A Tour Through John, Lesson 19

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/tour-john-lesson-19/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>9:1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” </p><ul><li>The man was physically blind (v.1ff). This blindness was not temporary, but congenital.</li><li>The O.T. does say that the sins of the parents can be "visited" on the children (Exodus 20:5), but what about the second possibility, the idea that the man himself may have sinned prenatally?<ul><li>Some rabbis discussed the sins of Jacob and Esau while still in the womb.</li><li>Thus the reference is not to a previous life, but to life <i>in utero.</i></li></ul></li><li>At no time before had anyone ever healed a man born blind, nor do such miracles occur today (in my experience, although you may wish to consult Craig Keener's magnum opus, <i>Miracles</i>).</li><li>Jesus' disciples were blind (v.2).<ul><li>Their question reflects the outlook of the ancient world on sin, and reminds us of the view of Job's three "comforters": sickness and misfortune are caused by sin. (This is a basic tenet of today's "Prosperity Theology.")</li><li>They do not care for him as a person, only for the theological conundrum he presents.</li></ul></li></ul><p>3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 Wemust work the works of him who sent mewhile it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. </p><ul><li>Jesus offers no explanation as to the cause of the blindness, but sees a divine possibility.</li><li>There is hope in the light of Chris