John 9:1-41

1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided.

17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

"Surely we are not blind, are we?"

The residential neighborhood where this event takes place around the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem is inhabited by a majority of Essenes and a minority of Pharisees. The two groups are proud of their knowledge of the Bible. They know it by heart and share the same expectations about the anticipated Messiah who will set Israel free from the Roman occupation.

At the time, people believe that diseases are a result of a sin committed by the victim or by one of their parents. That is the question the disciples ask Jesus when they see a blind man south of the Temple Mount. " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" John 9:2. "Neither this man, nor his parents sinned" John 9:3.

Thanks to Jesus' mercy, this blind man will recover his sight. He uses the earth to cure his sight, as in the beginning when God created man. But this time, Jesus proceeds in gradual steps, giving the blind man the grace to become a sign and a messenger. He becomes a sign of God's love and mercy, and a sign of light for those who don't claim to be the light.

In the eyes of the Pharisees, a blind person who is healed remains blind. They know the Bible by heart, and believe that they have the exclusive right to teach others. On Saturday, no work is allowed according to the literal interpretation of the Biblical text. Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." But Jesus performs many signs reminding them that "Saturday was made for man and not man for Saturday" Mark 2:27. Even more, if it is the day to offer sacrifices, God "desires mercy, not sacrifice" Matthew 9:13.

The man who is granted healing becomes a vivid witness for God's mercy and a messenger to those who know their Bible by heart. Both the Pharisees and the Essenes teach Isaiah's prophecy, "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened..." Isaiah 35:5, but the Pharisees refuse to accept the testimony of a man whom they consider "born entirely in sins" (v. 34) and drive him out.

The man calls Jesus a Prophet (v. 17), and the Pharisees reject him. Then he proclaims Jesus as Lord and worships Him, "'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' 'Who is he, sir? Tell me that I may believe in him.' Jesus said, 'You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking to you.' then the man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him." John 9:35-38.

Jesus grants the light to those who ask Him with trust and humility. People who claim that they themselves are the light or have the only light live in their delusional claims and never enjoy the luminous light.

May we ask for Jesus' light, becoming His witnesses like the blind man who obtained full sight and insight!