John 9

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

1As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3#Jn 11.4Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4#Jn 11.9; 12.35We#9.4 Other ancient authorities read I must work the works of him who sent me#9.4 Other ancient authorities read us while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5#Jn 1.4; 8.12; 12.46As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6#Mk 7.33; 8.23When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7#v 11; Lk 13.4; Jn 11.37saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” 10But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14#Jn 5.9Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16#Mt 12.2; Jn 7.23; 10.19Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17#v 15; Mt 21.11So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, 21but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22#v 34; Lk 6.22; Jn 7.13; 12.42His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus#9.22 Gk him to be the Messiah#9.22 Or the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 # v 16 ; Josh 7.19; 1 Sam 6.5So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28#Jn 5.45Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29#Jn 8.14We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31#Job 27.8, 9; Ps 34.15; 66.18; Prov 15.29; 28.9; Isa 1.15; Jer 11.11; Zech 7.13We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 # Mt 14.33; 16.16; Mk 1.1; Jn 10.36 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”#9.35 Other ancient authorities read the Son of God 36#Rom 10.14He answered, “And who is he, sir?#9.36 Or Lord Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37#Jn 4.26Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38He said, “Lord,#9.38 Or Sir I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39#Mt 13.13; 15.14; Jn 3.19; 5.22, 27Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.” 40#Rom 2.19Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41#Jn 15.22, 24Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

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