Section Nine

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

The start of John Chapter 9 has a story about Jesus healing a man who was blind from birth. John records that Jesus made some mud from his spit and the ground, applies it to the man’s eyes and then instructs him to go wash in a pool - after which the man is able to see again. The start of this story (the first three verses) has a question and answer on the topic of inherited sin. The question (from the disciples to Jesus): Is the blind man suffering because he has done something wrong, or is he suffering because his parents have done something wrong? It is interesting to note that the assumption from the disciples was that the man’s blindness was caused by sin. The answer (from Jesus): Neither the blind man nor his parents were the cause of his blindness. Moreover, the blind man’s healing would serve to demonstrate God’s works through Jesus.