The Man Born Blind

GOLDEN TEXT: “If we walk in the light, as he Is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” —I John 1:7

JOHN 9:13-17, 24, 25, 33-38

THE healing of the man born blind was another of Jesus’ miracles designed to illustrate the marvelous work of restoration which in due time he would accomplish on behalf of all mankind. The failure of the eyes to function properly is one of the afflictions which has come upon many of the human race because of original sin. It is one of the evidences of the death condemnation which rests upon all mankind. It is a part of the dying process, and the Apostle Paul informs us that all in Adam die.—I Cor. 15:21,22

But all in Christ are to be made alive, Paul assures us. Our Golden Text declares that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from sin, which means that through him the death penalty will ultimately be set aside. The present-age followers of the Master are the ones specially referred to in our Golden Text, and these are now made free from sin upon the basis of faith, and will actually be delivered from death in “the first resurrection.” But in the Millennial Age the principle will apply to all mankind who then believe and obey.

This means that in God’s due time all blind eyes will be opened, and that all manifestations of the dying process will be removed. Isaiah wrote, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” (Isa. 35:5,6) Even the dead are to be restored, having been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ. On this point we read, “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”—Isa. 35:10

Blindness is used in the Scriptures to symbolize lack of discernment in the truths which God sets forth in his Word, and by his messengers. Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (Matt. 13:16) There were many in Jesus’ day who enjoyed good physical eyesight but were blind to the truths which he was presenting. The same thing is true today. Only those to whom spiritual vision is given by the Lord are able to see the great truths of his wonderful plan of salvation.

Throughout the ages the world of mankind in general has been blind to the truths of God. The Scriptures liken these truths to a “book” which neither the learned nor the unlearned can “read.” But we are told that a time is coming when this will be changed. We read, “In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.”—Isa. 29:10-12,18

The spiritually blind world of mankind are described in the Scriptures as having a “veil” spread over their faces. But the Lord assures us that in Messiah’s kingdom, symbolized by a mountain, this veil will be removed. We read, “He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.” (Isa. 25:7) The result of this will be that the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.—Isa. 11:9

When Jesus gave sight to the blind man of our lesson the Pharisees were not pleased. They endeavored to discount the implications of such a miracle; namely, that it was an evidence that God’s blessing was upon the Master and his ministry. For one thing, they claimed that he ought not to have done this work on the sabbath, and the fact that he did meant that he was a sinner.

The man who had been blind was caught in this controversy. His statement to the Pharisees was, “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.” (vs. 25) But this poor man was not a match for the Pharisees when it came to argument.

Finally they cast him out from their midst. Jesus then came to his side to comfort him. Jesus identified himself to the man, and he replied to the Master, “Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.”—vss. 33-38

QUESTIONS

What was one of the reasons Jesus healed the man who had been born blind? Of what is blindness a part?

To whom does the Golden Text particularly apply, and will the world also receive life through Christ?

When will all blind eyes be opened?

Explain the Bible’s symbolic use of blindness.

When will the whole world know the truths of God?

Give a brief outline of the story which is the basis of this lesson.

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