Ask Mr Bible

Jesus healed a man who had been born blind (John 9:1-7)

SURVEY

Jesus began this miracle by spitting on the ground, making mud with the saliva, putting it on the man’s eyes, and saying: “Go wash in the pool of Siloam.”  The blind man obeyed and was immediately able to see!

SIGNIFICANCE

● This is the only miracle where Jesus commanded the person to be healed to do something.

● This is the final of seven miracles where the parents of the recipient are involved. 

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● Notice the insensitivity and callousness shown by the disciples here:

 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:1-2).

 As it can be seen, there was no desire on their part to help this pitiful man.  Rather, his condition served simply as a focal point for an academic, theological discussion!

● At first reading, this seems to be a very silly question, for how could this poor, sightless man be suffering for his sin if he was born blind?  However, some rabbis felt a baby could sin in its mother’s womb, or that its soul might have sinned in a preexistent state.  They also held that terrible punishment from God came upon certain people because of the sin of their parents.

 This grievous error, of course, is totally refuted by both Moses and Ezekiel. 

 “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deut. 24:16).

 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezek. 18:20).

● Jesus answered their question as follows:

“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3).

Here Jesus corrects that terrible teaching that says that all suffering is a direct result of personal sin.  The disciples at this point had made the same false assumption that Job’s three “friends” had once made (see Job 4:7-8; 8:20; 20:4-5), and that many modern “faith healers” today still make.  However, God Himself had severely rebuked the companions of Job for their wicked judgment:

“And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath” (Job 42:7).

During His earthly ministry Jesus performed some 35 recorded miracles.  At least eight reasons may be given as to why:

A. To fulfill Old Testament prophecy

“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matt. 8:16-17).

“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:37-38).

B. To validate His message

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:1-2).

“And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased” (John 6:2).

C. To reveal His glory

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana, of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory …” (John 2:11a).

D. To increase the faith of His disciples

 “and his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11b).

“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do” (John 6:5-6).

E. To declare His Messianic claims

“Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14).

F. To prove His deity

“And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (Matt. 14:32-33).

G. To demonstrate His compassion

1. Upon the hungry multitudes (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32)
2. Upon the blind (Matt. 20:34)
3. Upon the lepers (Mark 1:40-41)
4. Upon the demon-possessed (Mark 5:18-19)
5. Upon the grief stricken (Luke 7:12-13)

H. To show His authority to forgive sin

“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house” (Luke 5:20-24).

The paralytic healed by Jesus could readily testify to this (see Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26).

 SURVEY

Four friends of a paralytic, unable to approach Jesus because of a huge crowd, made an opening in the roof and lowered their comp anion at Jesus’ feet.  The Savior immediately both forgave the man of his sins and healed him of his affliction.

SIGNIFICANCE

● This miracle describes the most unique and innovative way of bringing a person to Jesus.

● It is the first miracle where Jesus forgives the sin of the person, thus announcing His deity, for God alone can forgive sin.

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● Both Paul and Jude may well have had the four friends of the paralytic when they penned the following words:

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:19-22).

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 22-23).

● An unknown author has written the following:

They will not seek, they must be sought,
They will not come, they must be brought,
They will not learn, they must be taught.

● J. Vernon McGee writes:

There are many people who are not going to receive the message of salvation unless you lift a corner of their stretcher and carry them to the place where they can hear the word of the Lord.  They are paralyzed—immobilized by sin and by many other things the world holds for them.  Some are paralyzed by prejudice and others by indifference.  They are never going to hear Jesus say to them, ‘Son, thy sins be forgiven thee,’ unless you take the corner of their stretcher and bring them to Him  (Luke, p. 74).

Many felt the tender touch of the Savior’s hands while He trod this earth.  One was a man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6).

SURVEY

During a Sabbath luncheon in the house of a prominent Pharisee, Jesus encounters a man suffering with dropsy.  Turning to the legalistic Pharisees who were present, He asks:

 “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Receiving no answer, He touched the man and healed him.

SIGNIFICANCE

● This is the only recorded miracle done during a meal in the home of a Pharisee.

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● Thus supper was probably a set-up arranged by the Pharisees to trap Jesus, hoping He would do something unlawful.

1. It was on the Sabbath.
2. A very sick man was there who suffered from dropsy.  Dropsy was an abnormal accumulation of watery fluid in the body, which caused hideous swelling in the abdomen, legs, and feet.  It was symptomatic of cardiac disease.  In light of this, it is highly unlikely that this poor, suffering creature would be invited to the home of a Pharisee, especially on the Sabbath.  To the contrary, he would have been utterly refused entrance.

● According to the sacred account Jesus touched this man.  This was in stark contrast to the legalistic Pharisees who not only would have refused to touch the leper, the blind, the deaf, the maimed, etc., but would actually hurry home in horror to take a ceremonial bath if their shadow should come into contact with the shadow of those unclean outcasts!

 But not the Savior!  He was a “Hands on Healer,” as demonstrated by those He personally touched.

1. A leper (Matt. 8:3)
2. Peter’s mother-in-law (Matt. 8:15)
3. A deaf mute (Mark 7:33)
4. Two blind men (Matt. 20:34)
5. A man born blind (John 9:6)
6. Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51)
7. Little children (Mark 10:13)
8. His frightened disciples (Matt. 17:7)

SURVEY

En route to Jerusalem, Jesus encounters ten lepers who call out to Him for mercy and healing.  Instantly all ten were cleansed and leave to show themselves to the temple priests as instructed by the Levitical law for ceremonial cleansing.  Soon however, one of the ten, a Samaritan returned, fell at the feet of the Savior and began worshipping and thanking Him.

● Jesus, regarding the thankless nine: “Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?”

● Jesus, regarding the thankful one: “Rise and go; your faith has made you whole.”

SIGNIFICANCE

● This miracle regards the greatest number of specific (ten) healings than any other as performed by Jesus.

● It is the only miracle involving a Samaritan.

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● This is the second of three miracles demonstrating the tragic fact that the one (or ones) experiencing physical salvation did not apparently experience spiritual salvation.  These three cases are:

1. The cripple by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-16)—“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath … Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:8-9, 14).

2. The nine lepers here in Luke 17.

3. The servant of the high priest whose name was Malchus (John 18:10)—There is no evidence that he accepted Christ after having his severed ear restored.

● The great sin of the nine lepers was that of thanklessness.  In some ways this is the ultimate sin, and goes along with pride and self-will, the root of all other sins.  Paul says that this transgression in the ancient world caused all mankind to turn from God.
 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things” (Rom. 1:21-23).

● In essence, the cure for and solution to pride does not involve pious attempts to practice humility, but rather simply to be thankful.  A thankful person is, by definition, a humble person!  As someone has observed:

Be careful for nothing,
Be prayerful in everything,
Be thankful for anything!

For the answers, see Luke 18:35-43.

Two blind beggars, one named Bartimaeus, sitting outside of Jericho learn that Jesus was approaching.  Both immediately cry out for mercy.

The Savior: “What do you want me to do for you?”

The sightless: “We want to see.”
Filled with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, causing them to instantly reclaim their sight.

SIGNIFICANCE

● Of the sixteen healing events, involving some 26 people, only one is named, Bartimaeus.

● This is also the only New Testament miracle associated with the city of Jericho.

1. The most famous Old Testament miracle concerning Jericho occurred in Josh. 6:20 (the shouting down of Jericho’s walls).

2. The final Old Testament miracle concerning Jericho is recorded in 2 Kings 2:18-22 (the purifying of some poisoned water).

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● This marks Jesus’ final visit to Jericho.  He will now leave for Jerusalem.  (See Matt. 20:29.)  Before this, he had told the story of a man who left Jerusalem for Jericho (the parable of the Good Samaritan—Luke 10:25-37).  But now the original Good Samaritan would reverse the trip, leaving Jericho for Jerusalem, where he would soon “fall among thieves.”

● Note the spiritual insight of the blind beggar:

1. He asked the right person—“Jesus, thou Son of David.”
2. He asked in the right way—“Have mercy on me.” 

It has been said that God will hush every harp in heaven to hear this kind of prayer!

3. He asked at the right time—“And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.  And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by” (Luke 18:36-37).
4. He asked for the right thing—“that I might regain my sight.”

Read about it in John 4:46-54.

SURVEY

Jesus heals a man beside this pool near the sheep gate in Jerusalem who had been an invalid for 38 years.

SIGNIFICANCE

● This is the first of at least four occasions when Jesus was criticized for healing on the Sabbath.  For the remaining three, see miracles 9, 27, and 28.

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● The statement, “Sir, I have no man,” is profound in its spiritual implications.  Both Luke and Paul later write concerning its importance:

1. Luke’s testimony—“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:30-31).

2. Paul’s testimony—“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”  (Rom. 10:14-15).

● While Scripture is clear that personal suffering is not always a punishment caused by individual sin (John 9:1-3), this case seems to be the exception.  Note Jesus’ warning to him:

 “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14).

SURVEY

Upon stepping ashore in the land of Gadara, Jesus is confronted by and speaks to the leader of a band of demons who were possessing a violent and uncontrollable maniac.  The Savior orders them to leave the victim, and, at their request, permits them to enter a herd of nearby pigs, which results in the death of those animals by drowning as they plunge into the Sea of Galilee.

SIGNIFICANCE

● This is perhaps the most graphic and terrifying account of demon possession in all the Bible.  Note the recorded facts regarding this man:

1. His home—“Who had his dwelling among the tombs” (Mark 5:3).
2. His helplessness
a. He was naked (Luke 8:27)
b. He was “exceeding fierce” (Matt. 8:28)
c. He was totally unmanageable (Mark 5:3-4)
d. He was constantly crying and cutting himself with stones (Mark 5:5)
e. He was seized upon and driven about by a legion of demons (Luke 8:29; Mark 5:9)  The usage of the word legion here may indicate the man was possessed by as many as 6000 demons.

● This shows just how many fallen angels there may be if Satan could afford to spare 6000 on a worthless madman!

● It is the only recorded extended conversation between Jesus and a demon.

● This is the first of two occasions on which Jesus performed a miracle in a way that had destructive results (the death of the pigs).  The other miracle was the withering of the fig tree (Matt. 21:19)

● This is the only miracle where Jesus instructed the recipient as follows:
“Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19).

This is in stark contrast as seen in the other healing miracles where Jesus commanded the healed not to tell anyone!

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● What a contrast is seen in this wretched demoniac following his glorious conversion–He now is:

1. Sitting, not screaming.
2. Praising, not cursing.
3. Dressed, not naked.
4. In his right mind, not insane.
5. A convert of Christ, not a captive of Satan.

● This account might well be entitled, “How A Madman Became a Missionary.”   We have previously observed Jesus’ instructions that he should tell others what had been done, which he did.
“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mark 5:20)

Decapolis (literally, “ten cities“) was a league of ten cities characterized by high Greek culture, allied together for purposes of trading.  All but one city (Scythopolis) were east of the Galilean Sea and Jordan River.  This convert thus became the greatest missionary to Gentiles since the preacher to Nineveh, Jonah the prophet.

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?  And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me (Luke 8:45, 46).

SURVEY

A woman who had suffered with internal bleeding for 12 years, being unable to be helped by her physicians, approaches Jesus in a crowd and by faith touches the hem of His garment, resulting in her immediate healing.

SIGNIFICANCE

● This is the only miracle where the person in need touched Jesus first.

● It is the only time where Jesus uses the title “daughter.”  On a previous occasion He had referred to a paralytic who had been healed as “son” (Matt. 9:2).

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● This poor woman’s condition carried with it religious and social consequences as well as physical consequences.  According to Lev. 15:19-30, she would have been considered unclean for twelve long years.  Note also she had spent all her resources on her problem.  Thus, she was pain-wracked, penniless, and prohibited from social gatherings.  But then, we read, “she … hears of Jesus.”

● Luke describes the aftermath of this healing as follows:

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (Luke 8:45-46).

● The two statements of Jesus here point out two profound insights concerning His earthly ministry.

1. His total dependence upon the Holy Spirit—Note his question, “Who touched me?”  Even though Christ retained His divine attributes (His omnipresence, His omnipotence, His omniscience) upon coming to earth, He chose not to use them in an independent way, but depended upon the Holy Spirit to lead, advise, and empower Him.  In other words, Jesus may not have known at that moment who touched him.  A similar example can be seen later when he was asked concerning the date of the second coming.

 His answer was: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father”  (Mark 13:32).  (See also Matt. 4:1; John 5:19; Phil. 2:5-8).

2. The awful demands upon his physical body—Note his statement: “Virtue is gone out of me.”  The Greek word for virtue here is dunamis, and refers to power or strength.  How taxing it must have been upon his body to perform his mighty miracles.

A hint of this may be seen through a statement made by some Pharisees during a confrontation with Jesus.  Note:

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am”  (John 8:56-58).

The point of the above is that Jesus apparently looked to be much older than He really was, being mistaken for nearly fifty (an advanced age back then) when in reality He had yet to celebrate His 33rd birthday!  Caring for the sick in the world and, at the same time, carrying the sins of the world was exhausting labor indeed!

Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26).

Jesus began this miracle by placing His hands on the man and spitting in his eyes.

The Savior: “Do you see anything?”
The sightless: “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Jesus touched the man’s eyes, causing him to now see clearly and completely.

SIGNIFICANCE

● This is Jesus’ only miracle accomplished in two stages.

SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

● The spiritual application here is crystal clear and sorely needed today.  We need that second touch by Jesus, allowing us to see “every man clearly” as God does.

● As can be seen later, Jesus’ disciples would often see men as “trees.”

1. Despicable trees

“And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village” (Luke 9:52-56).

2. Bothersome trees

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Luke 18:15-17).

3. Competitive trees

“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward” (Mark 9:38-41).

4. Sinful trees

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:1-3).

5. Unclean trees

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:9-15).

● As can be seen today, Jesus’ disciples do often see men as trees.  Thus:

1. As a Christian leader, do I view my staff and associates simply as servant trees whose main task is to help me in building my own personal kingdom?

2. As a Christian layperson, do I view my family members and friends merely as enabling trees, existing primarily to meet my needs and enhance my goals?