Sometimes we have to accept the consequences that come to us because we follow Jesus. A blind man in John 9 learned that lesson after Jesus healed him.
Jesus was in Jerusalem at the temple when He saw a man that had been blind since birth (John 9:1). This blind man was probably sitting outside the temple area somewhere asking for money. He’s described as a “beggar” (John 9:8) and his own neighbors described him as “the one who used to sit and beg” (John 9:8).[1] But Jesus and the blind man are not the only characters John tells us about. In this story John also tells us about the Pharisees (John 9:13-17) and the blind man’s parents (John 9:18-23).
In this story—the sixth miracle recorded in the Gospel of John—Jesus gave this blind man eyesight (John 9:6-7). “He [Jesus] spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.’ So he went away and washed, and came back seeing” (John 9:6–7). [2] But this miracle brought serious reactions. The Pharisees were upset that Jesus had performed work on the Sabbath (9:13-16). The blind man’s parents were amazed at what happened, yet refused to attribute the miracle to Jesus (9:18-23). The Pharisees were upset with the formerly blind man and two times called upon him for questioning (9:13-17, 24-34). We must remember this blind man is not sharing a simple testimony to a welcoming audience like at a church service. This is a testimony in front of a hostile enemy audience. The formerly blind man that can now see stands up for Jesus and the truth of who Jesus was and what He did.
When the Pharisees asked the blind man how Jesus healed him, the blind man replied, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight” (John 9:11).
When we follow Jesus we have to accept the consequences that come to us. The Pharisees were embarrassed by the blind beggar. Their only way to save face was to kick the blind man out of the temple (John 9:34b). This should not surprise us because John tells us the blind man’s parents were afraid to reveal how their son was healed (John 9:22) because of the Pharisees’ control of the temple. To get excommunicated from the temple was to lose their worship of God and fellowship with other believers, family, and friends. He’s losing a lot in this act by attributing his eyesight to his Lord.
Following Jesus might cost us. But are we willing to accept the consequences of following Jesus?
[1] “People who had disabilities customarily claimed spots along a well—traveled street leading to the temple—and this is still a common sight near religious sites today” (Swindoll, Insights on John, [Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2014], 191).
[2] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.