John 9. Yesterday we encountered Jesus declaring, “I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). In today’s text we discover Jesus restoring sight to a man born blind – a living example of one who walked in darkness his whole life, encountered Jesus, and suddenly had his eyes filled with light and his world transformed.

Consider how the narrative of the miraculous sign (number six) begins: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2) Jesus answers, “Neither.” The question itself reflects a view that all suffering is punishment for sin of one kind or another. Jesus rejects this worldview, reframing the situation simply as an opportunity for God to be glorified in the healing of this man. Theologically speaking, we do recognize that there is a connection between sin and suffering due to the fall. Sometimes there is a direct correlation between a sin and certain suffering, but not all the time. We live in a broken world, full of broken people. Suffering cannot always be tied to a sin or an individual’s choices.

Jesus mixes up some mud and saliva and then applies it to the eyes of the blind man. Surely Jesus could have healed him with a simple touch, or even from a distance, so we wonder why Jesus chooses this method at this time. It is possible that – in this creative miracle for a man who has never had sight – Jesus makes mud as a side reference to the creation of man from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). Jesus is making vision out of nothing, not simply correcting an illness.

The text also tells us later that it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes (John 9:14). You are not going to believe this – but it was illegal on the Sabbath day to make or mix anything, including mud that was to be used for healing. Remember the drama in John 5 when Jesus healed the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda – on the Sabbath, on purpose? Here we go again!

Most of the text in John 9 explores the reaction of different parties to the healing of the blind man by Jesus. The blind man’s journey is highlighted for us. He was ignorant and Jesus sought him out for healing. He accepted the gift of mud given to him, obeyed Jesus’ instructions to go and wash, and he received his sight. At first, he did not even understand the identity of this man named Jesus, then he called him a prophet, and then he got into a heated verbal exchange with the religious leadership where he was defending Jesus. Finally, when Jesus hunted him down again and revealed his identity, the man responded immediately, “Lord, I believe” and he worshipped him (John 9:38).

Meanwhile, the religious leaders were combative and persistent, searching for a way to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath laws. There was no rejoicing that a blind man had been healed, they only asked him again how he had received his sight (John 9:15). The light shines in the darkness – some reacted by embracing it, while others rejected it.

To all who asked, the blind man simply offered his testimony, “One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see.” (John 9:25). How has Jesus brought light and healing into your life? Have you shared your story with others around you? Testifying to God’s goodness is not as complicated as we might think.