John 9:5-12 (WEL) “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After he said this, he spit on the ground and made clay from the spit, then he spread the clay on the eyes of the blind man and told him, 7 “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam,” which translated means “Sent.” So, he left, washed, and came seeing. 8 Then the neighbors and those who had previously seen him that was blind said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said that this is the one, but others said that he is similar to him. He emphatically said, “I am that man.” 10 So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered and said, “A man named Jesus made clay, coated my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash,’ so I went, washed, and received sight.” 12 Then they said to him, “Where is he?” “I do not know,” he said.
V5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
People are in darkness.
Darkness is ignorance of truth—truth about God, His ways, His lifestyle, and His judgement of wrath.
Darkness is ignorance of our eternal condition—dead (separation from God) in sins, doomed for hell, and we cannot save ourselves or please God.
Darkness in salvation—there is no salvation (deliverance from God’s wrath and restoration of fellowship with God) outside of Jesus Christ.
Darkness in the Gospel—ignoring the fact that we are sinners, we can do nothing to please God or earn our salvation, ignorance that it is only faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.
Darkness in the payment for sin—ignorance that Jesus is the Passover Lamb, bearing our sins, paying the penalty for sin, and presenting His blood in the heavenly temple’s Holy of Holies to present the blood of atonement on the Mercy Seat.
Jesus is the Light revealing our sin, our true eternal punishment, the only Gospel, and the only condition for salvation (faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone).
The only light of the world is Jesus Christ. After He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6-11), the light was gone. What we have now is the Scriptures, God’s word. The Scriptures are the only source of 100% truth. It is the light to the lost by hearing the Gospel so they can place their faith into Jesus alone for salvation. It is the light for believers to know what is true or false, the right way or the wrong, the right decision or the wrong, daily life, doctrine, worldview, God’s rules, etc. The Bible must be interpreted in its plain, normal sense, not allegorical, symbolic, philosophical, or supposed church fathers.
Compare Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 42:6, Matthew 4:16, and 2 Corinthians 4:6.
The time will come when Jesus returns to Earth (Zechariah 14 and Revelation 19:11-19).
God brought light to His creation which was in darkness (Genesis 1:3).
God brought darkness as punishment (Exodus 10:21-22).
God promised spiritual light, which was fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:2).
Darkness is a way of life (Romans 13:12) that Jesus Christ has delivered those who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13).
V6 After he said this, he spit on the ground and made clay from the spit. Then he spread the clay on the eyes of the blind man and told him,
Why are so many miracles done differently? My best answer is that Jesus tailors each miracle in a way to minister to that person for 1) to be healed physically and emotionally, and 2) to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be healed spiritually.
Note the contrast that this man is blind and Jesus is the light.
V7 “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam,” which translated means “Sent.” So, he left, washed, and came seeing.
Jesus does what He does, then gives a command. What will this man do? Will he go and wash, believing that Jesus is telling the truth about his healing, or will he conclude that this command is stupid and walk away? Compare Naaman in 2 Kings 5:9-14.
V8 Then the neighbors and those who had previously seen him that was blind said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?”
He believed, obeyed, and was healed.
Principle: Believing and obeying Jesus has great benefits.
The healed man just begins living life, the people see the change, and the man leaves a living message with them—Jesus can heal. The greatest healing is the salvation provided by the Lord Jesus when one believes and obeys His Gospel.
Compare 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Principle: If one says they believe in Jesus and His Gospel, then they will obey Him (John 14:15).
Principle: Our life can be and must be a testimony for the one and only God.
V9 Some said that this is the one, but others said that he is similar to him. He emphatically said, “I am that man.”
Some believed that he was healed; others refused to believe and gave excuses.
Principle: If one does not believe, then often they give many excuses and reasons to reject Jesus.
The healed man had no difficulty telling the truth and telling how he was healed.
Principle: We should always be ready to tell people how our soul and spirit were recreated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
V10 So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
The “they” are the Pharisees. They asked how this happened, so he told them. Two things:
They knew who healed him.
They wanted the story so they would have an excuse to arrest and kill Jesus. Compare John 7:30-32.
V11 He answered and said, “A man named Jesus made clay, coated my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash,’ so I went, washed, and received sight.”
Simple yet complete; he told the truth.
Principle: Tell the truth even if it might be fearful and dangerous to tell it.
V12 Then they said to him, “Where is he?” “I do not know,” he said.
“Where is he?” This question is for information so they can arrest Jesus.
Principle: Hate is a strong motivation to do evil.
Principle: God knows all things (1 John 3:20, John 2:24-25, and Hebrews 4:13), records all things (Revelation 20:12 and Matthew 12:36), and judges all things (1 Peter 1:17, John 5:22, and 2 Timothy 4:1).
We learn:
- Our life can be and must be a testimony for the one and only God.
- How hate distorts truth.
Questions:
- Do you believe and obey?
- How is your living testimony?