9 1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus was often reviled, but never ruffled. “One of the things worthy to be noticed in our Lord’s character is his wonderful quiet of spirit, especially his marvelous calmness in the presence of those who misjudged, and insulted, and slandered him.” (Spurgeon)
As Jesus is leaving the temple on the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, He comes across a blind man, one born blind
- The disciples decide to use this man’s plight as an object lesson in theology
- We often suspect that where there is a more than ordinary sufferer, there is a more than ordinary sinner.
So they assumed that blindness was God’s way of visiting the iniquity of parents on the children
Jesus will soon show a different way.
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed 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.”
- He says that neither option they suggested is correct though the general cause of all disease, deformity and sickness is the sin curse
- God doesn’t transfer the guilt of one person to another
- Neither can a child sin in the womb, though it is true that all people possess an evil nature from birth
Instead, this man was made to be blind by God so that the works of God might be displayed in him
We rarely stop to consider that God’s plan for our lives almost certainly includes physical ailments and limitations
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
- Just as the sun is the physical light of this world, He is spiritual Light.
Jesus was declaring publicly: I AM GOD, I AM THE MESSIAH, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
- Sometimes we read this without knowing the background and we just accept it casually like “we live in a dark world, and Jesus is a good person bringing light to the darkness”
- While that is true… it is the very LEAST we can take way from this
So having explained this man’s predicament and set up the reason for Jesus’ acting on His behalf, Jesus then proceeds to heal him.