John 9 (NRSVue)
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?” 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 We must work the works of him who sent me while 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.
Following Jesus is a commitment to bringing light to dark places.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. The Gospel narrative pauses to describe Jesus making mud before the healing occurs. Why might the author slow the story down to include this detail? Why do you think Jesus takes this extra step when there is evidence that He can heal without it? Why might this small action be emphasized rather than skipped over? What might the readers or observers be meant to notice in that moment?
2. Just as the disciples, we find ourselves often looking for who is to blame for whatever problems may arise. This is even a strong component for many political campaigns as well. How does this process of seeking who is to blame create divisions where we need connections instead? Why would the enemy want us to focus on blaming rather than building?
3. The man begins the story as someone others overlook, yet he becomes the central witness to what Jesus has done. Matthew 5:14–16, states that people are called to be lights that others can see. How might this story challenge assumptions about who can contribute meaningfully to God’s work? And, while God might not be the cause of suffering, how can suffering illuminate the darkness humans often find themselves in?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. The blind man must go wash in Siloam before he can see. Why might Jesus ask someone who cannot see to walk across the city to a pool? What role might obedience, trust, and risk play in the process of transformation?
2. In the broader chapter, the blind man ends up understanding Jesus better than some of the leaders. Why might those who believe they see clearly sometimes be the most spiritually blind? What attributes did the blind man gain in the process of his healing that helped his ability to “see”? What assumptions did those questioning Jesus have that might have hindered their “sight”?
3. With all the ads on TV and billboards we see just how litigious our society has become. We want to blame someone, we want to punish the guilty as though it will heal us. How does seeking punitive recourse against those that hurt us put loving them aside in favor of our own desires? Can we do both?
4. In an era of megachurches and private jets many are often far from the mud, how do we ensure we are working on building the salve that Jesus would have us apply?
5. Jesus worked with one blind beggar and as a result the story influenced Christians for two thousand years. In what way might our frequent concern with filling the pews with an ever growing audience miss this mark when it comes to healing and teaching the people? Can we truly do both?
6. By this time, the disciples had enough experience with Jesus to know they should trust him and yet they questioned his simple instructions. How do we use our pervasive mistrust today to justify doubting such simple instructions as “love thy neighbor?”
For further contemplation, consider these prompts:
1. The healing of the blind man happens through an unexpected and humble process involving mud and washing in a pool. What might this story suggest about how transformation and clarity can come through ordinary or uncomfortable actions?
2. In John 9:1–7, Jesus describes himself as “the light of the world” before healing the blind man. What does this moment reveal about the relationship between light, understanding, and healing? How might this idea shape the way people respond to suffering in the world?