God should lead to a belief in Jesus.  Belief in Jesus is more than a feeling or spoken declaration.  True belief should be accompanied (or manifested) in “works”.  And, these “works” must be “Christo-centric” rather than what we think is right!

**Speaking of “works”…this blind man does not seek healing, by word or deed.  This might be someone we pass every day…and overlook every day, because “they” are not asking for or placing themselves in position for healing.  When the “light” is turned on in the lives of believers we “see” with new eyes…hear with new ears…think with new minds…and feel with new hearts, not waiting for someone else to do something, but exercising our little bit of faith to manifest the justifying grace of Jesus in our lives in our “works”!

 When was the last time YOU put in some “work” for the Lord? (Don’t tell on yourselvesJ)

  • The Dialogue…I mean “Interrogation” (vv. 13 – 34)
    • The group (“Pharisees”) and setting lead me to believe this was more formal than informal
      • More trial than investigation
      • Possibly before the Sanhedrin
    • Just the facts…but are they really?
      • Upset more by “making of mud” than restoration of sight, but…
    • Question the “Witness” (Round #1) vv. 13 – 17 {remember the question: “Who is Jesus?”}
      • Because he does not observe the Sabbath he cannot be from God (Pharisees)
        • Pharisees are “blind” to the “sign” & “divided”
          • They’re focused on the act rather than the actor
        • “He is a prophet” (formerly blind man)
          • The more he is challenged…the stronger his witness
        • Question the “Witness” (Round #2) vv. 18 – 23
          • Let’s question the parents
          • Parents are fear-filled
            • Seem to be more fearful of the “Jews” than the Lord

 *How many of us (or people we know) are more concerned with how or where we do the work of the Lord rather than in our actual “doing”?  The Pharisees, like many “Christians” today, are so focused on the “act” we have lost sight of the One in whose name we do the “act”…that is, if we actually “act”!

 Question the “Witness” (Round #3) vv. 24 – 34

    • “Give glory to God” = “tell the truth”
      • He is telling the “truth”…they are not believing it!
    • The “Jews” speak from the authority of the Law (“we know this man is a sinner”)…the once blind man speaks from a personal encounter with Jesus (“though I was blind, now I see”)
      • Which one carries more weight?
      • Why does there have to be a split?
    • The religious authorities are not questioning the act. Once again they are questioning the methodology of the actor
    • The once blind man’s witness rises to another level (Do you also want to become his disciples?”)
      • He has transitioned from “fan” to “disciple”
        • From a recipient of grace to a dispenser of grace
      • The once blind man claims Jesus & the Jewish authorities claim Moses
        • Who do YOU follow?

* Let’s talk about “blindness”.  The Jewish authorities “see” what they want to see…or choose to “see” only that which choose to believe.  Meanwhile, once the formerly blind man’s eyes are opened by Jesus it seems like his mind, heart and soul soon follow.  He “sees” there is no one else like Jesus…never has been & never will be!  He “sees” & is unafraid to witness (testify) about the One who has saved (restored) him.  So, what makes this once blind man so unbelievable to the “Church”?  Could it be that his lowly history does not allow for an exalted future?  How do we the “Church” (i.e. body of Christ) respond to those the world defines as “Others”?  Are we guilty of “Other-ing”?  Are we so focused on what/where/who a person used to be that we refuse to “see” what/where/who that person is now in Christ Jesus?  Finally, in our strict adherence to what WE think is right (as opposed to what Jesus teaches is right), how many sisters and brothers have we “driven out” of the community of faith?

 Jesus Reenters the Story (vv. 35 – 41)

    • Jesus “hears” about the once blind man being driven out & “finds him”…again!
      • 6:37
    • The Question “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (v.35)
      • “Son of Man” an eschatological title…”a future figure whose coming will mark the beginning of God’s final judgment.” (O’Day, 660)
      • This once blind man’s experience with Jesus, while he was still blind, has prepared him to accept Jesus as “Lord” once he pointed out to him.
    • Jesus reveals the Truth
      • Revelation leads to profession of faith
    • Jesus & the Pharisees
      • Significance of v.39
        • “Sight and blindness are not defined by one’s physical sight, but by one’s openness to the revelation of God in Jesus.” (O’Day, 661)
      • The blind man “sees” & the sighted Pharisees are “blind”
      • A lesson on “sin”
        • What does “sin” mean to YOU?

 *What I love more than the lesson on grace and mercy in this story is the gradual progression or growth of the once blind man’s faith.  This once blind man’s witness of Jesus grows from that of a “healer”…to “prophet”…to “miracle worker”…to “Lord”.  And, this progression is directly related to the opposition he faces from the religious establishment (or those who should know better).  Another way of looking at this is that the further he is pushed “outside” by “insiders”…the closer he comes to knowing the real Jesus!  Maybe if we “Christians” moved outside of what is comfortable we might also come to know the real Jesus!

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