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 9:26 mean?

Explanation

The verse John 9:26 occurs in a passage where Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth.

This miraculous healing causes various reactions among the people and especially the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the time.

When Jesus heals the man, he does it on the Sabbath, which according to Jewish law was a day of rest during which no work was to be done.

The Pharisees are questioning the man about the healing because they are skeptical of Jesus and want to find evidence against him as they regard healing as a work that violates the Sabbath.

In this verse, the Pharisees are interrogating the healed man for a second time, seeking more information about how Jesus performed the miracle.

Their questioning reflects their disbelief and their intent to discredit Jesus's works and authority.

The repetition of the man's story emphasizes the miraculous nature of the healing and the growing tension between the Pharisees and Jesus.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in a period when early Christians were experiencing tension with the Jewish authorities of the time.

The Pharisees were a sect that strictly interpreted and enforced Jewish law, and they often clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the law.

John 9 places Jesus in direct conflict with the Pharisaical understanding of the Sabbath.

The repeated interrogations by the Pharisees evidently show their refusal to accept Jesus's works and the threat he posed to their authority.

The healing on the Sabbath is a significant point of contention because the day was sacred to Jewish people as a day dedicated to rest and worship, based on the Genesis account of creation.

By interrogating the healed man, the Pharisees are trying to demonstrate that Jesus has broken the law, thus discrediting him and his ministry.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse and the surrounding passages present several themes:

Sabbath: The issue of Jesus healing on the Sabbath brings to light the concept of what constitutes work and how the Sabbath should be kept.
Spiritual Blindness: The physical healing of the blind man serves as a metaphor for spiritual sight and blindness.

The Pharisees, although physically able to see, are depicted as spiritually blind because they fail to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Authority of Jesus: The significance of this miracle, along with the Pharisees' response, serves to illustrate the divine authority of Jesus as the Son of God, who has power over physical ailments and spiritual truths.

Practical Applications

John 9:26 and the entire account of the healing of the blind man offer several applications for daily life:

Understanding over legalism: One might reflect upon the importance of understanding the spirit of the law over strict, legalistic adherence to rules.
Seeing with faith: The passage invites believers to 'see' with faith and recognize Jesus's works in their lives, beyond just physical evidence.
Courage in testimony: The healed man's repeated testimony before the skeptical Pharisees can inspire individuals to stand firm in their faith despite opposition or misunderstanding.

Cross-References

Related verses to John 9:26 include:

John 9:15 "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."

Mark 2:27 "And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:"
John 9:39 "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."

Language Study

In the original Greek, notable words include:

"What did he" (Ti epoiesen soi; τί ἐποίησεν σοι): The verb "epoiesen" (ἐποίησεν) relates to doing or making, implying an action done to the man.
"How opened he" (pos ēnoixen; πῶς ἠνοίξεν): The verb "ēnoixen" (ἠνοίξεν) is from "anoigo" (ἀνοίγω), which means to open.

This word specifically refers to the act of the eyes being opened.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, stories of gods or demigods performing miracles are common. In Greek mythology, for example, Asclepius was known as a god of healing.

However, the healing miracles attributed to Jesus in the Christian New Testament distinguish Jesus as not simply a divine healer but as the Son of God and the Light of the World.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the account of healing a man born blind would be considered a miraculous event, as currently there are no medical procedures that can restore sight to someone who has been blind from birth due to genetic or developmental causes.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various interpretations of John 9:26:

Some focus on the patience and consistency of the formerly blind man as he is repeatedly challenged by the Pharisees.
Others contemplate the growing hostility towards Jesus by the religious leaders, as displayed through their persistent questioning.
Many see this verse demonstrating the Pharisees' willful ignorance and inability to perceive the spiritual significance of Jesus’s miracles.

John 9

John 9

What does John 9:26 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 9:26 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?