A Man Born Blind

Seeing More Than Sight

John 9 | Bradley W. Maston

There was a moving internet trend of people with color blindness trying special glasses and reacting tearfully to the colors they perceived. What made those videos so compelling was the joy of receiving something most of us take for granted. The world had not suddenly become beautiful. They were experiencing something they had never been able to appreciate in the same way before.

John records Jesus' declaration that He is the Light of the World. He brought light into our world of darkness (John 1:4–5; 8:12; 9:5). This theme continues in John's first epistle, where believers are called to walk in the light and enjoy fellowship with God (1 John 1:5–7).

But John 9 reveals another aspect of humanity's problem: light can surround a person, yet blindness still prevents sight.

Our Need for Sight

Light was all around the man born blind, but he could not see it. In the same way, we need more than confidence in our own perception. We need the Lord to open our eyes.

Jesus performed an extraordinary miracle by giving sight to a man who had never seen. He made clay with saliva, placed it on the man's eyes, and sent him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeyed, washed, and returned seeing.

The power was not in the clay, the walk, or the water. The power belonged to Christ, who used ordinary means to accomplish His divine purpose (John 9:1–7).

One would expect everyone to celebrate. A man who had spent his entire life in darkness could now see. Yet the miracle revealed another kind of blindness.

Blinded by Our Own Standards

The Pharisees were divided, but those determined to reject Jesus refused to accept the healed man as evidence of the Messiah's work. Instead, they sought to discredit the man, dismiss the miracle, and deny the Messiah.

Their argument was simple: Jesus could not be from God because He did not keep the Sabbath according to their standards (John 9:13–18, 24).

Yet Jesus had not violated God's law. He had violated their interpretation of it.

Elsewhere, Jesus made clear that doing good on the Sabbath was lawful and that human traditions must never replace God's commands (Matthew 12:9–12; Mark 7:8–13). Their response exposed a deeper problem. They did not understand the heart of the Father who gave the law. Their own traditions had blinded them to the Light standing before them.

The same danger remains today.

Some reject Christ because He will not affirm their false beliefs, approve their sin, or conform to an image of Jesus they have invented. Others reject His grace because it offends their confidence in personal righteousness.

Whether we expect Him to approve what He condemns or condemn what He permits, we elevate our judgment above His Word (John 3:19–21; Romans 10:3–4).

It is easy to recognize this pride in someone else. It is far more difficult to see it in ourselves.

Coming to the Light

Jesus delivered a sobering verdict: these religious leaders remained spiritually blind while insisting they could see. Their confidence did not remove their guilt. It exposed their refusal to receive Him (John 9:39–41).

Imagine someone refusing desperately needed help because admitting the problem would wound personal pride. That is the tragedy of self-righteousness. The need is real. The Savior is present. Yet pride insists that no help is necessary.

The man who received physical sight responded very differently.

After being cast out by the religious authorities, Jesus found him, revealed His identity, and invited him to believe. The man believed and worshiped Him (John 9:35–38).

Receiving physical sight was a remarkable gift. Coming to know the One who gave that sight was infinitely greater.

The Question We Must Answer

John 9 leaves every reader with a question:

Will we arrogantly insist that we see, or will we humbly come to the Light?

Eternal life is received by believing in Jesus Christ, not by defending our record or proving ourselves worthy (John 5:24; 6:47). And as believers, we must continue walking in His light, allowing His Word to expose what we would rather excuse (1 John 1:7–9).

The Light has come.

We do not need to defend our darkness.

We need the Savior who gives us sight.