John 9

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

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

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

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

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

When 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,

And 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.

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

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

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

He 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.

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

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

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

Then 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.

Therefore 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.

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

But 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.

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

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

But 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.

These 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The 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.

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

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

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

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

Jesus 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?

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

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

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

And 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.

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

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

What does John 9:17 mean?

Explanation

John 9:17 provides a culmination point in the narrative of Jesus healing a man who was born blind.

In this verse, we see the continuation of a dialogue between the Pharisees and the man who was healed.

The Pharisees are questioning him again, probing for his personal opinion about the person (Jesus) who performed the miracle.

The healed man responds by asserting that Jesus is a prophet.

This statement reflects a recognition of Jesus’s divine authority and his connection to God, which is further than the ordinary people might concede.

The blind man's proclamation is significant because it demonstrates his belief that Jesus's actions were not merely good deeds but were divinely inspired and extraordinary.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in a context that was highly religious and rich in Jewish tradition.

During this time, the Pharisees were a prominent religious group within Judaism.

They were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and known for their skepticism towards anything that challenged their interpretation of the Jewish laws and beliefs.

Miracles were seen as signs from God, and a prophet was someone who was thought to have a direct line of communication with God and who could perform such signs.

In this historical context, the blind man's acknowledgment of Jesus as a prophet would have been tantamount to declaring Jesus as a messenger from God.

This was significant because there was great anticipation of the coming Messiah at the time, and many were questioning if Jesus could be the one.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates several key concepts.

Firstly, it presents the theme of spiritual insight versus physical sight.

The blind man, though physically unable to see, displays a deeper spiritual perception of who Jesus is.

Conversely, the Pharisees, with their physical sight, are depicted as spiritually blind to Jesus’ true identity.

Secondly, this verse suggests that faith does not require complete understanding; the blind man may not fully comprehend the fullness of Jesus' nature, yet acknowledges him as a prophet based on his experience.

Lastly, in Christian theology, the recognition of Jesus as a prophet may be seen as a step towards the full recognition of his messianic and divine nature, which becomes more apparent later in the Gospel of John.

Practical Applications

In practical life, John 9:17 has several applications.

It encourages individuals to not be swayed by popular opinion or societal pressure, as seen in the blind man's confident statement about Jesus in front of the skeptical Pharisees.

It also suggests that personal experience can be a valid part of one’s belief system.

Additionally, the message exhorts believers to be open to seeing beyond the physical appearance of situations, aiming to perceive their deeper spiritual truths.

Cross-References

John 9:32-33: "Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

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

Isaiah 42:7: "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
Deuteronomy 18:15: "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"

Language Study

In the original Greek, a few key words stand out in John 9:17.

The word for "prophet" (Greek: προφήτης, prophetes) has a rich semantic range in the cultural context, indicating someone who speaks for God or is anointed to declare God's truth.

The phrase "opened thine eyes" (Greek: ἠνοίξατο, ēnoixato) also has deep significance, implying not just a physical opening, but a spiritual revelation or awakening.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this account to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, we see common themes of prophets who act as intermediaries between the divine and human realms.

In various cultures, individuals with the ability to perform miracles or heal were often considered to have a special connection to the divine.

In Greco-Roman mythology, individuals like Asclepius, the god of medicine, were revered for their healing powers.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the healing of a man born blind, as described in this narrative, would be considered a miracle, as there are no known medical procedures that can currently cure congenital blindness instantly.

It may also bring up discussions related to the psychology of belief and the effects of perceived miracles on an individual's mental state and social interactions.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and experts have different interpretations of John 9:17.

Many agree that the man’s proclamation of Jesus as a prophet is indicative of a growing understanding of Jesus’ divine mission.

Some suggest that the verse shows a contrast between the spiritual insight of the man healed from blindness and the spiritual ignorance of the Pharisees.

Commentaries often point to this narrative as one of the significant signs in the Gospel of John that reveal Jesus’s divine authority and his role as the Light of the World.

John 9

John 9

What does John 9:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 9:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?