Questions for the Blind

Questions for the Blind

John 9:1-41

In 1748, a young sailor was caught in a violent storm at sea. As the ship, the Greyhound, was battered by the waves and began to break apart, he worked through the night, desperately trying to keep it afloat. And with every bucket of water he threw overboard, he began to think about his own soul, wondering if this would be his last day and asking, “Could God forgive my sin?”

This was no ordinary ship. It was a slave ship, and he was a slave trader. He had rejected the God his mother taught him as a boy and chosen instead the riches of that trade. But that night, as he faced his own mortality, something began to change. That young slave trader would later become a pastor, and he would write a hymn for the people of God to sing:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.

John Newton’s words are also the words of every saint that has bent their knee in repentance and faith before the Father, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”These words resonate not just with Newton, and not just with those who have sung this song, but with us, because they speak of salvation. They echo the very truth we see in our text. What God did in Newton’s life, opening blind eyes and saving a sinner, is the same work we see in the Gospel of John, revealed and applied by the Holy Spirit of God.

As we come to John chapter 9, we step into a moment of growing opposition to the Lord Jesus. In chapter 8, He is accused by the Jews of having a demon. He confronts them for their hypocrisy, especially in how they appeal to Abraham. Then Jesus makes the staggering declaration, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Those listening understood exactly what He was saying—that He was God in the flesh, the great I AM—and they picked up stones to kill Him. The penalty for blasphemy, for claiming to be God, was stoning. Yet even in that moment, Jesus was revealing Himself to them with patience and kindness.

John has already told us in John 1:12 that Jesus came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Throughout this Gospel, John shows that invitation going out to both Jews and Gentiles. Some received Him, the disciples who followed Him, but many did not.

That context matters, because the overarching purpose of John’s Gospel is clear: he wrote these things so that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name. The long discourse in John chapter 8, from verse 12 to verse 58, begins with Jesus declaring, “I am the light of the world.” And now, in John chapter 9, He does not merely say it again; He shows it.

Jesus is clearly showing both us and the original audience that He brings light and reveals who God truly is. He is making the Father known to the Jews and to all who will listen. And even in the face of their rebellion, He is being kind. He does not merely give them words. He gives them a physical sign to display a deeper spiritual truth.

So as we walk through this account, we are going to follow a series of questions that rise out of the text from those who are blind. And my hope is that by the end of this message, all of us could say with Newton and with every true believer, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”

Who Sinned? (John 9:1–5)

John begins the chapter with an important distinction that will be significant as the story unfolds, John 9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

This verse matters because it underscores the miracle of what is happening, that there was a man who was born blind from birth and he was given sight.

I think we have to guard against two tendencies in our culture. One is an anti-supernatural mindset, where we no longer believe that anything miraculous can happen. The other is just as dangerous. We become so desensitized to the supernatural that it no longer surprises us. There is a constant wave of media, movies, and shows that make the supernatural feel ordinary, and when we come to Scripture, we can begin to treat it like just another story. But we must remember, this is not fiction.

John continues with a question from his disciples that reveals the common held belief of the day, John 9:2, And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

It was common in Jewish thought to connect all deformities and physical or mental disabilities directly to sin. We see this same thinking in the story of Job. Job experienced intense suffering in his body, his family, and his wealth, and his friends assumed it must be because of some sin he had committed. They kept asking, “What did you do wrong for this to happen to you?”

Now, we do know that some suffering can be a consequence of sin. We see it in King David’s life so we know there are times when suffering is connected to sin. But it is not always the case.

What the disciples were doing here was taking a general truth and applying it universally. They were reading from a certain line of thought and projecting it onto this situation. So do not hear me saying that suffering always happens because of personal sin, but do not mishear me and think it never does. The reality is, we do not know the mind and purposes of God in every situation.

Jesus answered this question from the disciples, a question shaped by their own blindness and unbelief. John 9:3 “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

God was going to use this man to display His works, not only for those in the first century, but even for us today. God has His purposes, and He does as He sees fit. There are things in this life that defy human logic. Some things God has clearly revealed, and other things He has not, leaving them to His secret will.

We must trust that God has given us everything we need to live and to serve Him. Scripture tells us He has given us all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). And yet there are moments when we do not understand why things happen. In those moments, when God does not give us the reason, we trust Him. Because He is a good God. Jesus continues His answer to the disciples. John 9:4–5 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

That statement “the light of the world” connects directly to the entire discourse at the end of John chapter 8. Remember, the chapter divisions are artificial; they were added later. John writes this connecting John 8 directly with John 9.

Jesus came to display the works of the Father and to make God known. John tells us that no one has seen God, but Jesus Christ has revealed Him. And Jesus teaches that His disciples will carry on those works. We see it in Luke 10 as they are sent out, and in Acts as they continue in the power of the Spirit. Now we, as the people of God, are called to do the same, primarily through the ministry of reconciliation, pleading with others to be reconciled to God and encouraging one another to grow in Christ through the Spirit’s work.

Maybe in a room this size there are some of you who have not yet trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I, along with these believers, would plead with you today to understand that God sent His Son for you, to bring you to Himself. You are a sinner like all of us, and you need a Savior like all of us. God has sent Jesus to save, but you must turn to Him.

Jesus warns that night is coming when no one can work. The call is urgent. Come to Him while you can. The night is coming for all of us, and the question we must each answer is this: are you ready when the lights go out?

Jesus is confronting all who do not believe in Him. He is showing that He is the light of the world, the very light of the glory of God, and He calls you now to turn your eyes to Him so you will not remain blind.

How were your eyes opened? (John 9:6–12)

Up to this point, Jesus has been teaching. He has been answering questions and correcting assumptions about suffering, sin, and the purposes of God. But now He moves from words to action. What He has declared about Himself, He is about to demonstrate. He has said that He is the light of the world, and now He shows what that light does. It breaks into darkness and gives sight to those who cannot see. John 9:6–7,

Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

This connects directly to the miracle. Jesus has just declared that He is the light of the world, and having said that, He moves immediately into action. He does not only speak truth. He demonstrates it. The way He does it is intentional.

Jesus takes the mud, mixes it with saliva, and places it on the man’s eyes. This points back to Genesis 2:7, where God formed man from the dust of the ground. What Jesus is doing here is an act of creation, or better, recreation. He is restoring what was broken. Then He tells the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam, which means “Sent.” That detail reflects what Jesus has been saying all along. He is the One sent from the Father.

It is interesting that when you read chapters 8 and 9 together, you see this recurring theme. The Jews keep saying about Jesus, “We do not know where He comes from.” They question His origin again and again.

That becomes a central question in John’s Gospel: where did Jesus come from? Is He from God or not? That question is decisive. If Jesus comes from the Father, then He is the Son of God. And if He is the Son of God, then by believing in Him, you have life in His name. But if He is only a man, then He is not the Son of God, and He cannot give life. So here is the question every one of us must answer: where did Jesus come from? John 9:8–12,

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

So there is disbelief. Many of us have read this story countless times, but in the first century, a man born blind receiving sight was unheard of. That is why John emphasizes in verse 1 that he was blind from birth.

And yet, instead of rejoicing, the people are skeptical. The neighbors question it. “Isn’t this the man who used to beg?” But it is not just the neighbors. It is the religious leaders as well. Jesus is exposing something here. They are not focused on the works of God, but on the traditions of men.

Imagine someone who has spent years mastering the rules of a game. Then they witness something incredible, but instead of celebrating it, they ask, “Did he break a rule?” Their focus is not on what happened, but on whether it fits their system. That is what is happening here. Their traditions have become their lens, and they miss the work of God right in front of them. And if we are not careful, we can do the same: knowing the right categories and holding the right positions, yet still missing what God is doing.

How can a sinner do such signs? (John 9:13–23)

The miracle is undeniable. The man who was blind can now see. No one is questioning that anymore. But now the focus shifts. The question is no longer what happened, but what does it mean about Jesus? And what divides the people is not the miracle itself, but how they interpret it. John 9:13–17,

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

Now remember, Jesus does nothing by accident. He always has a purpose. And whatever you are walking through right now, you can trust that He has a purpose in that as well. Jesus heals the blind man, but notice when and how He does it. He heals him on the Sabbath, and He uses mud. Could Jesus have healed him without the mud? Of course He could. But He does it this way intentionally.

By using the mud, He points back to Himself as the Creator, echoing Genesis. And by doing it on the Sabbath, He confronts the man-made traditions that had been added to God’s law. There was a rule against kneading dough and using the mud like he did would have been considered breaking their Sabbath tradition. But He is not breaking the Sabbath. He is exposing their misunderstanding of it. What Jesus is doing is revealing their hearts. They are so focused on their traditions that they miss the miracle right in front of them. All they can see is that it happened on the Sabbath, and in doing so, they miss the work of God.

So a division begins to form in this text, and you can see three clear responses. First, there are the deniers. They say, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” Their minds are made up. They are not evaluating the evidence. They are dismissing it. In their view, Jesus cannot be from God because He does not fit their framework. They wanted to kill Him, not only because they thought He was breaking the Sabbath, but because He was making Himself equal with God. So they deny Him outright.

Second, there are the questioners. They are not ready to dismiss Jesus, but they are not ready to believe either. They ask, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” They feel the tension. It does not make sense to them. They are wrestling, but they have not yet arrived at their conclusion.

And third, there are the confessors. They turn to the man who was healed and ask, “What do you say about Him?” And he answers, “He is a prophet.” His belief is beginning to take shape. At first the man explained that it was the man Jesus and now he is a prophet. He is responding to what he has seen and experienced. So the question for us is clear. Where do you stand? Are you a denier, questioner, or confesser?

As we look at these responses, we need to see this clearly. This is not just about how they interpreted what happened, but how we interpret what God is doing around us. I am grateful for what God is doing in our church. We love the Word and want our life shaped by Scripture. And yet, it is possible to claim to love truth and still misinterpret the work of God.

The Pharisees believed they were defending truth, yet their confidence in their interpretation caused them to miss the work of God right in front of them. So we must ask ourselves, are we doing the same? Are we too quick to filter everything through our framework instead of asking, “Is God at work here?” Are we too quick to look down on others or question what God may be doing?

We must hold fast to doctrine and contend for the faith, but with humility, gentleness, and love. Because when our interpretation becomes the final standard, we may be in danger of missing what God is actually doing. Let’s not assume the motives of others or rush to conclusions. Let’s leave room for the possibility that our understanding may need to be adjusted.

Beloved, the heart of the Christian life is humility. We bring nothing to our salvation except the sin that made it necessary. Christ came for us when we offered nothing to Him. That should shape how we see others.

The miracle is no longer in dispute. The man who was blind can now see. But instead of leading to faith, it leads to deeper investigation. They are still searching for another explanation. They are still asking, in one way or another, how can this be? John 9:18–21,

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”

Now I just said we don’t read people’s motives unless the Bible gives us their motive for what they said, and the Bible does. John 9:22–23,

(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”)

The Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Jesus as the Christ, they would be put out of the synagogue. That is why his parents say, “He is of age; ask him.” The leaders are still searching for another explanation because they do not want to believe what is right in front of them. And the parents hold back because they are afraid. They confirm what they cannot deny, but they refuse to say more. We may not fully understand all of their motives, but we understand ours.

Some of you are here and do not believe in Jesus Christ. You may doubt His power, His identity as the Messiah, or His ability to forgive your sin. You may think the gospel is too good to be true, or you resist it because you know it would require your life to change.

Friends, we need to do heart work. We so often move from one thing to the next without stopping to examine what is really going on inside us. Slow down and ask, “Why do I believe? Or why do I refuse to believe? “Why do I serve the Lord? Is it for others to see, or in response to the love of Christ?”

In this moment, the parents of the blind man choose the safe route. They admit what they cannot deny, that this is their son and that he was born blind, but they refuse to say more. Imagine it. The first faces he would want to see are his parents, and surely he told them what happened. Yet they do not stand with him. Their response sounds careful, even reasonable. “He is of age; ask him.” But Scripture reveals the truth. They are afraid. They will not confess Jesus as the Christ because they are afraid of the cost.

How many of you face that same pressure every day? At work, in your relationships, maybe even in your family Will you confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, along with all that He commands, or will you stay quiet to avoid being out of step with those around you? To follow Christ publicly may cost you. It may cost you opportunities. It may cost you relationships. It may even cost your reputation.

We are living in a culture that is increasingly opposed to God. Truth is being redefined. What is right is often called wrong, and what is wrong is celebrated as right. And that creates real pressure. It is not easy to follow Christ in that kind of environment. Many of you feel that weight every day. You want to be faithful, but you also feel the tension. You know what it could cost you to speak clearly and to confidently for Christ

And yet, in the middle of that pressure, Christ calls us to stand. Not in pride, but in conviction. Not in anger, but in courage. Not with harshness, but with quiet, steady faithfulness. And we do not stand alone. If you are struggling, go read Revelation 2-3. See the risen Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, speaking to His church, calling them to endure, to remain faithful, to overcome. He knows the pressure. He sees the cost. And He promises that those who stand with Him now will share in His life forever.

Do you want to become his disciples? (John 9:24–34)

The pressure continues to build in this passage, for at this point, the miracle is undeniable. The investigation has happened. The parents have been questioned. The facts are clear. But instead of leading to belief, the resistance hardens. So they call the man in again. John 9:24,

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

See again how confident they are. Their conclusions are already set. “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” It sounds pious, but it is not neutral. What they are really saying echoes Joshua 7:19, when Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” In other words, come clean. Just admit the truth. That is what the Pharisees are doing. They are not investigating. They are pressing him to agree with their verdict. John 9:25, He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

Friends, cherish those words. This man can see, and as we will see, it means far more than physical sight. No one can deny what God has done in your life. People may challenge what you believe. They may disagree with your theology. But they cannot deny the change that God has worked in you. So be bold. Speak clearly of what God has done for you in Christ.

John 9:26–27,

They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

I love this little section because it’s like this man is showing he’s just a man who has got common sense. The accusers are asking him to say it again that maybe they’ll trip him up and maybe he’ll say something different. And the man assumes their motives. Do maybe some of you want to become his disciples? He has already made his choice. John 9:28–29,

And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”

There it is again. “We do not know where he comes from.” What they are really saying is, we do not believe he is from God. This is their confession of unbelief.

And yet throughout this Gospel, Jesus has made it clear again and again: He has come from the Father. He has said it plainly. He has shown it through His works. But they refuse to see the signs. They refuse to listen to His words. They claim to know that God has spoken to Moses, but they reject the One to whom Moses pointed. And who are they saying this to? A man who was born blind and now sees.

Where does Jesus come from? This will determine whether you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God or a mere man. You must decide. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? If you believe, then follow Him. We all need to choose. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? We see how the man answers that question in John 9:30–33,

The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

All this man is doing is pointing to the facts.

And if you are here and not a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I would urge you to do the same. Look at the facts. Consider the resurrection of Christ. Look at the history of the church. Consider the transformation of the apostles from fearful men to bold witnesses in the book of Acts. Think about the countless believers throughout history who have willingly given their lives for the sake of Christ. These are not blind leaps. These are real, historical realities that call for a response.

And how do they respond to his simple, common-sense argument? Not with reflection, but with anger. John 9:34, They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

They do not engage the truth. They attack the man. They fall back on the same assumption that has been driving their thinking all along. You were born blind because of your sin. That is why this happened to you. This is not a statement about total depravity. It is a restating of their flawed belief that his condition was directly tied to personal sin. And in their pride, they dismiss him entirely

Who is the Son of Man? (John 9:35–38)

Just when you think the story has reached its climax, it keeps going. The man has been healed. He has testified. And now he has been cast out. Rejected by the religious leaders, pushed aside by those who should have recognized the work of God. But the story is not over, because Jesus is not finished with him. John 9:35–36,

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

Do not miss this. Jesus went and found him. The one who was cast out by men is sought out by Christ. That is the heart of our Savior.

Now notice how Jesus identifies Himself. Throughout John’s Gospel, He is often called the Messiah or the Son of God. But here He uses the title “Son of Man.” Why? Because this title reveals both who He is and what He has come to do. It is a title that shows God made known to man, which is exactly what Jesus is doing here. And it also points to His authority as the One who will judge. The Son of Man is the One who will stand over all people, the One who will judge the living and the dead.

So listen carefully. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. He came as God in the flesh. He lived a perfect life as the light of the world. He went to the cross and took on darkness and death, paying for the sins of all who repent and trust in Him. He was buried, and on the third day He rose, overcoming sin and death through His death, burial, and resurrection.

So the question the man is asking is, “Who is the Son of Man? Who is the Savior of the world? Who will judge the living and the dead?” This is the question the blind man must answer, and it is the same question every one of us must answer. John 9:37–38,

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

That is the correct response. He was the man Jesus, then the prophet and now he calls him Lord. He believed and worshiped. May we do the same.

Are we also blind? (John 9:39–41)

Jesus does not pull away from the crowd. This conversation continues in public, and others are listening. What He says now brings everything into focus. It is not just about one man receiving sight. It is about who truly sees and who remains blind. John 9:39–41,

Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

The Pharisees hear this and immediately respond. “Are we also blind?” It is not a humble question. It is defensive. Do you really think we do not see? Do you really think we do not understand?

If we are honest, we can all recognize moments like that in our own lives. Times when we feel the need to explain ourselves, to hold our ground, or to respond before we have fully listened. Not always out of hardness, but sometimes out of uncertainty, or a desire to be understood. There is something in us that wants to be right, to be seen, to be secure.

But this is where the gospel meets us with grace. In Christ, we do not have to defend ourselves or prove that we see perfectly. We are already known, already forgiven, already secure in Him. That frees us to slow down, to listen, and even to admit when we may not see as clearly as we thought. This is evidence that grace is at work in us.

And Jesus answers them directly. If you were blind, if you recognized your need, you would have no guilt. But because you claim to see, because you trust in your own understanding, your guilt remains.

Those who admit their blindness and their need for a Savior receive sight. We must recognize that we are spiritually blind and in need of Christ. But those who claim to see on their own, who trust in their works and their own righteousness, remain guilty before God. So the question is simple. Are you blind? Have you come to see your need for a Savior? Can you say, “I was blind, but now I see,” or are you still holding on to pride and refusing to admit your need?

This story is not only about a blind man receiving sight. It is about Jesus, the light of the world, opening blind eyes to see the glory of God. Light and life are found in Him alone. So the question is this. How will you respond to Jesus? Will you resist Him, avoid Him, or believe in Him? True sight begins when we admit our blindness and look to Christ. The hymn says it well:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”

That is the cry of every heart that has truly seen Him. So turn your eyes to Jesus. And if you are blind, ask Him to give you sight. And if you see, then never forget your testimony “I once was blind, but now I see,” now go and tell others that they may believe also..