This is the manuscript of the third sermon in the "Lenten Journey" series.
Scripture
John 9:1-22 NIV [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 works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works 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.” [6] After saying 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 asked. [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. [13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. [14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” [16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. [17] Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” [18] They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. [19] “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” [20] “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. [21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” [22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.
Text
John 9:6-7 NIV [6] After saying 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” or Sending). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
Have you ever tried to drive through a thick fog? You know the road is there, but you can only see a few feet in front of you. Every shadow looks like an obstacle, and every light is blurred. Often, our spiritual lives feel exactly like that. We are surrounded by God’s presence, yet we walk as if we are in the dark, blinded by our own worries, our past mistakes, or the rigid expectations we place on how God "should" act.
Today, in the 9th chapter of John we meet a man who lived in physical darkness from birth. But when we read the entire chapter, we discover that the truly blind people in the story weren't the man himself, but those who stood around him with perfect physical vision.
The chapter is pretty long so asked James to read only the first 22 verses in our scripture reading this morning. I suggest that you read the entire chapter when you get home or as soon as you can. I am going to summarize and hit the high and most important points today.
The chapter begins with Jesus and his disciples encountering a man who has been blind since birth. The disciples ask a theological question: "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
In the culture of that time, many believed that physical disabilities or tragedies were a direct result of specific sins. When the disciples saw the man born blind, they asked Jesus: who sinned, this man or his parents.
Their question assumed only two options: Either the man sinned (perhaps in the womb somehow) or his parents sinned. They were looking for someone to blame for the man's condition.
Jesus corrects their premise, stating that neither the man nor his parents sinned to cause his blindness; rather, it happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Instead of looking backward to find a cause for the pain, Jesus looks forward to find a purpose for it. It suggests that God can take a situation of brokenness and use it as a platform to show His power, grace, and restoration."
Jesus then spits on the ground, makes mud with the saliva, applies it to the man’s eyes, and tells him to wash in the Pool of Siloam (sih-LOH-um). The man obeys and now he can see.
The miracle triggers a series of confrontations because Jesus performed the miracle on the Sabbath.
The Skeptics argue that Jesus cannot be from God because he "breaks" the Sabbath. Others ask, "How can a sinner perform this kind of a miracle?
The Pharisees interrogate the man twice and even call his parents. His parents, fearing they will be expelled from the synagogue, deflect the questions back to their son.
John 9:20-23 NIV [20] “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. [21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”
As the questioning grows the Pharisees try to trap the man who can now see, by labeling Jesus a sinner.. He brushes aside their theology with a powerfully simple yet very powerful observation.
John 9:25 NIV “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Eventually, he flips the script on his interrogators by asking them if their constant demand for more details is actually a secret desire to join Jesus’ ranks."
John 9:27 NIV He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
Infuriated by his defense of Jesus, the religious leaders excommunicate him from the synagogue. They kick him out.
Jesus finds the man after his expulsion and reveals Himself and the man immediately believes and worships him.
John 9:35-38 NIV [35] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” [37] Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” [38] Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
The chapter ends with Jesus delivering a sharp paradox which is a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself or defy logic on the surface, but on closer inspection, contains an amazing or hidden truth.
John 9:39-41 NIV [39] Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” [40] Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” [41] Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
On the surface, this sounds contradictory. How can a Savior come for "judgment" if his mission is "salvation"? And why would he want people to become "blind"?
Well let's break it down
The "Blind" Who See: Are the people who recognize their own spiritual poverty, ignorance, and need for God. Like the man born blind, they admit they don't have all the answers. Because they are open, they are able to receive the "light" of truth.
The "Seeing" Who Become Blind: Are the people—like the Pharisees—who are convinced they already possess all the truth, the right laws, and the perfect perspective. Their pride acts as a veil; because they claim to see perfectly, they never seek the light, effectively leaving them in total darkness.
When the Pharisees ask, "What? Are we blind too?"Jesus delivers the final blow to their logic. It’s in verse 41
“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
He explains that "blindness" is not the sin. Honest ignorance is not a sin. Their sin is arrogance. If they admitted they were "blind", if they admitted that they were spiritually needy, then they would be open to grace.
But because they insist on their own enlightenment ("they claim we can see"), they remain stuck in their guilt. They have closed the door to the only one who can actually give them sight.
As we continue our Lenten journey to the cross, we must ask ourselves: What is blurring our vision? Are we ready to move From Blindness to Sight and see the "strong foundation" God is building right in front of us?
Here’s the point of all this background and really the lesson in this entire chapter of John and this sermon.
This story begins with a question of blame. The disciples see the blind man and ask, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" \. They wanted a "quick fix" for their theological confusion—a simple cause-and-effect explanation for suffering.
Jesus completely realigns their perspective. He tells them it’s not about blame, but about opportunity: "This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" . In our own lives, we spend so much energy asking "Why is this happening to me?" that we miss asking "What is God doing through this?" Lent is a time for regular self-reflection to stop looking for someone to blame and start looking for where God’s light is breaking through our struggles.
II. The Messy Process of Healing
Jesus’ method of healing is strange and messy. He mixes spit with dirt to make mud. He could have just spoken a word, but He chose a process that required the man to take a step of faith—to walk, still blind and covered in mud, to the Pool of Siloam to wash.
Our spiritual "sight" rarely returns in an instant. It is a continuous process. Sometimes, God uses the "mud" of our lives—the common, dirty, difficult parts—to begin the healing. Aligning with God’s will means being willing to walk in obedience even when we don't yet have the full picture. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, "For we live by faith, not by sight."
III. The Blindness of the "Seeing"
As the story progresses, the religious leaders become the focus. They have the scriptures, the law, and their physical sight, yet they are blind to the miracle standing before them. They are so attached to their "tradition" (the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath) that they refuse to see the "Truth."
They represent the danger of a rigid foundation that isn't open to God’s guidance. If our faith is just a set of rules, we will eventually become blind to the living, breathing work of the Spirit. The healed man, however, has a simple, unshakeable testimony: "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" .
IV. Seeing the Son of Man
After the man is cast out by the leaders, Jesus finds him again. He asks, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" (John 9:35). The man’s physical sight was just the beginning; his spiritual sight is completed when he recognizes Jesus for who He truly is and worships Him.
Our Lenten journey is leading us to this same point. We strip away the distractions so that we can see Jesus clearly. When our vision is cleared, our priorities naturally shift. We no longer see people as problems to be solved or obstacles to be avoided, but as opportunities for God’s work to be displayed.
Closing: Washing in Siloam
The man had to wash away the mud to see the world. Today, Jesus is putting His hand on the "blind spots" of your heart. Maybe it’s a blind spot of pride, a blind spot of resentment, or a blind spot of fear that has kept you from seeing God’s hand in your life.
As you leave today, consider what "mud" you need to wash away. Don't just look at your circumstances; look for the "works of God" in them. Trust that He is building a foundation in you that will not be shaken, even when the world feels dark. Walk in the light of the One who is the Light of the World.
Closing Prayer
Gracious and All-Seeing God,
We come before You today acknowledging the "fog" that often clouds our vision. We confess that, like the disciples, we often spend our time asking "why" and looking for someone to blame, rather than asking "what" You are doing in our midst.
Lord, we thank You that You do not leave us in our darkness. Thank You for the "mud" and the messy processes of our lives that You use to bring about healing. We ask that You would give us the courage of the man born blind—the faith to walk toward the water even when we cannot yet see the path.
Wash away our blind spots, O Lord:
Wash away the scales of pride that keep us from seeing our need for You.
Wash away the film of resentment that blurs our ability to see Your image in our neighbors.
Wash away the shadows of fear that make every challenge look like an obstacle instead of an opportunity for Your glory.
May we not be like those who claim to see but remain in the dark. Instead, let our testimony be simple and unshakeable: "I was blind, but now I see." Help us to recognize Jesus in the ordinary moments and to align our priorities with Your divine will.
Build in us a strong foundation of faith that no interrogation or excommunication from the world can shake. May we walk as children of the Light, carrying Your hope into every dark corner we encounter.
In the name of Jesus, the Light of the World.
Reflection Questions
The "Why" vs. the "What": Think of a difficult situation you are currently facing. Instead of asking "Why is this happening?", try asking "How might the works of God be displayed in this?" How does that change your perspective?
The Blind Spots: What is one "tradition" or "habit" in your life that might actually be keeping you from seeing a new thing God is trying to do?
The Testimony: If someone asked you where you have seen God working in your life this week, what would your "I once was blind, but now I see" story be?
Relevant Scriptures for Further Meditation
Psalm 119:18: "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."
Ephesians 1:18: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you..."
1 Samuel 16:7: The reminder that God does not see as man sees; God looks at the heart.
John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
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