Vs. 1,2,3 talks about a man was born blind- who sinned?- neither but that the works of God should be manifest.
Did I sin? because I too was born blind- I was born blind to the truth, born dead to God.
Check
II Corinth. 4:3-6
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 9 Cont.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
V.4-- work the works of him that sent me...
V.5-- shows me that Jesus is the world's light...
Then
John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Matt. 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Jesus healed, delivered all that came to him and he wants to do those same things today. We are the body of Christ.
John 14:12-14
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Jesus is talking to the believers, those who believe his words.
John 9 Cont.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
What is the will of God? Salvation of the body, soul, and spirit… Remember what Jesus said in v.3,"that the works of God should be made manifest in him."
John 9 Cont.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
This is one of the very few times in the word of God where a man was healed and did NOT even know who Jesus Christ was.
John 9 Cont.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Keep in mind, the religious leaders will disagree and will try to stop us or shut us up anyway that they can
Cf. Matt. 15:1,2,3-6...
1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Jesus is our Sabbath day but he is more, he is our Sabbath life, the life of rest is in him.
John 9 Cont.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Can you imagine the state this man must have been in? He was BORN blind, NEVER saw and now he sees. I would have a million questions to ask him, I think.
Based on verses 20-23 of Chapter 9 ,don't let the religious people intimidate you...
Religious people like to play religious games with you but they do NOT want to see the true power of God, that takes the focus off of them and puts it on God.
A lot of Christian religions will put you out if you do not agree with their doctrine, whether it is of God or not dosen't matter. You need to follow their traditions, so to speak.
John 9 Cont.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
John 9:25 deals with the physical blindness...
That guy didn't go to school and learn theology but he seemed to know the ways of God better than the religious leaders, since he did know that he was healed in a totally awesome, supernatural way by a man who was a wonder worker, so to speak.
John 9 Cont.
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
In v.27 I see that the beggar knew truth better than they did, he could SEE but they could NOT hear after he told them the truth. They did not have ears to hear.
As we put the word forth, we too should see the blind seeing both physically and spiritually.
Ps. 103:1-3
"1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;"
The key once again is faith… All through the word of God, faith is the key…
John 9 Cont.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
This is God's desire for us that we see spiritually and physically. He is a saving and a healing God all through the word of God for all those who look to him.
John 9 Cont.
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Let's check some more of this chapter...
John 9:35-41 deals with the spiritual.
V 41 goes with James 4
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
A baby is most definitely "blind" to sin. I believe Jesus is showing in v41 that those who don't realize their sin are not accountable for it such as babies, retarded people, etc. Even though God put it within all to know there is a God there is a time for that to take place in different sorts of people.
The ones who see but choose to remain in their lost blinded condition pretending they are fine are the losers. Pride keeps them from admitting their blinded condition.
Prov 16
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.