A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS

III. Christ’s Demonstration As The Light Of The World

(John 9:1-41)

I. Introduction

A. Jesus claimed to be the Light of the world in John 8:12 and He demonstrated it in healing and discipling a man who was born blind in John 9:1-41. (J. D Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, 1991, p. 283-289)

B. We view John 9:1-41 to understand Christ’s ministry as the Light of the world for our insight and application :

II. Christ’s Demonstration As The Light Of The World, John 9:1-41.

A. Leaving the temple to avoid being stoned by the Pharisees, Jesus saw a man who was blind from birth, Jn. 9:1.

B. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned so that this man had been born blind – the man before his birth or his parents, John 9:2. Sin under the Law produced physical problems where righteousness produced health (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 4 versus 28:15, 18, 21-22), so the disciples wondered who caused this man’s blindness.

C. Though all mortals are sinners (Romans 5:12), Jesus said that no one sin had caused the man’s blindness, but that God had allowed the general effects of sin to leave the man blind that God’s works might be manifest in him, John 9:3. Jesus added that He had to perform those works as the Light of the world, John 9:4.

D. Accordingly, Jesus first gave this blind man physical eyesight, John 9:5-7:

1. He anointed the blind man’s eyes with a poultice Christ made from the dirt and told the blind man to walk the full length of the city and wash the poultice off in the Pool of Siloam in southern Jerusalem, Jn. 9:5-7a.

2. The man obeyed, going to the Pool of Siloam, washing off the poultice, and he returned, seeing, John 9:7b.

E. However, Jesus then used this healing event as the Light of the world to lead the healed man to possess eternal life by giving him spiritual insight into His identity as the Son of God, John 9:8-38:

1. The man began to believe that Jesus was a man of God, John 9:8-12: the people noticed that he could now see, so they asked him how he had come to see, and he answered that a man called Jesus had healed him.

2. The man then grew in understanding to believe that Jesus was a prophet, John 9:13-17:

a. Since it was a Sabbath Day when the Pharisees’ had made a rule that it was unlawful to heal, the people brought the healed man to the Pharisees, and they asked him how he had gained his sight, John 9:13-15.

b. When he reported Jesus’ healing of him, the Pharisees wondered how Jesus could violate their rule against healing on the Sabbath Day while still healing the man who had been born blind, John 9:16.

c. The Pharisees then asked the healed man what he thought about Jesus, and he said He was a prophet, v. 17.

3. The man then came to understand and trust that Jesus was the Son of God, gaining salvation, Jn. 9:18-39:

a. Not convinced that the man had actually been healed, the Pharisees asked his parents for an explanation, and his parents admitted that the man was their son and that he was born blind, but that they did not know how he had come to see, John 9:18-21a. They said that their son could speak for himself, fearing that they might be excommunicated if they claimed Jesus was the Messiah for healing their son, John 9:21b-23.

b. The Pharisees tried to coach the healed man to claim that Jesus was a sinner, John 9:24. The man replied that whether Jesus was a sinner or not, he knew that once he was blind, but now he could see, John 9:25.

c. When the Pharisees pressed the man for more information, he became frustrated with them, saying he had already told them how Jesus had healed him, and asking if they were about to become disciples of Jesus, John 9:26-27. The man noted that no one had ever before healed a man born blind, that if Jesus were not from God, He could not have healed him, so the leaders excommunicated the healed man, John 9:28-34.

d. Jesus later met the healed man and asked him if he believed on the Son of God, and the man asked who He was that he might believe in Him, John 9:35-36. When Jesus announced that He who spoke with the man was He, the man replied that he believed in Him as God’s Son, and he worshipped Jesus, John 9:37-38.

F. Jesus then explained that He had come into the world as the Light of the world that they like the healed man who had not seen spiritual truth might be illumined to understand it and be saved, and that unbelievers like the religious leaders might be made spiritually hardened and blind in judgment unto condemnation, John 9:39-41.

Lesson: Christ demonstrated how He is the illuminating Light of the world in physically healing and then spiritually illuminating the man who had been born blind so that he could believe on Christ for salvation. Conversely, Christ revealed His ministry also hardened rebellious sinners like the Pharisees unto condemnation.

Application: (1) If we have not believed in Christ as the Son of God, may we do so and gain eternal life. (2) As believers, may we respond well to God’s illuminating work in His Word instead of resisting it like the Pharisees.