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The Greatest Miracle

Since the beginning of the world… opening the eyes of the blind

Lesson Nine
John 9:1-41

Background:

Restoring the eyesight of a blind beggar was the signature miracle in the second year of the
Messiah’s ministry. The healing occurred on the Sabbath day and the Pharisee had the same
reaction as they did to a man restored to wholeness in the previous year.

The blind man would testify that his gift of sight was the greatest miracle since the beginning of
the world; while also providing evidence that his Healer was a man sent by God. (John 9:31-32)
The Pharisees applied greater persecution and speculation against the blind beggar, in contrast
to the lame man a year earlier. The legitimacy of the beggar’s testimony was questioned, as
was the validity of his blindness, as some inferred his sight was never impaired.

The most impactful effect of the miracle was the dissent created among Jewish religious
leaders. For the first time a faction among the Pharisees struggled to understand how someone
they have categorially condemned as a sinner and under the influence of Beelzebub, could do
miracles possible only by a person that comes from God. The potential that His claims to be the
Messiah begin to ring true as a result of this single miracle and that truth began to penetrate
the ranks of religion.

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