Healing the Man Born Blind - The Trap of Self-Righteousness

In the Gospels, Jesus performs miracles to demonstrate He is the Son of Man, sent by the Father to bring salvation to fallen humanity. These miracles also carry profound lessons for His followers, revealing principles of the Kingdom of God they should embrace.

One such story in the Gospel of John goes beyond physical healing and delves into a deeper spiritual truth. The account of Jesus healing a man who was born blind (John 9:1-41) highlights a miraculous event and also illustrates how self-righteousness can blind people spiritually.

In this story, Jesus and His disciples encounter a man blind from birth. The disciples ask, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" (John 9:2). Jesus's response is unexpected. He explains that neither the man nor his parents sinned, but this situation exists so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jesus then makes clay with His spit, applies it to the man’s eyes, and instructs him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeys and miraculously regains his sight.

This miracle astonishes the neighbors and ignites a debate among the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time. While the healed man joyfully shares that Jesus healed him, the Pharisees are split. Some cannot believe that a true man of God would heal on the Sabbath, a day of rest. Others are perplexed, questioning how a sinner could perform such miraculous signs. They even interrogate the man’s parents, who confirm his blindness from birth but fearfully refrain from speaking openly about Jesus.

This story shows how the Pharisees' rigid adherence to their rules and self-righteous attitudes blind them to the miracle right before their eyes. Their strict interpretation of the law prevents them from recognizing God's work through Jesus.

The issue at hand is self-righteousness, which can cloud our spiritual vision. Reflecting on the healing of the blind man, we aim to learn how to avoid this trap and develop true spiritual insight. By embracing humility and openness, we can better see and understand God's work in our lives.

The Spiritual Blindness of the Pharisees 

John 9:1-2 begins: "As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?'"

Back then, many believed that if someone was sick or disabled, it was because they had sinned, or their parents had sinned. The disciples' question reflects this common belief. The Pharisees, who were very strict about religious laws, often looked down on such people, thinking themselves superior.

The Pharisees couldn’t accept the teachings of Jesus. They thought they were guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom because they were descendants of Abraham and followed the Law of Moses. They believed their strict adherence to the law made them better than others.

But the Pharisees often misinterpreted the law to make it easier for themselves, but harder for others. For example, they allowed dishonoring parents if it meant donating to the temple (Mark 7:11-13). They condemned Jesus' disciples for eating without ritually washing their hands (Mark 7:1-5). They even taught that a person’s blindness or illness was due to sin, despite the man being born blind. 

When Jesus performed miracles, especially on the Sabbath, the Pharisees were outraged. John 9:14-16 says: "Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, 'He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.' Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, 'This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.' But others were saying, 'How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?' And there was a division among them."

The Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath because He healed that day. They missed the point of the Sabbath, which was for rest and focusing on God, not for strict, self-righteous judgment. They failed to understand that acts of compassion, such as helping someone in need or healing the sick, align with the spirit of the Sabbath, which emphasizes love, mercy, and restoration.

Finding True Righteousness

Self-righteousness blinds us to our faults and keeps us from recognizing true righteousness. True righteousness comes from admitting our sins and turning to Christ, who alone can make us righteous before God. When we see our insufficiency, we open our hearts to the truth of Jesus’ teachings. Thus, we should examine ourselves to ensure we’re not blinded by self-righteousness. 

Salvation is a gift that comes through the works of Jesus alone. Our efforts, no matter how sincere, are not enough to secure eternal life. Only by believing in Jesus, the Son of God and the anointed Savior, can we be saved from our sins.

John 3:14-15 provides a profound insight into the nature of salvation. Jesus explains that just as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness to save the Israelites, He too must be lifted on the cross. When we look to Jesus in faith, acknowledging Him as God’s provision for our salvation, we are saved. 

The story of Moses lifting the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:4-9) illustrates faith in God’s provision. The Israelites were bitten by venomous snakes and faced death. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. Anyone who looked at it was healed. Looking upon the bronze serpent was an act of faith, just as looking at Jesus is believing in Him for our spiritual healing.

Jesus, the Light of the World

Jesus refers to Himself as the Light of the world. To receive this light, we must first acknowledge our need for it. Until we admit that we are in darkness, relying on our efforts, which are insufficient for salvation, we remain spiritually blind.

Imagine being in a dark forest, with no light to guide you. You might initially feel comfortable there, but as danger looms, the darkness becomes terrifying. When you see a light, it becomes your only hope. You will do whatever it takes to reach that light. Similarly, we must acknowledge our spiritual darkness and turn to Jesus, the Light of the World.

John 9:4-5 states: “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."

The story of the man born blind in John 9 beautifully illustrates the journey from physical blindness to spiritual sight. The man knew he was blind and recognized his need for healing. When Jesus healed him, his physical sight was restored, but more importantly, he came to see Jesus as the Son of Man.

Initially, the blind man described his healing simply: "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight" (John 9:11). As the Pharisees questioned him, his understanding deepened: "He is a prophet" (John 9:17). Despite their skepticism and accusations, the man’s faith grew stronger. When Jesus later found him, the man expressed his belief: "Lord, I believe" (John 9:38).

The Sufficiency of Christ

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. It’s about genuinely placing our faith in Jesus when we recognize our insufficiency and admit our sins. When we put our faith in Jesus, His righteousness is imputed to us, like being given a clean, white garment. When God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ, not our sinful past.

Salvation is a gift that comes through the works of Jesus alone. Our efforts are insufficient; only by believing in Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior, can we be saved. This belief brings us from darkness into light, from spiritual blindness to sight.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

As people in the darkness, we must embrace the light of Christ, recognize our need for Him, and live in the truth of His salvation.