Two Miracles

   Some people in the Jewish hierarchy hated Jesus. They had no good argument against Him, so they used a tactic that wicked leaders often use: suppress truth by force. They excommunicated anyone who said that Jesus was the Christ: “…the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 9:22)

   One day Jesus met a man who was blind from birth. He “…spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,” (John 9:6) Then He told him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” (John 9:7) The man did so and received his sight.

   People who knew the man when he was blind asked him how he had received his sight. He said, “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.” (John 9:11)

   Some people took him to the Pharisees. Some Pharisees insisted Jesus was not the Christ. Others were unsure. The Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He gave them the same answer. Some Pharisees said, “This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.” (John 9:16)

   Jesus’ enemies argued that He violated the sabbath by working; that is, doing miracles, on the sabbath. Two of His replies are these: “…if it [one of your sheep] fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?” (Matthew 12:11) He also said, “…doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?” (Luke 13:15)

  The Pharisees asked the formerly blind man what he thought of Jesus. He replied, “He is a prophet.” (John 9:17) That reply brought them right back to the question, Is Jesus the Christ? They wondered if the man really had been born blind and received his sight. They asked his parents if it were true. His parents said it was, but they didn’t want to say how he had received his sight. They were afraid to be put out of the synagogue. They told the Pharisees to ask their son.

   They called the man back and tried to bluff him, saying, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.” (John 9:24) His reply was classic: “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25) John Newton may have gotten the lyrics “was blind but now I see,” in the first stanza of his hymn “Amazing Grace,” from this Scripture.

   The man also told them, “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:32-33)  They replied, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.” (John 9:34)

   Jesus asked the man, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” (John 9:35) He replied, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” (John 9:36) Jesus said, “Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.” The man said, “Lord, I believe.” (John 9:38) “And he worshipped him.” (John 9:38)

   The man received his sight, which was wonderful. But the best miracle was that he was forgiven for his sins by receiving Jesus as Saviour. You may be more or less healthy, but are you forgiven for your sins, saved, headed for heaven? If you want to see how to receive Jesus, God the Son, as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”

           Brian Miller 7/19/2023