Jesus the Creator of Healing
John Chapter 9:1-7
Jesus performed a miracle by recreating
the eyes of a man who was born with congenital blindness,
v.1. Four features highlight this healing:
(1) The problem that
precipitated the healing, v.1
(2)
The purpose for the man’s being born blind, verses
2-5
(3)
The power that healed him, verses 6-7
(4) The perplexity
of the people who saw the healing, verses 8-13.
John 9:1 "And as Jesus
passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth."
The fact that this man was
blind from birth brings us to believe that a creative
miracle would be needed here. This man had not lost his
sight from an accident, nor had he gradually lost his sight.
Jesus does not overlook the needs of people, even though He
is just passing by.
The controversy arose
during the Feast of Dedication.
V-2, "And his disciples
asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his
parents, that he was born blind?"
There was a Jewish belief
that all suffering was punishment for sin. But how could a
person have sinned before birth? The Jews considered human
life to begin at conception (Psalm 51:5; 139:-13-16; Jer.
1:5; Gal. 1:15). Thus, they thought one could theoretically
sin even before birth.
Really, this question shows
the weakness of the disciples' understanding. It appears
from this question they asked Jesus, that they believe all
disease is caused by sin. This is just not true. Some
disease is caused by sin, but not all.
While sin may be a cause of
suffering, as clearly indicated in Scripture (See 5:14; Num.
12; 1 Cor. 11:30 and James 5:15), it is not always the case
necessarily. The disciples assumed, like most Jews of their
day that sin was the primary, if not exclusive, cause of all
suffering. In this instance, Jesus made it clear that
personal sin was not the reason for the blindness, see verse
3.
A very good example of
sickness without sin is Job. It seems, though these
disciples walked with Jesus most of the time, they still
misunderstood much of His teaching. If this man's sin made
him blind, how did he sin before his birth? You see, that
statement could not be true, because you must live before
you yourself sin.
V-3, "Jesus answered,
Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the
works of God should be made manifest in him."
We see, here, an answer to
many of the people today who preach that sickness means you
have sinned. I say again, not all sickness is caused by sin.
You see, God had a purpose in this man's blindness.
Jesus did not deny the
general connection between sin and suffering, but refuted
the idea that personal acts of sin were the direct cause.
God’s sovereignty and purposes play a part in such matters,
as is clear from Job 1 and 2.
Many dear saints have been
made to feel guilty about disease in their bodies. God has
many purposes unknown to us. One of the best examples, I
believe, is Paul. God would not take his thorn in the flesh
away, so that Paul would remain humble. We are not told
specifically what disease Paul had, we just know that God
refused to heal him for a purpose.
Most people are closer to
God when there is a problem in their life. The purpose of
this man's blindness is to show the creative power of the
Lord Jesus. I say creative, because he had never seen
before. The Lord must create sight for him.
V-4, "I must work the
works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work."
Just as Jesus says, here,
that He must work while it is day, we must do the same.
“While it is day”: Jesus
meant as long as He was still on earth with His disciples.
The phrase doesn’t not mean that Jesus somehow stopped being
the light of the world once He ascended but that the light
shone most brightly among men when He was on the earth doing
the Father’s will.
After we have died, it is
too late to go out and do the things God called us to do
while we were on earth. The called of God are called to
complete a mission on this earth. The job God called you to
do, is not for your life in heaven, but is a call to work
here on this earth.
Jesus was on a mission. He
knew His time on earth was limited. He must complete His
mission as the opportunity arises now.
V-5, "As long as I am in
the world, I am the light of the world."
These words are in red in
the Bible which tell us that Jesus spoke these words
Himself. He is the Light. Those who do not receive Jesus,
even now, are living in darkness.
We have already studied in
this teaching on the Book of John that Jesus said, "I am the
light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life." When it became
dark for three hours at Jesus' crucifixion, Satan thought he
had defeated Jesus. He was really disappointed when Jesus
rose from the grave.
Not only was Jesus
spiritually the light of the world, but He would also
provide the means of physical light for this blind man.
The phrase “Light of the
world” means “as long as I am in the world.” When He is no
longer in the world, then believers become the light of the
world (Mat. 5:14).
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