Juan 9

1 Y PASANDO Jesús, vió un hombre ciego desde su nacimiento.

2 Y preguntáronle sus discípulos, diciendo: Rabbí, ¿quién pecó, éste ó sus padres, para que naciese ciego?

3 Respondió Jesús: Ni éste pecó, ni sus padres: mas para que las obras de Dios se manifiesten en él.

4 Conviéneme obrar las obrar del que me envió, entre tanto que el día dura: la noche viene, cuando nadie puede obrar.

5 Entre tanto que estuviere en el mundo, luz soy del mundo.

6 Esto dicho, escupió en tierra, é hizo lodo con la saliva, y untó con el lodo sobre los ojos del ciego,

7 Y díjole: Ve, lávate en el estanque de Siloé (que significa, si lo interpretares, Enviado). Y fué entonces, y lavóse, y volvió viendo.

8 Entonces los vecinos, y los que antes le habían visto que era ciego, decían: ¿no es éste el que se sentaba y mendigaba?

9 Unos decían: Este es; y otros: A él se parece. El decía: Yo soy.

10 Y dijéronle: ¿Cómo te fueron abiertos los ojos?

11 Respondió él y dijo: El hombre que se llama Jesús, hizo lodo, y me untó los ojos, y me dijo: Ve al Siloé, y lávate: y fuí, y me lavé, y recibí la vista.

12 Entonces le dijeron: ¿Dónde está aquél? El dijo: No sé.

13 Llevaron á los Fariseos al que antes había sido ciego.

14 Y era sábado cuando Jesús había hecho el lodo, y le había abierto los ojos.

15 Y volviéronle á preguntar también los Fariseos de qué manera había recibido la vista. Y él les dijo: Púsome lodo sobre los ojos, y me lavé, y veo.

16 Entonces unos de los Fariseos decían: Este hombre no es de Dios, que no guarda el sábado. Otros decían: ¿Cómo puede un hombre pecador hacer estas señales? Y había disensión entre ellos.

17 Vuelven á decir al ciego: ¿Tú, qué dices del que te abrió los ojos? Y él dijo: Que es profeta.

18 Mas los Judíos no creían de él, que había sido ciego, y hubiese recibido la vista, hasta que llamaron á los padres del que había recibido la vista;

19 Y preguntáronles, diciendo: ¿Es éste vuestro hijo, el que vosotros decís que nació ciego? ¿Cómo, pues, ve ahora?

20 Respondiéronles sus padres y dijeron: Sabemos que éste es nuestro hijo, y que nació ciego:

21 Mas cómo vea ahora, no sabemos; ó quién le haya abierto los ojos, nosotros no lo sabemos; él tiene edad, preguntadle á él; él hablará de sí.

22 Esto dijeron sus padres, porque tenían miedo de los Judíos: porque ya los Judíos habían resuelto que si alguno confesase ser él el Mesías, fuese fuera de la sinagoga.

23 Por eso dijeron sus padres: Edad tiene, preguntadle á él.

24 Así que, volvieron á llamar al hombre que había sido ciego, y dijéronle: Da gloria á Dios: nosotros sabemos que este hombre es pecador.

25 Entonces él respondió, y dijo: Si es pecador, no lo sé: una cosa sé, que habiendo yo sido ciego, ahora veo.

26 Y volviéronle á decir: ¿Qué te hizo? ¿Cómo te abrió los ojos?

27 Respondióles: Ya os lo he dicho, y no habéis atendido: ¿por qué lo queréis otra vez oir? ¿queréis también vosotros haceros sus discípulos?

28 Y le ultrajaron, y dijeron: Tú eres su discípulo; pero nosotros discípulos de Moisés somos.

29 Nosotros sabemos que á Moisés habló Dios: mas éste no sabemos de dónde es.

30 Respondió aquel hombre, y díjoles: Por cierto, maravillosa cosa es ésta, que vosotros no sabéis de dónde sea, y á mí me abrió los ojos.

31 Y sabemos que Dios no oye á los pecadores: mas si alguno es temeroso de Dios, y hace su voluntad, á éste oye.

32 Desde el siglo no fué oído, que abriese alguno los ojos de uno que nació ciego.

33 Si éste no fuera de Dios, no pudiera hacer nada.

34 Respondieron, y dijéronle: En pecados eres nacido todo, ¿y tú nos enseñas? Y echáronle fuera.

35 Oyó Jesús que le habían echado fuera; y hallándole, díjole: ¿Crees tú en el Hijo de Dios?

36 Respondió él, y dijo: ¿Quién es, Señor, para que crea en él?

37 Y díjole Jesús: Y le has visto, y el que habla contigo, él es.

38 Y él dice: Creo, Señor; y adoróle.

39 Y dijo Jesús: Yo, para juicio he venido á este mundo: para que los que no ven, vean; y los que ven, sean cegados.

40 Y ciertos de los Fariseos que estaban con él oyeron esto, y dijéronle: ¿Somos nosotros también ciegos?

41 Díjoles Jesús: Si fuerais ciegos, no tuvierais pecado: mas ahora porque decís, Vemos, por tanto vuestro pecado permanece.

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What Do We Learn about Jesus from His Healing the Blind Man in John 9?

Juan 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

Christ give sight to one born blind. (1-7) The account given by the blind man. (8-12) The Pharisees question the man that had been blind. (13-17) They ask concerning him. (18-23) They cast him out. (24-34) Christ's words to the man that had been blind. (35-38) He reproves the Pharisees. (39-41)

Verses 1-7 Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest his works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against, will leave many a good work for ever undone, ( Ecclesiastes 11:4 ) . Christ magnified his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that which one would think more likely to make a seeing man blind. Human reason cannot judge of the Lord's methods; he uses means and instruments that men despise. Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. This represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.

Verses 8-12 Those whose eyes are opened, and whose hearts are cleansed by grace, being known to be the same person, but widely different in character, live as monuments to the Redeemer's glory, and recommend his grace to all who desire the same precious salvation. It is good to observe the way and method of God's works, and they will appear the more wonderful. Apply this spiritually. In the work of grace wrought upon the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which thou hearest the sound of, but canst not tell whence it comes, nor whither it goes.

Verses 13-17 Christ not only worked miracles on the sabbath, but in such a manner as would give offence to the Jews, for he would not seem to yield to the scribes and Pharisees. Their zeal for mere rites consumed the substantial matters of religion; therefore Christ would not give place to them. Also, works of necessity and mercy are allowed, and the sabbath rest is to be kept, in order to the sabbath work. How many blind eyes have been opened by the preaching of the gospel on the Lord's day! how many impotent souls cured on that day! Much unrighteous and uncharitable judging comes from men's adding their own fancies to God's appointments. How perfect in wisdom and holiness was our Redeemer, when his enemies could find nothing against him, but the oft-refuted charge of breaking the sabbath! May we be enabled, by well-doing, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Verses 18-23 The Pharisees vainly hoped to disprove this notable miracle. They expected a Messiah, but could not bear to think that this Jesus should be he, because his precepts were all contrary to their traditions, and because they expected a Messiah in outward pomp and splendour. The fear of man brings a snare, ( Proverbs 29:25 ) , and often makes people deny and disown Christ and his truths and ways, and act against their consciences. The unlearned and poor, who are simple-hearted, readily draw proper inferences from the evidences of the light of the gospel; but those whose desires are another way, though ever learning, never come to the knowledge of the truth.

Verses 24-34 As Christ's mercies are most valued by those who have felt the want of them, that have been blind, and now see; so the most powerful and lasting affections to Christ, arise from actual knowledge of him. In the work of grace in the soul, though we cannot tell when, and how, and by what steps the blessed change was wrought, yet we may take the comfort, if we can say, through grace, Whereas I was blind, now I see. I did live a worldly, sensual life, but, thanks be to God, it is now otherwise with me, ( Ephesians 5:8 ) . The unbelief of those who enjoy the means of knowledge and conviction, is indeed marvellous. All who have felt the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, wonder at the wilfulness of others who reject him. He argues strongly against them, not only that Jesus was not a sinner, but that he was of God. We may each of us know by this, whether we are of God or not. What do we? What do we for God? What do we for our souls? What do we more than others?

Verses 35-38 Christ owns those who own him and his truth and ways. There is particular notice taken of such a suffer in the cause of Christ, and for the testimony of a good conscience. Our Lord Jesus graciously reveals himself to the man. Now he was made sensible what an unspeakable mercy it was, to be cured of his blindness, that he might see the Son of God. None but God is to be worshipped; so that in worshipping Jesus, he owned him to be God. All who believe in him, will worship him.

Verses 39-41 Christ came into the world to give sight to those who were spiritually blind. Also, that those who see might be made blind; that those who have a high conceit of their own wisdom, might be sealed up in ignorance. The preaching of the cross was thought to be folly by such as by carnal wisdom knew not God. Nothing fortifies men's corrupt hearts against the convictions of the word, more than the high opinion which others have of them; as if all that gained applause with men, must obtain acceptance with God. Christ silenced them. But the sin of the self-conceited and self-confident remains; they reject the gospel of grace, therefore the guilt of their sin remains unpardoned, and the power of their sin remains unbroken.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)