What I know... Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

 

Introduction: Friendship and What Truly Matters

The movie Tombstone tells the story of the friendship between Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. They stood by each other through thick and thin, took risks, and beat the bad guys together. The movie ends with a scene in a hospital where Doc is dying of consumption and Wyatt visits him (apparently weekly). In this final visit Wyatt brings a gift. A book that he has written entitled: My Friend Doc. Whatever else Doc Holliday was or did, to Wyatt Earp, Doc was his friend. That was more important than anything else.

A Man Without Hope — Human Limitation Meets Divine Power

John 9 records an account in the life of a man who was born blind. With all the advances of modern medical science there are still cases of blindness that are incurable, particularly when present from birth. Of course, a man born blind in the first century had no hope of gaining sight by natural means.

The Wrong Question — Assuming Suffering Equals Personal Sin

When the disciples see this man they ask Jesus a question that betrays our human way of thinking. Who sinned? Why is this man born blind? The question is not as strange as we might suspect. We know that a baby’s health can be affected by choices made by the mother while carrying the child. It is not so far-fetched to think that spiritual choices may likewise have an impact on a child's health.

The disciples have fallen into the false idea that every problem in this life is the result of personal sin, but this is not the case. “The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45) The result of sin in this world is that all who live in it are touched.

A Greater Purpose — Suffering Allowed for the Glory of God

Jesus gives an answer of gravity and importance, one that answers deeper questions than just the one being asked. He tells the disciples that neither this man nor his parents sinned — but rather that this was allowed for the glory of God. In the short term this happened. The man spent much of his life blind — and yet was given sight miraculously. We still glorify God today for this miracle and the evidence it provides that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Why God Allows a Fallen World — Redemption Displays His Glory

(Genesis 3; James 1:13; Romans 11:32–36; Ephesians 1:5–12)

It also answers a deeper question. Why did God allow mankind to sin? Why allow sin to enter this world? The Lord is not the author of sin, and the Lord cannot be tempted to evil and does not tempt others to evil. Why did God allow this world to continue once it was polluted by the sin of Adam and Eve? It will all bring glory to God. In redeeming this world the Lord is able to show His character in ways that are vivid and visible. He could simply declare Himself to be gracious and compassionate, loving and forgiving, but in this life He shows it before all of Creation in the worlds seen and unseen.

He gave man freewill, and was glorified by creating beings in His own image. He allowed them to reject Him and He pursued them and paid the penalty to redeem them. He shows the fullness of His righteousness, mercy, and love. Sin, sickness, decay, and death were never His desire, but they have been allowed to continue for a short time in order to display the full glory of God.

Opposition from Religious Authority — When Evidence Is Inconvenient

As the story continues we find that the Jewish leadership is troubled by the greatness of this miracle. There was no way to brush this off as some kind of trick or deception. The miracle had been done, the man and his parents were around as a living testament that Jesus Christ had done a miracle that they could not begin to explain. They were stuck. So they sought to intimidate the man. Threatening him, and trying to get him to denounce Jesus.

Simple Testimony — The Power of What I Know

His response was beautiful:

“Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

He doesn't try to defend Jesus to them, even though he clearly sees that they are in deep sin and folly. He simply reminds them of the simple fact. Jesus had given him sight. Whatever they chose to do to square with that reality meant very little. The facts were the facts.

Sharing Faith in a Hostile World

(Acts 4:19–20)

As we share the faith today, the same intimidation tactics are employed. Yet we have a great deal to share. God created the Heavens and the Earth. The world can complain, threaten, and make up their own fantasies, but nothing changes that pure and simple fact. Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the penalty for sin, and to offer salvation by His grace to all who trust in His sacrifice for sin. Those who want to put works into the equation can quibble, threaten, and whine all they want. Salvation is only by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The Greater Miracle — From Spiritual Death to Spiritual Life

(Ephesians 2:1–5; John 5:24; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

More to the point, every person who places faith in Jesus Christ experiences a greater miracle than a blind man receiving sight. We go from spiritual death to spiritual life. We are regenerated and given spiritual life and ability to see, grow, and have an impact and standing in the unseen world. The world can threaten, mock, or contradict, but nothing changes that fact: He has given us life… and He offers it to them as well.

Conclusion: What I Know — Jesus Gave Me Life

The simplicity of Wyatt's meaningful little booklet got to the real heart of the best of who Doc was. All of his accomplishments and all of his failures were of less importance than this: Doc was Wyatt's friend. Just as the man healed in John 9 stood firm on the simple facts of what the Lord had done for him, so we can say that Jesus gave us life, paid for it with His life, and offered it freely by His grace. He offers it to everyone who will trust in Him for salvation.