From Darkness to Light

John 9 is this amazing story of a man who was born blind, but it’s not just about a physical healing—it’s this powerful symbol of moving from darkness to light, both in a physical and spiritual sense. The chapter kicks off with a question from Jesus’ disciples: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). And that question really shows how people back then thought about suffering. If someone had a physical problem, like blindness, they assumed it had to be because of sin—either the person’s sin or their family’s sin. They had this idea that if something bad happened to you, it was a punishment for something you did wrong. The Greek word for sinned here is hamartano (ἁμαρτάνω), which means to "miss the mark." It’s about moral failure, like messing up in God’s eyes. So, the disciples are basically asking, “Who messed up to cause this guy to suffer?”

But Jesus flips it on them. He says, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3). He’s basically saying, “It’s not about sin. This man’s blindness is an opportunity for God’s glory to shine through.” Instead of saying, “Oh, you must’ve done something wrong to deserve this,” Jesus is saying, “Sometimes pain and suffering are a chance for God to show up in ways we can’t imagine.” That’s huge because it changes the way we look at suffering—it’s not always punishment; sometimes it’s a set-up for God to do something miraculous.

Then, Jesus says, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). And that word light—it’s not just physical light. It’s the Greek word phos (φῶς), which means a spiritual kind of light too, the light of understanding, truth, and revelation. Jesus is saying, "I’m the one who shows you the truth. I’m the one who brings clarity in the midst of confusion, the one who helps you see what you couldn't before." When He heals the man, it’s not just about restoring his physical sight—it’s about showing us how He can open our spiritual eyes, too.

So, here’s where it gets cool. Jesus spits on the ground, makes some mud with His spit, and puts it on the man’s eyes (John 9:6). Sounds strange, right? But there’s a reason for it. It actually ties back to the Genesis story, where God forms Adam from the adama (אֲדָמָה), which means “earth” or “dust.” Jesus, in a way, is acting as Creator again. He’s taking the dirt of the earth and using it to heal the man, like He’s remaking him, giving him a fresh start. It’s kind of like a beautiful reminder that Jesus has power over creation—He can make something new out of dust.

Now, He tells the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, is שָׁלוּחַ (shalúach), derived from the verb שָׁלַח (shalach), which means "to send" or "to dispatch." So, the name of the pool literally means "Sent"—the Pool of the Sent. —Jesus is sending the man to wash and be healed, and that act of obedience is part of the healing process. It’s not just about the physical act of washing; it’s about trusting Jesus and obeying Him. When the man washes, he receives his sight, but that’s only because he did what Jesus told him to do. It’s like Jesus is saying, "I’m showing you the way, but you have to trust me enough to follow it." It’s a powerful message about obedience and faith.

Once the man can see, everything changes. His neighbors are blown away. They’ve known him all his life as the blind beggar, and now he’s walking around with his eyes wide open. Some even question if it’s really him (John 9:8-9). The man, though, doesn’t hesitate. He says, “I am the man” (John 9:9). This is more than just a claim to his identity—it’s a statement about his transformation. He’s not just physically restored; he’s spiritually awake, too. He knows he’s been changed, and he’s not afraid to tell everyone about it.

The story gets even deeper when the Pharisees—who were the supposed “religious leaders”—get involved. They’re kind of upset because Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath (John 9:16). Now, the Sabbath (from the Hebrew Shabbat - שַׁבַּת) was supposed to be a day of complete rest, and the Pharisees believed that doing any kind of work on that day, including healing, was against the law. So, some of them argued that Jesus can’t be from God because He “broke the Sabbath rules.” Others wonder, “How could someone who’s a sinner do a miracle like this?” It’s kind of ironic because the whole point of the Sabbath is about rest and restoration in God, and yet they’re missing the fact that Jesus is actually doing what the Sabbath was meant to point to—He’s restoring this man. Their rigid focus on rules has blinded them to the truth of what God is doing right in front of them.

The man’s response to all this is awesome, though. He’s not intimidated by their interrogation. He simply says, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing” (John 9:33). The Greek word for God here is Theos (Θεός), the one true God. The man is recognizing something profound: this is more than just a healer—Jesus is sent from God. He’s not fully understanding who Jesus is yet, but He knows that no ordinary person could do what Jesus just did. This is a turning point in the man’s journey of faith—he’s not just a blind man who was healed; he’s beginning to understand that Jesus is the real deal.

The climax comes when Jesus actually goes and tracks down the man after he’s been kicked out of the synagogue by the Pharisees. Jesus asks him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John 9:35). Son of Man is a big title—it’s from the Hebrew ben adam (בֶּן-אָדָם), meaning a figure from the Old Testament prophecies who would bring justice and salvation. The man doesn’t know exactly who Jesus is yet, so he asks, “Who is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in him” (John 9:36). And Jesus says, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you” (John 9:37). Boom—this is the moment when the man’s physical healing becomes complete. He’s not just healed physically; he’s now seeing with spiritual eyes. Jesus is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and the man’s response is immediate: “Lord, I believe” (John 9:38). He worships Jesus.

The whole story is such a powerful contrast. The man goes from literal blindness to seeing not just with his eyes, but with his heart and spirit. Meanwhile, the Pharisees, who think they can see because of their knowledge and status, are spiritually blind to the truth right in front of them. Jesus says, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who (think they) see will become blind” (John 9:39). He’s warning that spiritual blindness isn’t just about not knowing—sometimes it’s about refusing to see when the truth is right there. It’s a challenge for all of us to ask, “Am I really seeing Jesus for who He is? Or am I blind to the truth in my own life?”

The takeaway here is that Jesus is still offering the chance for us to move from darkness to light—to go from being spiritually blind to truly seeing. It’s not just about physical sight; it’s about seeing the truth of who Jesus is and how He’s calling us into a new way of life. If we open our hearts and follow His lead, He’ll show us what we’ve been missing all along.