On Line Bible Study - For the Week June 25 - July 1, 2012

Lesson 542

John 9

This is the story of the man who was born blind.  He is healed by Jesus - Jesus spat on the ground, made some mud, anointed the man's eyes, and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  All this happened on ...... you guessed it: The Sabbath.

The disciples wonder who had sinned to cause him to be born with this impairment.  Jesus denies any sin and focuses instead  on purpose - his impairment is so that God's work [can] be revealed in him.  The entire story is available to you by clicking on the link above.

In verse 5 Jesus says: I am the light of the world.  Jesus is going to give this claim new meaning in Chapter Nine.  In John 8:12 Jesus had told the people: I am the light of the world.  In Chapter Nine he brings light - both physically and spiritually - to an individual.

Raymond Brown reminds us that doing mighty things was not the exclusive property of 'good people'.  Pharaoh's magicians were able to copy almost everything Moses did.  If you read the entire passage you will encounter the lengthy discussion with regard to whether Jesus was a "sinner".

The man who had been blind was certain that If this man were not from God, he could have done nothing.  For the one on the receiving end of Jesus healing power, there was no question that he was also the "light of the world".  It becomes rather inconceivable to him that anyone would question this.  But if we have not experienced in some personal and real way, why would anyone expect us to believe?

One of the things the Evangelist is doing is using this story to shine the light of Christ on us.  Do we recognize any vulnerability in our life?  Are we aware of qualities that seem to have been with us from the moment of conception - things that we wish we could move beyond, be 'healed' of?  Put another way - do we recognize within our own lives anything that suggests we need what Jesus has to offer?

The Pharisees saw no need for Jesus - and that was their 'blind spot'.  That can be our blind spot as well.