The vast majority of people who are blessed with eyesight seldom think about what life is like for those without sight. In medical terms, total blindness, or complete loss of vision, means no light perception (NLP), i.e., an inability to detect any light.

In John chapter 9 we are introduced to a man who could not detect light – he was born blind (John 9:1). Up to that point in history no person born blind had ever been given sight (John 9:32). So, as the Lord Jesus gives this man sight we are confronted with another sign of who Jesus is – the One who can bring sight where there is blindness, the One who can bring light where there is darkness.

However, the healing of the man born blind is much more than a lesson in how the power of the Lord Jesus could give a blind man physical sight. It is a powerful illustration of what the Lord Jesus can do for any individual.  In John 8:12 He is recorded as stating “I am the light of the world” and in John 9:5 He similarly declares “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world”. In this expression we can note that He uses the definite article “the” to teach us that He was not just one light among many. Additionally, He was not the light for one country or region but for “the world”. This expression encompasses the whole of mankind, without borders or distinction. Clearly, He is the only One who is light, and the only One who can give light to those who understand their need for it.

Scripture is very clear that, from birth, we are all spiritually blind, and we all need a powerful work of God to bring us into the light, enabling us to see the truth about our sin and salvation. Without that work in an individual’s life, they will remain in spiritual blindness. The Apostle Paul described those who refused to believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as being blind:

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

As we look at John chapter 9 it is instructive to review the words and actions of the various characters involved.

The disciples’ false assumption

The disciples assumed there was a direct relationship between personal sin and personal suffering when they asked:

"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2).

We know that all suffering is a result of sin at the Fall, for that act brought sin and condemnation upon the entire human race (Romans 5:12). However, the question, “Is there a personal link between sin and suffering?” is more complex. If a person who drinks copious amounts of alcohol for many years is diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver then we might well conclude that personal sin led to personal suffering. However, we should be very careful about this observation as the suffering of most people is not directly attributable to personal sin. In relation to the blind man that was certainly the case, as Jesus made clear.

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3).

The Lord Jesus brings a dignity to this man’s suffering by showing that it had a divine purpose. He was blind so that God might be glorified. For believers who suffer, it is helpful to know that God uses personal suffering for His glory. As someone once stated, “On earth we have the tears without the reason; in heaven we’ll have the reason without the tears”.

The Lord’s command

In verses 6 and 7 we learn that the Lord Jesus spat on the ground, made some mud, placed it on the blind man’s eyes, and told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam (meaning “Sent”).

The blind man was obedient to the Lord and was immediately blessed with perfect eyesight. A simple but profound lesson for us all!

Why did the Lord put mud on the man’s eyes? Why He did so is not stated, but this action reminds us of creation and how “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). This illustrates the truth revealed in John's prologue that Jesus (the Word) is the One through whom all things were made (John 1:3).

Why did the Lord send the man to the Pool of Siloam? The Holy Spirit has indicated that Siloam means “Sent”. So, it is instructive that the man’s eyesight was gained by going to that which is “sent”. This, in turn indicates that spiritual light is only given to those who come to Jesus, the One whom the Father “sent” (1 John 4:14).

The witnesses’ questions

Four times in this chapter people asked how he had received his sight. First, the neighbours asked the man (v.10), and then the Pharisees asked him (v.15). After that the Pharisees asked the man’s parents (v.19), and then they gave the, formerly blind, man one final examination (v.26).

Unfortunately, no one appears to ask the question, “Who is He who gave you sight?” but, instead, they all concentrated on “How did He do it?” This miracle was a sign pointing to who Jesus was – The Light of the World. As John wrote,

“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9 NLT).

The man’s confession

The formerly blind man would not speak evil of the One who had given him sight, and, as a result, he was expelled from the community. Ultimately, his insistence that the One who healed him must be from God led to him being cast out from the Jewish religion.

What a vast difference when the Lord Jesus finds him. The Pharisees “cast him out” (v.34) but the Lord Jesus welcomed him, in keeping with what He said on another occasion,

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

By God’s grace, the man understands that Jesus is truly God and truly man and He is worthy of worship:

“Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him” (John 9:38).

Although the Pharisees would not allow him to worship with them, the Lord Jesus was pleased to accept the worship of the one who had received spiritual light and believed in Him. That is still the case today for all who confess Jesus as Lord and trust Him as their Saviour (John 4:23-24).

In verse 39 (NLT) we learn two concluding truths:

• The Lord Jesus came to spiritually enlighten men and women who recognise their need, “I entered this world . . . to give sight to the blind . . .”;
• He also came to prove that people who trust in their own wisdom are, in fact, blind, “. . . and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

In which category do you fall?’