Healing the Man Born Blind

Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5) and demonstrated what He meant by healing a man with congenital blindness. Jesus’ presence in the world as “light” served first as a source of revelation, revealing “the works of God” (John 9:3) in overcoming affliction. But this “light” was also a source of judgment (see John 3:19–21). The healing provoked a crisis because it was performed on the Sabbath (9:16). By self-righteously condemning Jesus as a “sinner” for this breach of Sabbath observance traditions, Jesus’ Pharisaic opponents brought themselves under judgment (John 9:39–41).

Conversely, the man who was healed received not only physical sight but also increasing spiritual insight. As he reflected upon what had happened to him, he gradually proceeded from referring to his benefactor as “a Man called Jesus” (9:11) to saying that “He is a prophet” (9:17), and ultimately to confessing belief that He is “the Son of God” (9:35–38).

Taken from Chronological Study Bible