Blind From Birth
Open your Bible to John chapter 9. You will want to follow along. Yes I'm going to tell you a story. And it will help if you have your Bible open
to follow along.
There was a man in Jerusalem who was well known by his neighbors. If business cards existed at this time, his card would have shown his occupation as a Beggar. All that know him knew of him. Apparently he begged just outside of the temple. Looking back, as chapter 8 closes Jesus is leaving the temple. So we can picture with our mind's eye this man stationed near the path of people going to and fro, entering and leaving the temple.
All that knew the beggar knew that he was blind from birth. He could not help himself nor could he heal himself. That was his condition.
Jesus sees the blind man, and the disciples take notice of Jesus' eye contact. They also know that the beggar was blind from birth. They ask the question, is he blind because he sinned? Is he blind because his parents sinned? Look at verse 3:
3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
There is a reason that this story is here. Like the beggar we are all blind from birth. We are spiritually blind from birth. None of us came out of the delivery room believing in Christ. Look at verse 39:
39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."
One step further, we are all deaf from birth. Turn back one chapter to John chapter 8. Jesus is speaking with the Jews at the temple. These are men who know and have studied God's word. We know that the Pharisees were there from verse 13. He is trying to teach them. It is evident that the Jews are not listening. In verse 43 Jesus tells them that even though they have ears they are deaf.
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
At birth we are no different.
You might be a husband or a wife of a Christian, or you may be a son or daughter of a Christian; you may be saying to yourself, I just don't see the value of being a Christian. This is because you are spiritually blind.
Like the blind man we cannot help ourselves out of our condition.
We read in the verses that Jesus heals the man. Notice that not only did Jesus give the blind Beggar sight, he also gave this man spiritual sight. Look with me at verse 24 in chapter 9. The blind man becomes a minister for Christ and begins to teach the Pharisees.
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." 30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
We read in verse 34 that the Pharisees cast the healed beggar out. I envision that they physically picked him up by the collar and the seat pants and hurled him out into the street. Maybe they just shoved him. We are not told. But what we are told is the news of this man being cast out by the Pharisees reached Jesus. You see the deeds of the Pharisees were the talk of the town that day.
We read that Jesus gets this talk of the town news and searches out the man. Now listen to Jesus' invitation to the healed blind man. He begins with a question.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.
Jesus has the same question for us today. Do you belief in the Son of God? Open your eyes that you may see. Open your ears that you may hear. And reply Lord I believe.
Contributors: Alistair Begg; Indiucky