Episode Seven: The Man Born Blind
Safina Stewart in conversation with Dr Byron Smith, discussing Jesus' encounter with the man born blind in John 9.
In the final episode of our Lent podcast series, Safina Stewart, Common Grace’s Storyteller and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lead joins Dr Byron Smith, ecological ethicist on Common Grace’s Creation and Climate Justice advisory team, to discuss Jesus’ encounter with the man born blind in John 9.
Together, they reflect on how easily we reach for cliched platitudes or fall into victim blaming when faced with suffering, and how often those already hurting are pushed further to the margins. Drawing on their own lived experiences - from illness and grief to the ongoing realities of injustice faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - this conversation invites us to resist simplistic answers and instead to sit with discomfort, to listen deeply, and to walk alongside those who are suffering. It’s a call to stand up to injustices, to be truth tellers, and follow Jesus into a life marked by courage, compassion, and love - even when it comes at a cost.
Listen to this podcast episode below
You can also download the episode via this Google Drive link.
A transcript of this conversation can be downloaded here.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
“Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
John 9
Reflect:
Did you discover anything new in the story of the man born blind by listening to Safina and Byron's discussion?
When something tragic or unjust is unfolding, have you heard people say some of the common platitudes mentioned in this episode? Or have you perhaps said some of them yourself? Why do you think Christians can find it difficult to sit with suffering or injustice?
Safina mentioned some of the common victim-blaming statements directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Have you been in a conversation where one of these was said? How did you feel and how did you react?
How would you love to see your church become more honest and courageous in truth-telling around First Nations and creation and climate justice? And is there a way you might be able to help that take shape?
Pray:
Loving God, help us to live well in a world which is tragic, unfair, and often unjust. Instead of leaning on easy and simplistic answers about the way things are, give us your eyes to see the truth of this world, and the truth of the justice you are bringing into it. Empower our churches to be places of bold truth-telling about suffering and injustice, and help us not just to speak, but to act. Amen.
Go Deeper:
Join us online for Common Grace's Prayer Vigil for Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 7:30pm AEST. This year marks 35 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody delivered its final report. In the decades since, more than 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in custody and its 339 recommendations remain largely unimplemented. As followers of Jesus, we are called not to turn away, but to draw near - in lament, in prayer, and in action. Together, we'll listen deeply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders, lament, read the Bible, pray and act together.
Come along to one of our 2026 Community Connection Events! Connect with the Common Grace team, meet other Christians passionate about justice, and explore ways to take action together. We’re gathering in person across May in Brisbane (2 May), Melbourne (9 May), Newcastle (14 May), Sydney (16 May), and Adelaide (23 May), with an online option on Wednesday 29 April, 7:30–9pm AEST. Find out more and register here.
Gather with Christians across the country at Common Grace’s ‘Let Justice Flow’ Conference, 15–17 August 2026 - Ngunnawal & Ngambri Country, Canberra. Over two days of training and preparation, we will engage deeply with key advocacy work in First Nations justice, before putting these skills into action as we meet with our nation’s leaders at Parliament House. Find more information and buy tickets here.
About this Series
Thank you for being on the journey with us this Lent, as we've reflected on seven Gospel stories where Jesus meets people in moments of struggle, pain, exclusion, or sin - and transforms their lives bringing healing, forgiveness, and restoration. We pray these podcast episodes have been a blessing and encouragement to you in this season of Lent, helping you see how Jesus's healing reaches beyond the personal, and challenges the social, economic, and religious barriers that keep people from flourishing.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this series! Your feedback helps us understand how these resources are encouraging and equipping the Common Grace movement as we pursue Jesus and justice together. Please get in touch with us at [email protected]
We’d also like to give a heartfelt thank you to musician Luke Vassella for generously letting us feature his song Roll On Mighty River as the closing track for this podcast series. You can explore more of Luke’s music here.
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