Who Sinned?

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. John 9:1-7

Healing was central to the ministry of Jesus. The act of physical healing is not disconnected to spiritual healing that often accompanies it. Jesus heals mind, body, and spirit illustrating not only his concern for eternal salvation, but deep compassion for people's lives. In this case, Jesus heals a man blind from birth, giving him the sight he had not had before. But Jesus also addressed the underlying assumption of his disciples and the crowd about the spiritual cause of blindness.

When Jesus is asked "who sinned?" to make the man blind he refutes the link between physical affliction and human sin. God does not punish us with blindness for sin, nor are any other physical or mental limitations to be seen as a sign of punishment for sin. There is no connection between human suffering and punishment from God. While we naturally seek to understand why something has happened or what God's role might be, Jesus makes clear it is not a matter of divine punishment. In fact, Jesus said the man was born blind so "God's works might be revealed in him." This suggests not that he was born blind as a punishment, rather his healing allows himself and others to see God's glory. The healing of the man's sight allows him to see again, but also reveals Jesus as the light of the world.

Jesus healing the sight of the man must have made an immediate and profound impact on his life. For him to see for the first time the beauty and wonder of God's creation must have been overwhelming. Just as significant was the assurance that his previous blindness was not a punishment from God. If the blind man had the same assumption the disciples had about his blindness being a punishment from God it would be difficult to overstate the spiritual pain this must have caused. I cannot imagine going through life feeling way and how relieved and liberating it must have been to hear Jesus' words. His healing addressed his physical limitation of lack of sight but also addressed the spiritual and emotional pain of being punished by God. The transformation was so complete that some who had known him could no longer recognize him as the same person (9:9). His story reminds us Jesus is concerned for the healing of our whole self and has deep compassion for who suffer in any way.

Prayer: Lord, heal my mind, body, and spirit so that I may be made whole through your love. Help me to have compassion and love for all who suffer in any way, in Jesus' name, AMEN.