Confusion Over Who and How

Lesson #156

With this lesson we begin the second section of chapter 9, which is defined by John 9:8 – 12. In this section people question who was actually healed and if it was the man born blind who used to beg, then how was he healed. It is clear that these people were not present when Jesus healed the man or if they were they don’t remember him. Let us return to our text and look at the details.

“The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”” (John 9:8 ESV). Since the actual number of blind beggars in any given community would be rather small, almost everyone there would notice any major change in anyone of them, especially if he had always been in the same spot begging and had been blind his whole life. The gossip about Jesus healing a man born blind and this particular blind person not begging from his normal spot was causing people to wonder if he was the one who Jesus healed.

“Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”” (John 9:9 ESV). Standing among the people was the man who was blind and can now see. He listens to the people debating over who it was that Jesus healed. He explains to them that he is the man, but as so many ignore or don’t believe what Jesus says, it is the same concerning what this man says. Even though the truth is before them they seem unwilling or unable to accept it.

“So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”” (John 9:10 ESV). Surely there must have been some there that saw Jesus heal the man, but maybe they were not sure this was the man, so to further test the truth of the man, they asked him to explain how he was healed. “He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.”” (John 9:11 ESV). You would think his answer would satisfy them and that they would give glory to God, but being sinful people they were not satisfied. The mention of Jesus prompts a malicious spirit within them and “They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”” (John 9:12 ESV). You can almost hear them think, “Oh no, not Jesus again.” How could Jesus possibly perform this miracle and as we shall see do it on the Sabbath? In their minds it is time to take the man and his claims to the next level, to the Pharisees. This will be covered in the next section and our next lesson.

Prayer

Father, as I think back in my life I realize there have been times when, like these people in this lesson, I have heard or read the truth and at the time was unwilling to accept it as truth and obey it. At the time it seemed that you had not yet prepared me to receive and act on it. It is becoming clear to me that unless you prepare the heart one is not able or willing to properly respond. Clearly, your work is needed in our heart before we can accept. I believe this applies to one’s salvation as well. This pattern is becoming so clear in these studies of John.