John 9

John 9  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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This chapter illustrates a progression of light that occurs in every believer who comes from the relative darkness of Judaism to the superior light of Christianity (“day dawn” – 2 Peter 1:1919We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19)). John noted this transition in his epistle and said, "The darkness is passing and the true light already shines" (1 John 2:88Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. (1 John 2:8)).
The Lord announced that He was "the Light of the world" (vs. 5), but the spiritual darkness that prevailed over the people was such that they could not see it. Natural light dispels natural darkness, but spiritual light does not dispel spiritual darkness (John 1:55And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)). It does, however, bring out the moral incapacity of man. The condition of the man in this chapter who was "born blind" illustrates this. What the Lord did for him depicts the work of God in souls that enables them to see Christ for who He is. In seeing Christ as the Son of God, the man no longer needed the Jewish system of approach to God in worship. This is demonstrated by him worshipping the Lord outside the temple (vs. 38). Thus, Scripture teaches that this “new and living way” in Christianity is “without the camp” of Judaism (Heb. 10:19-22; 13:13-1519Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22)
13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:13‑15)).
This all came about by the Lord spitting on the ground and making "clay," which signified the great truth of His incarnation (vs. 6). Spit coming forth from Himself as God and mixed with "the dust of the ground" (which speaks of humanity – Gen. 2:7; 3:197And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)
19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:19)) points to the Son of God becoming a Man—His incarnation. The application of the “spittle” to the eyes of the blind man speaks of the quickening power of God imparting life to a person by which the spiritual faculty of understanding divine things is opened (Prov. 20:1616Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. (Proverbs 20:16); Acts 26:1818To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18); Eph. 4:17-1817This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (Ephesians 4:17‑18)). The washing in "the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent)" speaks of a believer understanding that the Lord Jesus is the Sent One of the Father (vs. 7). This is a distinctly Christian revelation.
After getting his eyes open, there was a progression of light and understanding in the man who was born blind—he went from begging (vs. 8) to worshipping (vs. 38). His experience depicts the transition through which the faithful in the old legal system go in coming into Christian knowledge and liberty. At first, all he knew of the Lord was that He was "a man that is called Jesus." He didn't know who He was or where He came from (vs. 11). Then, upon being questioned, he said, "He is a Prophet" (vs. 17). Then after that, the man saw the Lord to be worthy of having "disciples" (vss. 27-28). Then, he told the Jews that the Lord Jesus was a man "of God" (vs. 33). Finally, he saw the Lord as "the Son of God," whom He truly was (vss. 35-38). Thus we see in this man's experience a marvelous transition from darkness to light. In the process, the man suffered persecution from the Jews. This shows that those who walk in the light of the new dispensation will be persecuted by those of the old (Acts 13:50; 14:19; 17:5, 1350But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. (Acts 13:50)
19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. (Acts 14:19)
5But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. (Acts 17:5)
13But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. (Acts 17:13); 1 Thess. 2:14-1614For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:14‑16)).