The blind man was sent to the pool of Siloam, which represents the word of God (Isaiah 8:6),Isaiah 8:6XWaiting for response to wash away the clay which represents the flesh, the thinking of which prevents men seeing the truth. Therefore, we ourselves are directed by Jesus to the word of God that we might wash away the flesh and learn the truth. Like the blind man we should obey Jesus’ instruction, go to the word, and come again seeing v.7.John 9:7XWaiting for response
Once the blind man had learned the truth concerning Jesus, he found himself in conflict with the religious authorities. They accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath vs.13-16John 9:13-16XWaiting for response and called him a sinner v.16.John 9:16XWaiting for response Even the man’s parents were afraid to support their son before the Pharisees vs.18-23John 9:18-23XWaiting for response because they feared excommunication v.22.John 9:22XWaiting for response When, however, the Pharisees condemned Jesus to the man born blind, he vigorously defended Christ. When they said: “We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is” v.29John 9:29XWaiting for response the man answered them bluntly: “Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing” vs.30-33.John 9:30-33XWaiting for response The only answer these religious rulers could give to this excellent reasoning was to condemn the man as a sinner and excommunicate him v.34.John 9:34XWaiting for response
Many men and women have had a similar experience to this man. Having obeyed Jesus’ instruction to go to God’s word and learned the truth concerning him, they have found themselves in conflict with the religious authorities and been excommunicated from their church. But they can be assured that Jesus will search them out again, just as he sought out the blind man. It will not matter if they are then in the grave for they will still be brought before Jesus and, if faithful, be commended and rewarded.
Jesus gave sight to the blind man and this sign illustrates how we, born spiritually blind, can come to see God’s truth and in particular to believe in the Son of God vs.35-38.John 9:35-38XWaiting for response We are all born in sin, of which fact we are reminded by the discussion between Jesus and his disciples concerning the man born blind vs.2-3John 9:2-3XWaiting for response and, just as Jesus took the initiative to heal the blind man, so he has acted to enable us to see God’s truth and be saved from sin. Jesus spat on the ground and made clay to place on the blind man’s eyes v.6.John 9:6XWaiting for response Had he done this to a sighted person he would have made him blind, so this illustrates the twofold effect of Jesus’ teaching: “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind” v.39.John 9:39XWaiting for response Thus the blind man saw the truth, but the Pharisees were made blind vs.40-41.John 9:40-41XWaiting for response