Title: The Blind who Recovered the Light on Sabbath Day
The right view to the events recorded in Jhn 7-9 is that the events happened in 28AD, about 6 months before the crucifixion. Also, among 7 occasions Jesus went up to Jerusalem during His public ministry, this was the 5th time.
This time, the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus. He was doing the ministry in Galilee which is the suburb. Then, the brothers of Jesus came and said that if you are truly who You say you are, you shouldn’t be in Galilee but go up to Jerusalem. It was because they didn’t believe in Jesus. They were trying to mock their brother, Jesus (Jhn 7:1-5).
Jesus answered and said, “I won’t go up to Jerusalem for this feast. You go up and observe the feast.” However, when the brothers left to Jerusalem, Jesus also went up to Jerusalem secretly (Jhn 7:8-10).
Jesus went out to the mount of Olive at night. Next morning, He came back to the temple. And this time, people were waiting to listen from Him. The Jews asked Jesus, “Are you greater than our Father Abraham?” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am.” Then, the Jews tried to stone Jesus (Jhn 8:58-59).
Jesus was running away because the Jews tried to kill Him. Jhn 9:1 says that on the way out, Jesus saw the blind beggar. It we were Him, we wouldn’t spend any time there, because we could be caught and be stoned to death. The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” What they meant was “he is born cursed and worthless.” But, Jesus answered, “It was in order than the works of God might be displayed in him.” Then, Jesus spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle with His hands, Then, He applied it to his eyes and ordered him to wash in the pool of Siloam (Jhn 9:6-7).
- It was the Sabbath Jesus worked (Jhn 9:14-16)
15 Tishiri in 28 AD was Thursday. Therefore, if it happened during the Feast of Booth, it would be the 17th Tishiri and if it happened after the feast, it would be the 24th of Tishiri.
We can see the difference between the Jews and Jesus regarding to the Sabbath Day. Jesus saved the blind and gave him the light on Sabbath. It means Jesus regarded the Sabbath Day should be the day such things have to be done. Whereas the Pharisees thought Jesus didn’t keep the Sabbath.
Jesus healed the people who is possessed by the unclean spirit on the Sabbath Day (Mrk 1:21-28). Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath Day (Mat 12:10; Mrk 3:1-5). Jesus healed a woman who was bent double for 18 years because of the spirit on the Sabbath Day (Luk 13:10-15). Jesus healed the person who had been sick for 38 years on the Sabbath Day (Jhn 5:5-9). Jesus said that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mat 12:8, Mrk2:28, Luk 6:5). It doesn’t mean that Jesus will interpret the Law in different way but how Jesus interpreted is the original and right way to understand the Sabbath Day.
In Jhn 7:21-23, Jesus said that Moses allowed a circumcision to be given even on the Sabbath Day because it is the work of giving life. Circumcision signifies that the blood of death comes out from the body. Because Sabbath is the day we should stop labouring for ourselves but doing the work of God.
- The Blind was open on Sabbath Day (Jhn 9:16)
There was a division among the Jews because the Blind was open. It is a big deal because of the prophecy written in Isa 35. Isa 35 is the prophecy about what will happen the Messiah comes.
One of the prophecies is that the eyes of the blind will be opened. For this reason, among the Jews, there was a division and a debate whether Jesus is the Messiah or not.
Before Jesus, there was a man called John the Baptist. His job was to introduce Jesus to the people and bring people’s heart to Jesus. However, he saw King Herod took his brother’s wife, so he pointed out it is wrong. Thus, he got into a prison. John the Baptist thought Jesus would come and visit him or save him from the prison or at least encourage him by sending messenger, but Jesus didn’t do anything. So, John the Baptist sent a messenger to Jesus and asked, “Are You the one coming?” Jesus answered that through Me, the blind received sight (Luk 7:22). What Jesus meant is I am the Messiah. Opening the eyes of the blind is the sign to reveal Jesus is the Messiah. According to today’s scripture, Jesus brought about such miracle on the Sabbath Day.
3) The recovered blind testified about Jesus
(Jhn 9:15)
When Jesus healed the blind, Jesus didn’t just do everything but left the work that the blind should do. Jesus ordered him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash. The founding pastor Rev Abraham Park taught that by putting the mud upon the eyes, the blind will see total darkness. Although the blind cannot see, he still can feel brightness or darkness but because of the mud, he lost the sense completely. To go to the pool of Siloam couldn’t make anything happen if the blind had no fate in Jesus. When the blind acted upon his faith, his eyes were open and recovered the sight. Since he recovered the sight, he started testifying Jesus he met and the light he received.
Dear my brothers and sisters, have we met Jesus? Have we received the Light? Then, what shall we do? We should testify Jesus we met and the Light we received. Amen!
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 