Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

Continuing in our look at the Gospel of John, we are now in the ninth chapter.

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

A big question, when not used as a deflection of the Gospel, is why suffering is allowed in this world. Even when we repent and put our faith in Jesus, not all questions are answered immediately. This is a question that many of us still have. The Bible gives some clues here, and basically says that even though we suffer, God allows it so His glory can be displayed in us. Even with our shortcomings, God is able to achieve His goals, and that way He gets the glory, as He deserves, and not us. We learn to lean on Him, and not our own strengths.

6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."

10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.

11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

12 "Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.

We notice that each time Jesus performed a miracle, He didn't perform a ritual or do it the same way twice. The miracle is in Jesus, and not in the ritual.