This is the sixth of seven miracles recorded in the Gospel of John intended to witness to the deity of Christ. The first three signs show how a person is saved: through the Word (water to wine), by faith (healing the nobleman’s son), and by grace (healing the man by the pool). The last four signs show the results of salvation: satisfaction (feeding the 5,000), peace (calming the storm), light (healing the blind man), and life (raising Lazarus from the dead).
Q: What are the main characteristics of the man which have the dual meaning of describing the lost sinner?
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
— 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
Q: How does the way Christ cured the blind man reflect how Christ saves sinners?
Point: Like all the signs documented in the Bible, there is a greater spiritual meaning behind what took place literally.
Q: What was already plainly and widely known in advance to be the reaction to anyone confessing that Jesus was the Messiah?
A: Anyone who confessed Christ openly would be cast out of the synagogue. (v.22)
Point: The reaction of those rejecting Christ is well-known and never surprising, most often employing the loss of friends, family, and their immediate community – sometimes even the benefits of the religion they were raised in.
Q; What sometimes happens to the people closest to someone who becomes born-again?
A: Afraid of the fall-out that may come upon their selves, it’s not unusual for them to “beat around the bush” so to speak and try to remain uninvolved.
Point: Coming to Christ does not provide the automatic assurance that those closest to us will be so moved by the example that they, too, embrace Him.
“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
— Luke 12:51-53
Q: What is the initial attack by the Pharisees? How is this often the first rebuttal against a born-again experience?
A: They begin attacking Christ by saying, “This man is not from God”. (v.16)
Q: How did the Pharisees add to their attack the second time?
A: In v.24 they declare Jesus “is a sinner”.
Q: How would you characterize the man’s response to the authorities’ accusations?
A: First he simply relayed what he knew (v.25); then he used common sense to show how foolish their statements were. (v.30-33)
Point: The simple-hearted believer knows more spiritual truth than even the most educated, unsaved theologian.
O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
— Psalm 119:97-104
Application: It would have been easy for the man to hide his confession in order to avoid controversy, but he fearlessly stood his ground because of the difference Christ made in his life. Everyone who has not merely met Christ but trusted Him is proven authentic by showing it openly.
Q: What might be ironic about being cast out of the synagogue?
A: The safest place for him was actually being outside the reach of false religious influences. Although cast out, Christ took Him in and thus cured Him of spiritual blindness.
Point: The effect of embracing the Truth may result in “losing one’s religion” in exchange for true salvation.
Q: Going back through the entire passage, how did the man’s knowledge and perception of Christ change over time?
Application: It’s a picture of coming out of spiritual darkness into the Light of Christ.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
— Proverbs 4:18
Q: How do Jesus’ concluding remarks speak to the irony of the working of the light?
A: The same light which leads one person can actually blind another. The difference has to do with whether or not one accepts or rejects the Word of God through Christ.
The Gospel produces different reactions from different kinds of hearts: the blind sinner receives the truth and sees, the self-righteous “religious” person rejects the truth and becomes even more blind spiritually.