John Chapter 9: Legalism Sickness Healing and Time of Jacob's Trouble

   1: And as Iesous passed by he saw a man who was blind from his birth 2: And his disciples asked him saying Master who did sin this man or his parents that he was born blind 3: Iesous answered Neither has this man sinned nor his parents but that the works ho Theos should be made manifest in him[1] 4: I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day the night comes when no one can work 5: As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world[2] 6: When he had thus spoken he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay 7: And said to him Go wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation Sent) He went his way therefore and washed and came seeing[3] 8: The neighbors therefore and they which before had seen him that he was blind said Is not this he that sat and begged 9: Some said This is he others said He is like him but he said I am he 10: Therefore said they to him How were your eyes opened 11: He answered and said A man that is called Iesous made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me Go to the pool of Siloam and wash and I went and washed and I received sight 12: Then said they to him Where is he He said I know not 13: They brought to the Pharisees him that before had been blind 14: And it was the Sabbath day when Iesous made the clay and opened his eyes 15: Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight He said to them He put clay upon my eyes and I washed and do see 16: Therefore said some of the Pharisees This man is not from ho Theos because he keeps not the Sabbath day[4] Others said How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles And there was a division among them [5] 17: They said to the blind man again What say you of him that he has opened your eyes? He said He is a prophet 18: But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received his sight until they called the parents of him that had received his sight 19: And they asked them saying Is this your son who you say was born blind how then does he now see 20: His parents answered them and said We know that this is our son and that he was born blind 21: But by what means he now sees we know not or who has opened his eyes we know not he is of age ask him he shall speak for himself 22: These words spoke his parents because they feared the Jews for the Jews had agreed already that if any did confess that he was Christos he should be put out of the synagogue[6] 23: Therefore said his parents He is of age ask him 24: Then again called they the man that was blind and said to him Give glory to Theos we know that this man is a sinner 25: He answered and said Whether he be a sinner or no I know not one thing I know that whereas I was blind now I see 26: Then said they to him again What did he to you how opened he your eyes 27: He answered them I have told you already and ye did not listen why would you hear it again will you also be his disciples 28: Then they reviled him and said you are his disciple but we are Moses' disciples 29: We know that ho Theos spoke to Moses as for this fellow we know not from where he is 30: The man answered and said to them Why this is a marvelous thing that you know not from where he is and yet he has opened my eyes 31: Now we know that ho Theos hears not sinners but if any be God-fearing and does his will them he hears 32: Since the world began was it not heard that any opened the eyes of one that was born blind 33: If this [man] were not of Theos he could do nothing 34: They answered and said to him you were altogether born in sins and do you teach us And they cast him out 35: Iesous heard that they had cast him out and when he had found him he said to him Do you believe on the Son ho Theos 36: He answered and said Who is he Lord that I might believe on him 37: And Iesous said to him You have both seen him and it is he that speaks with you 38: And he said Lord, I believe And he worshipped him 39: And Iesous said For judgment I am come into this world that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind[7] 40: And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said to him Are we blind also 41: Iesous said to them If you were blind you should have no sin but now you say We see therefore your sin remains




[1] The disciples here illustrate the typical Israelite response to sickness and infirmity in that it must have been caused by sin. Jesus did not rebuke them for this response, as it could have been true—however their automatic assumption about was incorrect and sinful. Jesus corrected them. He explained that the blind man’s suffering was part of God’s infinite plan to bring glory to himself. There is no doubt that many believed on the Messiah when they witnessed Jesus give sight to the blind man. The Law of Moses does say that if YHWH is obeyed none of the diseases that plagued the Egyptians would come upon the Children of Israel. But the scriptures also give a clear example of a man plagued by sickness and misfortune who did not bring on calamity through his own personal sin—That man is Job. This is where Christians must tread carefully, correctly discern the Word of God, and withhold judgments such as the one the disciples made concerning the blind man and his parents. Unless a Believer is given a Word for someone from the Almighty, via the Gifts of the Holy Spirit such as: The Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, or Word of Prophecy 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, no one, but Jesus, can say, “Go and sin no more….”
[2] When Jesus says, “The night comes when no one can work,” he is referring to the seven year night known as the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble,” which will commence when “He who restrains” is taken out of the way (The Holy Spirit restrains the spirit of anti-Christ, but that restraint will end when He exits this earth via the temples of those he indwells). When the Church—The Bride of Christ—is raised from the dead and the living are Caught Up, this event will signal the beginning of the First Resurrection and the Beginning of Sorrows which precedes The Great Tribulation (total time frame of both equals seven years). Both Jesus and Jeremiah used the same word, “Great,” in describing the “Great” time of trouble/tribulation that would afflict the whole earth during the seven year period of time just preceding the visible, physical, return of Jesus Christ to defeat his enemies and establish His Kingdom on earth 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, Jerimiah 30:7, Matthew 24:21, Luke 21:35-36.
[3] There is more than one scriptural example of a healing taking place only after the afflicted one obeyed instructions from a prophet to wash with or step into water. Remember, Jesus was also a Prophet Deuteronomy 18:15. This also brings to mind Ephesians 5:26 where Christians are told that they are set apart and made clean by the washing of the water of the Word. Jesus is the Word, and the scriptures admonish many times to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Daily Bible reading, and being doers of the Word and not hearers only, is essential to the renewing process and spiritual growth with the help of the Holy Spirit.
[4] In India, the sick and suffering with no loved ones to help them, are deliberately permitted to continue suffering, because it is Karma. What a perfect excuse, for those who believe everyone is perfected through suffering—through many lifetimes of paying penance for their wrongs—to refuse to help those in need.  Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. God gave the Jewish people laws and statutes that it might be well with them and their children Deuteronomy 4:40. But Jewish leaders burdened them with many rules and regulations connected to each Commandment and Statute, so much so, that they could justify allowing someone to continue suffering, when it was in their power to help, just because it was a Sabbath day. Jesus exposed this hypocrisy on more than one occasion. He always chose life and well-being over rules and regulations. The religious crowd hated him for this.
[5] Jesus pointed to the miracles he did as proof that he was the Messiah Matthew 11:3-5. He sent forth his disciples (not just The Twelve) to preach the Gospel and do miracles as well. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit include gifts of miracles and healing. Healing is the “Children’s Bread.” But the scriptures also warn against seeking after signs and wonders, because there are such things as lying wonders and spirits of devils working miracles Matthew 12:38-39, Acts 8:18-22, Revelation 12:13-14, 16:14. It is likely there are certain kinds of miracles spirits of devils cannot perform, such as those Jesus pointed to as proof of who he was, e.g., blind see, lame walk, lepers healed, deaf hear, dead raised. All things, therefore, must be judged against the Written Word of God by the Holy Spirit of God.  
[6] Being put out of the synagogue meant being dis-fellowshipped and shunned. The blind man’s parents feared becoming outcasts in Israel.
[7] Heartless religious leaders dis-fellowshipped and shunned a man who had already experienced what it was like to be a life-long social outcast (to some extent) due to his physical handicap of blindness. Now that he was healed, they made his ostracization complete. But Jesus sought him out and gave him opportunity to acknowledge him as Messiah and to let him know that he was not truly alone. No doubt this also signaled his disciples to take note of him and bring him into fellowship with them. What a wondrous thing it was that Jesus also revealed the grand purpose of God behind this man’s blindness and subsequent receiving of sight. 

Additional commentary pending for this chapter. Questions and comments are welcome.

No comments: