Chapter XXIII.—HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND.
Much did the Lord say upon the subject of covetousness; an evil passion which, if indulged, must draw the heart more and more from heavenly things to things of the earth; saying unto them, "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also."
Jesus, then, in a short parable, showed the necessity of constantly watching, that we may not be found unready whenever we are summoned to die.
Many other things Jesus said, and continued to teach through the cities and villages: on one occasion He raised the indignation of the ruler of a synagogue, because He had healed a poor woman, who was "bowed down by a spirit of infirmity," which she had had for eighteen years.
But Jesus rebuked those who blamed Him, and so spake that "All his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for the glorious things that were done by him."
"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Some of the Jews seem at this time to have taken up an idea held by the heathen, that, after the death of a man, his soul was sent into another body; and that the souls of bad men even went into the bodies of animals.
Another false notion of the Jews was, that any one who was a great sufferer upon earth must have been a greater sinner than others, who did not so suffer: an idea quite contrary to all the teaching of Jesus. With these two ideas in their minds, some of those who had become followers of Jesus, asked him, whether this blind man was born so, as a punishment for sins he had committed in another body; or whether his blindness was a punishment for the sins of his parents. Jesus immediately answered, that it was neither for one nor the other of these causes, that this man was born blind; but that God in His wisdom had allowed it to be so, "That the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jesus then, in a very remarkable manner, gave sight to the blind man; clearly proving that it was the power of God only, and not the means used, which had effected his cure: and He also enabled the blind man to show his faith, by making the final restoration of his sight, depend upon his obedience to the command, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam: he went his way therefore, and washed, and came (back) seeing."
"The neighbours and they which before had seen him that he was blind," were much surprised; and began questioning whether he were indeed the same man, or one like him; but he quickly put an end to all doubts, and said, "I am he."