John 9

1 As Yeshua passed along, he saw a man blind from birth.

2 His talmidim asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned -- this man or his parents -- to cause him to be born blind?"

3 Yeshua answered, "His blindness is due neither to his sin nor to that of his parents; it happened so that God's power might be seen at work in him.

4 As long as it is day, we must keep doing the work of the One who sent me; the night is coming, when no one can work.

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, put the mud on the man's eyes,

7 and said to him, "Go, wash off in the Pool of Shiloach!" (The name means "sent.") So he went and washed and came away seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who previously had seen him begging said, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?"

9 Some said, "Yes, he's the one"; while others said, "No, but he looks like him." However, he himself said, "I'm the one."

10 "How were your eyes opened?" they asked him.

11 He answered, "The man called Yeshua made mud, put it on my eyes, and told me, `Go to Shiloach and wash!' So I went; and as soon as I had washed, I could see."

12 They said to him, "Where is he?" and he replied, "I don't know."

13 They took the man who had been blind to the P'rushim.

14 Now the day on which Yeshua had made the mud and opened his eyes was Shabbat.

15 So the P'rushim asked him again how he had become able to see; and he told them, "He put mud on my eyes, then I washed, and now I can see."

16 At this, some of the P'rushim said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep Shabbat." But others said, "How could a man who is a sinner do miracles like these?" And there was a split among them.

17 So once more they spoke to the blind man: "Since you're the one whose eyes he opened, what do you say about him?" He replied: "He is a prophet."

18 The Judeans, however, were unwilling to believe that he had formerly been blind, but now could see, until they had summoned the man's parents.

19 They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"

20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind;

21 but how it is that he can see now, we don't know; nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him -- he's old enough, he can speak for himself!"

22 The parents said this because they were afraid of the Judeans, for the Judeans had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged Yeshua as the Messiah would be banned from the synagogue.

23 This is why his parents said, "He's old enough, ask him."

24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind; and they said to him, "Swear to God that you will tell the truth! We know that this man is a sinner."

25 He answered, "Whether he's a sinner or not I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, now I see."

26 So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

27 "I already told you," he answered, "and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Maybe you too want to become his talmidim?"

28 Then they railed at him. "You may be his talmid," they said, "but we are talmidim of Moshe!

29 We know that God has spoken to Moshe, but as for this fellow -- we don't know where he's from!"

30 "What a strange thing," the man answered, "that you don't know where he's from -- considering that he opened my eyes!

31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners; but if anyone fears God and does his will, God does listen to him.

32 In all history no one has ever heard of someone's opening the eyes of a man born blind.

33 If this man were not from God, he couldn't do a thing!"

34 "Why, you mamzer!" they retorted, "Are you lecturing us?" And they threw him out.

35 Yeshua heard that they had thrown the man out. He found him and said, "Do you trust in the Son of Man?"

36 "Sir," he answered, "tell me who he is, so that I can trust in him."

37 Yeshua said to him, "You have seen him. In fact, he's the one speaking with you now."

38 "Lord, I trust!" he said, and he kneeled down in front of him.

39 Yeshua said, "It is to judge that I came into this world, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind."

40 Some of the P'rushim nearby heard this and said to him, "So we're blind too, are we?"

41 Yeshua answered them, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you still say, `We see,' your guilt remains.

John 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.