SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BLINDNESS

John 9.1-3

1. "And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.

2. And His disciples asked Him saying, 'Rabbi (Perception of GOD), who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?'

3. Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but in order that the Works of GOD might be displayed in him. (Exodus 9.16) (Romans 9.17) (John 9.1-3)


It is hard to explain this statement of Christ without having compassion and pity for the blind man. A question may arise from this statement of Christ (verse 3), why GOD made him blind form his birth? If we assume that his parents are not at any fault for which he had born blind and he himself did not sin (the blind cannot have any sins for which he could made blind, because from his birth he was already blind), why when he was born this way.

And even if his parents did sin in some way or another, but according to the Law of Moses, children should not be responsible for the sins of their parents and parents for the sins of the children, and in this case, he should not be born blind for anyone sins.

In Israel was plenty of blind men at that time, who were blind from their birth, or from certain birth defects, sins, or accidents. And Jesus Himself pointed out that neither his parents nor he himself had sinned to deserve his blindness, but the next words of Christ reveal something really astonishing, "but in order that the Works of GOD might be displayed in him. (Exodus 9.16) (Romans 9.17) (John 9.1-3)"

This means that this man was predetermined, chosen, selected by GOD to be blind from his birth to reveal GOD'S Glory of Power. Why GOD decided to reveal His Power in such way? Because this particular healing of the blind man from his birth severely divided opinions of people and their leaders concerning Christ and even more, turn to Christ many people who started believing in Him, even among Pharisees and the leaders of Israel.

This healing was not ordinary, but extraordinary, because the man was blind from birth and very well known in his community as a blind man from his birth, so here is practically impossible to cheat or present someone who actually pretended to be blind but was not.

Concerning the blind man himself, he received not only physical sight but also and Spiritual sight as well by believing in Christ when the Christ revealed Himself to Him, so he now has two sights and two visions.

Actually, this entire chapter dedicated to a theme about Physical and Spiritual blindness.

This is not only a place in the Bible where certain men have been predetermined, selected, and chosen to do a certain task according to GOD'S will but many prophets and men of GOD, deliverers and the kings of Israel have been chosen in the similar way and every one of them had their own purpose and a goal to achieve.

A good lesson can be derived from here, that not only special men was predetermined and chosen by GOD to execute a certain plan of GOD, but also every true Christian has its own purpose in this world, to gather the souls of those who are not turned themselves to the Lord yet.

This is the most noble and honorable work and obligation of every true Christian who loves his/her Lord and follows His Statutes and Commandments.

 

Note also the Pharisees the spiritually blind, blinded by pride since birth.

Note their reactions to the witness of blind man’s healing. They shared no joy at the miracle, they were blind to God’s Grace working around them.

The same reaction happens today at miracles. People are being healed and sent every day and the world is not seeing and not grateful.

That is why we do thanksgiving after we experience or see someone else healed, it completes the miracle, gives back the Love to and acknowledges God and the Love He expressed in that healing.

 

Matthew 15:11-14, ". . . Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. . . ."

1 John 5:11-13, ". . . And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. . . ."

 

John 1:11-13
11 He came unto his own, and his own received Him not.

12 But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.