John

Chapter 9

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Scripture

KJV

1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

8The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

15Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

17They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

19And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

22These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

26Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

28Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

29We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

30The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

32Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

33If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Key VerseJohn 9:25

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

Overview

Jesus encounters a man blind from birth, spits on the ground to make clay, anoints the man's eyes, and sends him to wash in the pool of Siloam — and the man receives his sight. The Pharisees interrogate the healed man and his parents, refusing to accept the miracle because Jesus performed it on the Sabbath. The man's faith grows through opposition until he worships Jesus as the Son of God.

Key Themes

1

Spiritual Blindness versus Physical Blindness

The man born blind gains both physical and spiritual sight, while the Pharisees who claim to see are revealed as spiritually blind — an ironic reversal.

2

Jesus as the Light Giver

This miracle is a living enactment of Jesus' claim to be the light of the world — He literally brings light to eyes that have never seen.

3

Growing Faith under Persecution

The healed man's understanding of Jesus deepens through each interrogation — from 'a man called Jesus' to 'a prophet' to 'Lord, I believe' — showing how opposition can strengthen faith.

Study Questions

1.

Why does Jesus correct the disciples' assumption that the man's blindness was caused by someone's sin (vv. 2-3), and what does this teach about suffering?

2.

What is the significance of Jesus using clay and the pool of Siloam in this healing, rather than simply speaking a word?

3.

How does the healed man's testimony grow bolder with each confrontation, and what can we learn from his example?

4.

Why are the Pharisees so resistant to accepting an obvious miracle, and what does their reaction reveal about the danger of religious presuppositions?

5.

What does Jesus mean when He says, 'For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind' (v. 39)?

Connection to Christ

Jesus demonstrates that He is the light of the world not just in word but in deed, giving sight to a man who lived in total darkness from birth. This miracle is a picture of spiritual salvation — Christ opens the eyes of those born in spiritual blindness. The Pharisees' refusal to see despite the evidence shows that rejecting Christ leads to deeper darkness.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through John 9. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

John

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