Introduction:

A young man was born blind. He never saw a sunrise, his parents’ faces, or the beauty of creation. One day, a doctor offered him a groundbreaking surgery. The moment the bandages came off, he gasped—he could see! His whole world changed.

In John 9, we meet a man who was not only physically blind but later given spiritual sight. His encounter with Jesus teaches us about God’s power, the danger of spiritual blindness, and the response of true faith.

Background & Context:

• In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind, demonstrating God’s power over sin and brokenness.
• The Pharisees, instead of rejoicing, interrogate the man and reject the miracle.
• The healed man is cast out of the synagogue, but Jesus finds him and reveals Himself as the Son of Man.
• The story highlights two kinds of blindness: physical blindness (which Jesus heals) and spiritual blindness (which many refuse to admit).

Key Points:

1. God’s Power is Displayed in Our Weakness (John 9:3, 39)

• Key Verse (John 9:3): “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
• The disciples assumed the man’s blindness was because of sin, but Jesus corrected them—God was going to use his weakness for His glory.
• Application: Sometimes, our struggles are the very places where God wants to show His power. What area of weakness in your life can God use?

2. Spiritual Blindness is Worse than Physical Blindness (John 9:40-41)

• Jesus told the Pharisees (v. 41): “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
• The healed man recognized Jesus, while the religious leaders refused to.
• Many people have eyes but refuse to see the truth—pride, tradition, or fear keep them in spiritual darkness.
• Application: Are we truly seeing God’s truth, or are we stuck in religious blindness?

3. True Faith is Personal, Not Just Theological (John 9:35-38)

• Jesus finds the man and asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
• The man responds in faith and worships Jesus (v. 38).
• Faith isn’t just about knowing about God; it’s about knowing Him personally.
• Application: Have you moved from knowing about Jesus to worshiping Him?

Practical Application – “Opening Our Eyes”

1. Examine Your Heart: Are there areas where pride or sin is keeping you spiritually blind?
2. See God’s Work in Your Struggles: Instead of asking “Why me?” ask “How can God be glorified in this?”
3. Respond in Worship: Like the healed man, let’s move from receiving blessings to truly worshiping Jesus.

Conclusion:

Jesus came to open blind eyes, both physically and spiritually. The man in John 9 gained both sight and salvation. The Pharisees, though religious, remained blind. The question is—which one are you?

Let’s pray that God opens our eyes to truly see Him.