The Gospel of John 9:13-41 (NKJV)
True Vision and True Blindness
Welcome to The-Way Ministry
Partner Acknowledgment
Good afternoon. Before we dive into God's Word today, we want to express our deep gratitude to our supporting ministry partners:
- Luminous Church — San Antonio, TX
- Sowers Church of Christ — San Antonio, TX
- Christian Community Church of Ministry — Bangladesh
- Victory Group Bible Study
Thank you for standing faithfully alongside us as we proclaim the grace, truth, and light of Jesus Christ."
Introduction
In this final section of Chapter 9, we witness a dramatic reversal of roles. The beggar, born physically blind, grows in spiritual clarity, eventually falling to his knees in worship before Jesus. Meanwhile, the religious leaders who claim to see with theological perfection descend into deeper spiritual blindness. The question John leaves before every reader is simple: Will you acknowledge your blindness and receive His light, or cling to your self-righteousness and remain in the dark?
When a man writes a blog post or preaches the Word on a street corner, the established religious elite often demand to know: "By whose authority?" or "What credentials do they have?" Heaven forbid a reformed soul simply teaches the truth of sight restored! What ought to be a moment of pure elation and celebration becomes a battleground. Yet whenever this ministry posts a blog, it is time to give thanks, for a light has been lit along the narrow way.
In today's message, we will examine four key movements in this passage and their broader biblical connections:
- Brought in for Questioning (Echoes of Exodus: Tradition vs. Transformation)
- Doubting the Claim and Censorship (Echoes of Isaiah: Unbelief and Fear)
- Standing Firm in Testimony (Echoes of Acts: Boldness before Authorities)
- True Vision and True Blindness (Echoes of 1 Peter: Called out of Darkness into Light)
Scripture Reading John 9:13-41 (NKJV)
13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore, some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He 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 who 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 do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore, his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began, it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
True Vision and True Blindness 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains, rought in for Questioning (John 9:13–18)
Section I: Brought in for Questioning (John 9:13–18)
Echoes of Exodus: Tradition vs. Transformation
The moment the beggar received his sight should have been a cause for collective jubilation. A neighbor who had spent his entire life in literal, physical darkness was now walking among them, taking in the colors of creation for the very first time. Yet, instead of rejoicing over a life transformed, those around him immediately marched him to the religious court.
Verses 13–14 lay out the immediate issue: "Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes."
1. The Trap of Legalistic Tradition
By kneading clay on the Sabbath, Jesus deliberately confronted the complex oral traditions and rabbinic additions that had grown up around the Law of Moses. In the book of Exodus, God instituted the Sabbath as a divine gift—a sanctuary in time designed to liberate a former slave population, giving them rest and freedom under His covenant.