Scripture: John 9:1–23
9 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
Questions
- Why would the disciples assume that the man’s blindness was the result of sin?
- What does Jesus mean by it being “day” and night coming?
Background
Related Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:1–13; Ephesians 5:8–14
Ephrem the Syrian: Those who could see were clearly being drawn to the blind man, who saw inwardly. The blind man was being drawn secretly to those who could see but who were blind inwardly. He [the blind man] washed away the clay from his eyes and appeared to himself. They washed the blindness from their hearts and gained approval for themselves. When our Lord opened up the eyes of one blind man clearly in that moment, he opened up [the eyes of] many blind people secretly. For that blind man was [surely] blind. He was like a source of profit for our Lord, for by him our Lord acquired many blind people [by healing them] from the blindness of their heart.[1]
Reflection
“Who sinned”, take some time with that question because it is important. The disciples see the blind man for the first time, and this is their first question about him. Their assumption is that this man is receiving just punishment from God for sin, his of his parents’. “Who sinned” is not a question of concern or empathy, it is a question that assigns blame. The disciples are concerned with who measures up and their desire to help seems motivated by the other person’s conduct. John tells us that Jesus saw the man’s condition, “he was born blind” and desired to help. The disciples though were more concerned about was his suffering “just”. How many times are we guilty of this same mindset? How many times do we allow our judgment of the other person to influence whether or not we extend mercy and aid? Imagine being the man, even if he could not hear the disciples’ comment he probably knew people asked that question about him. Imagine being the person in need of mercy and hearing people question whether you deserve it.
While the disciples struggle with the esoteric question of sin, Jesus is trying to get on with working while the light shines. The more I read this the morning I am convinced that Jesus is not talking about a specific time when miracles could not occur or his limited time on earth, I think he is simply saying “let’s be about God’s business now because the best time to work is when you see something needs done.” This goes along with the kind of person that God sends Samuel to find. God says to Samuel of the next king, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Saam 16:7). We can very easily see what God means in the context of David’s story, God desires a person in leadership who will act on God’s behalf. However, there can be times when that message can become confused. Sometimes it seems that when we think about a person “after God’s own heart” we think about a person who desires to sing or participate in corporate worship. Perhaps, what we think about is someone who has a strong devotional or prayer life. And while these are certainly some evidences of desiring God’s heart, we also see something different in Jesus. Among the characteristics Jesus demonstrates is a desire to do good and show mercy to people. For Jesus having God’s heart is not simply about showing up for worship or taking time to pray, though those are important, it is about participating in the work of the light while it is daylight.
While the community around the blind man took so little notice of him that they could not recognize him after he had been healed, and the disciples wanted to first know if he had sinned, Jesus saw the man and recognized his need. The Gospels do a wonderful job of demonstrating that Jesus took time to pray and worship, and that time of devotion and connecting to God worked itself out in noticing people and providing for them.
And what is the response? The man who was healed promotes Jesus despite great personal risk. This man who does not know Jesus other than as an unseen man who heals him decides he wants to be a disciple and follow him. Jesus seeing this man began to create a heart like God’s in him. Even though following Jesus put distance between him and his community he chose to be like Jesus. And this begins in Jesus seeing this man, not as a sinner but as a person with a terrible affliction that needs mercy. God desires this kind of character, a life that is so in tune with God that we see people where they are. When we develop a heart that follows God, it helps us truly see the people we encounter so that we can help bring healing into their lives. This is why Paul says, “for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11).
[1] Joel C. Elowsky, ed., John 1–10, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 327.
Squinting in the Light 
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