John 9

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” [John 9.1-5]

John 9 is a chapter believers would do well to meditate on long and hard. There are some amazing things revealed that give proper perspective to Jesus and the power of God. It starts right from the first verse.

It is only natural that Jesus' disciples, in light of all the miracles they had already seen Jesus do would want to analyze the situation at hand in John 9. What caused the man's blindness from birth?

John 9 not only addresses blindness in the blind man, but also blindness in the Pharisee and religious leaders! In fact, verse 41 of John 9, where Jesus is directly addressing (rebuking) the religious leaders, we might find some insight to the opening events of John 9:

“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. [John 9.41]

Blindness is clearly a curse and defined as so in the Old Testament:

The LORD will strike you with madness, blindness, and panic. [Deuteronomy 28.28]

Redemption from the curse of the Law is Jesus' work in a nutshell (Galatians 3.13)! And, Jesus' work was not only to glorify God but to teach us to do so as well. Glorifying God is what the manifestation of God's power does. God's power seen in healing the blind man glorified God.

Then again, there is the matter of the "blind" religious leaders... Unlike the blind man who had no problem confessing "I once was blind but now I see (Jesus did it)" the Pharisees "blindly" refused to accept Jesus' witness but claimed they could "see." And for that Jesus had told the blind man (whom He had healed) in the presence of the Pharisees:

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” [John 9.39]

I have heard it said repeatedly by religious people that not all sickness, diseases, etc. are the result of sin using John 9 to prove that point. However, Jesus did not say the man's blindness was not the result of sin: He just clarified it was not because of the blind man's sin or because of his parents' sin.

If a person really wants to get deep spiritually regarding sin, curses and healing, then Jesus could not have said it any clearer, "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." Sin is much greater than any individual. All the Bible points to Jesus (John 5.39). Jesus is all about Redemption from the curse of sin and death (Luke 4.18-19) on mankind. Sin and death must necessarily exist for the power of God over them to be seen! Man is the focus of God's Redemption (John 3.16) but and because man is also the tool with which Satan wished to discredit God (Satan cares not for the outcome of man except only to retaliate against God). Every instance therefore where Satan has brought curses upon man to "hurt" God is every believer's opportunity to demonstrate the power of God and His Redemption as the "Light" of Christ dwells in and continues His work (John 14.12) through us!

The Pharisees were not operating in faith, but in religion. Jesus had made them look bad in front of all the people. Unsurprisingly, the Pharisees' reaction to Jesus is still seen in religious people today who oppose those who would attempt the miraculous in Jesus' name. Pride is at the heart of the matter.

Jesus' words to His disciples are our marching orders today: We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Father, Your Word and Your Son are in complete agreement. I want to be right in the middle of that agreement! May I take Your Word as Truth regardless what the world says.