What does John 9:11 mean?
This miracle provides valuable lessons. One, first hinted at here, is the simplicity of our testimony. The man speaking was born blind (John 9:1–2). Then, he was miraculously granted sight by Jesus (John 9:6–7). When pressed about what drastically changed his life, the man has a simple answer: Jesus put mud on my eyes and said to wash, so I did, and now I can see. This man will be interrogated by the Pharisees and give the same answer. In fact, when pressed to give a deeper explanation, he will respond with a classic statement: "One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).God does not expect us to have deep, advanced knowledge to be saved. Nor does it require extensive experience or a movie-worthy story to reach others for the sake of Christ. Our most potent tool is usually a simple explanation of what God has done for us (Mark 5:19). Not only is this personal and real, but it's also undeniable: we know what we have experienced!
Another helpful perspective here is to consider what would have happened had the man refused Jesus' command. In this case, Jesus didn't instantly heal. He gave the man a task to perform. This is a common tactic for God, even when it comes to healing (2 Kings 5:1–14). Putting muddy clay on the man's eyes certainly gave him an incentive to wash, and God often uses "pressure" in our lives to encourage us in certain directions. But this man's blessing was effectively on hold until he acted in obedience. Not all of God's work in our lives is this way, and we can't presume that God "owes" us when we do certain things. However, we should also recognize that God does not expect us to be passive (John 9:4; Matthew 5:16). Sometimes, His commands are for our own benefit.
