Miracles: Let Him Be Known
“Healing the Man Born Blind”
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Notes Prepared by Danielle Burkholder
We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.
Focus: God performs miracles in order to display his works which reveal his character, nature, and purpose.
He does not perform them on the basis of the worthiness of the recipient, since none are ultimately worthy.
John 9:1–7 (ESV)
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
The purpose for the Gospel of John is stated in John 20:30–31 (ESV):
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Observations from the Previous Chapter (John 8)
In the previous chapter, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were wanting to stone a woman caught in adultery, but Jesus pointed out everyone’s need for forgiveness. Rather than condemn the woman, he charged her to leave her sin (verses 1–11). Jesus also taught that he could set people free from sin. Through much of chapter 8, he makes the case that a person’s behavior after hearing Jesus is more important than their history or birthright.
Despite Jesus teaching on this truth, this chapter opens with the issue of a person’s birth, their current reality still being linked together, and the focus of attention in the mind of the disciples.
The contrast in how Jesus sees people versus how people see people is in full view: Jesus sees people and their potential for healing and forgiveness, but the others in the text are set on just seeing people and their sin.
Observations after These Verses (John 9)
This text is part of a larger section and story:
“The narrative consists of the healing of the blind man (verses 1–7), followed by a succession of scenes between the man and his neighbors (verses 8–12), the man and the Pharisees (verses 13–17), his parents and the Pharisees (verses 18–23), and again the man and the Pharisees, ending with his expulsion from the synagogue (verses 24–34), after which Jesus finds him and brings him to faith (verses 35–38)”
-Ramsey J. Michaels
Focus Statement: The miracles of God reveal the mission of God.
Function Statement: Salvation in Jesus is available to anyone who will believe.
A. What do they need to know?
When Jesus sees someone, he sees their need for healing and salvation. We need to see people in the same way. The previous chapter and the rest of this story highlights how people view others through the lens of their sin. This whole story shows Jesus’ views through a different lens: the lens of salvation and healing.
A great need, physically or spiritually, can present an opportunity for a great miracle. A great miracle points to our great God. His greatness is revealed first in how he sees people and then in the miracles of healing AND in the greatest miracle of all—salvation.
B. Why do they need to know it?
Perhaps, we are blind to the reality of who God is and his mission. His desire is to heal and save no matter what conditions people are currently in. If we focus on people’s sin instead of their need for healing and salvation, it can be an obstacle to our “seeing” the healing and saving power of Jesus. This can be true in how we see ourselves or others.
Like the disciples and the Pharisees in this story, we often focus on our own or other’s sin, failures, the sin patterns passed down from parents, etc., and we miss the healing and saving power of Jesus.
The miracle of sight, in this text and later in the man’s salvation (John 9:36–28), is centered around the question of the man’s sin, yet Jesus doesn’t withhold either miracle from him. It is important for us to see that God and his mission is consistent no matter what a person’s sin history is or isn’t.
C. What do they need to do?
They need to believe in Jesus for their own healing and salvation and believe that he can heal and save others. Boldly invite people to know Jesus, and pray for them to be healed and saved.
One practical application can be to invite people for prayer to be healed and saved. Another would be to ask them to pray and ask the Holy Spirit who he is working in and where they can join him by sharing Jesus and praying for healing.
D. Why do they need to do it?
Miracles are one way to introduce people to Jesus. If we see a need, it may be an opportunity for God’s mission of healing and salvation to be seen. The miracle of this man’s sight is a precursor to the miracle of his salvation in John 9:35–38. His sin history wasn’t an obstacle to him receiving either miracle.
We have the amazing privilege of participating in God’s work being on display even through dire circumstances. We can help others believe in Jesus and give them his words, and we can pray for healing. What starts as pain and suffering can end in glory if God is given a chance to work in and through us.
E. Some connecting thoughts and key questions:
Jesus sees and speaks about this man as an opportunity for the glory of God to be displayed. He isn’t so concerned about his sin or his parents’ sin being the cause, as most Jewish people would at that time, rather he invites that man into a moment to participate in the work and glory of God. His sin nor his condition did not disqualify him from the chance to receive healing and believe in Jesus.
If Jesus doesn’t disqualify him, neither should we disqualify ourselves or others. The opportunities to participate in the works of God present themselves for a limited time. If we get the chance to encounter Jesus in his word, through people, or in a miracle, we are getting the chance to participate in the works of God in our lives and in others.
Jesus sees the man, he sees his suffering, and he sees an opportunity for the work of God to be revealed. When we see people, or ourselves, what do we see?
Ultimately as seen in Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus in John 3, everyone must be born again. The only thing that matters about one’s family of origin in this discussion is that all families pass sin from one generation to the next, therefore, all family members have to, and can be, born again into the family of God. In essence, everyone is “blind from birth” and must respond to Jesus for their healing and forgiveness of sin.
Do we see everyone as equally in need and capable of receiving salvation?
This whole section is a great text to see that God’s desire is to save people from their sin, not condemn them because of it. We are all born into sin and brokenness that presents itself in various forms. God desires to heal us, save us, and restore us. The miracle of healing from blindness is actually the lesser miracle. The biggest miracle is salvation. Seeing who God is here helps us understand that every encounter we have with people is an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed physically and spiritually.
When we see need, there is an opportunity to see God’s glory revealed.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher