Read the Passage: John 9

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: John 9

Healing (9:1–7)

Including this present narrative, there are five occasions in the Gospels where Jesus heals the blind (cf. Matt. 9:27; 20:30; Mark 8:22; Luke 11:14; John 9:1). Of these five notable miracles, the account here in John 9 is arguably the most spectacular healing, as the blind man in this story was born blind. Indeed, since Jesus may have created eyes out of clay in healing this man, some readers have viewed this to be a creation miracle, not a healing miracle. In any event, as this story begins, upon seeing the man born blind, the disciples asked Jesus, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” (John 9:1)? In light of their question, it seems the disciples assumed that personal suffering is always the direct result of personal sin. Given this faulty presupposition, they struggled to explain the blind man’s lifelong condition, for he could not have sinned before he was born.

In John 9:3–5 Jesus exposed the error hidden within the disciples’ question, as He explained that the man’s blindness was not the result of his sin, nor was it caused by the sins of his parents. Rather, Christ teaches this man was born blind, “[So] that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3). While this claim is arresting, Jesus’ actions in John 9:6–7 are even more stunning. Indeed, without the man or the disciples even asking for anything, Christ made clay with His own saliva, anointed the man’s eyes, and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Observe the parallels between Jesus’ making of clay to heal the man’s eyes at John 9:6, and God’s creation of Adam out of the dust of the earth at Gen. 2:7. After obediently washing in the pool of Siloam, which was located in the southeastern part of Jerusalem, John 9:7 reports that the man “came back seeing.”

Inquisition (9:8–34)

John 9:8–34 describes the reaction of the man’s neighbors, parents, and religious leaders to his healing. First, in John 9:8–12 we read that the man’s neighbors were astonished at the miracle, with some accepting the healing and others denying it. The former blind man, however, presented himself to his neighbors and claimed, “I am he” (John 9:9). After explaining how and by whom he had been healed (cf. John 9:11), the crowds brought the man to the Pharisees. Presumably, the crowds wanted the religious leaders to validate the man’s healing and to verify Jesus’ identity. After explaining a second time how Christ had healed him (cf. John 9:15), the Pharisees said of Jesus, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath” (John 9:16). John likely includes this detail in order to highlight the cold-hearted, works-based religion of the religious rulers.

In John 9:17–34 the reaction of Pharisees to the blind man’s healing changed from confusion to inquisition. The religious leaders first asked the former blind man to share his opinion of Jesus. The man replied, “He is a prophet” (John 9:17). This is likely a reference to the prophet mentioned in Deut. 18:15–22 (cf. Matt. 14:5; Mark 6:15; John 6:14). Next, in John 9:18–23, the Pharisees summoned the man’s parents to testify about the identity of their son. Apart from recognizing their son, out of fear of the Jews, these parents deferred to their son to explain his healing, as they said, “He is of age, ask him” (John 9:21, 23). Finally, in John 9:24–34, the Pharisees re-interviewed the healed man. As this narrative unfolds it is clear that the religious leaders were not concerned at all with the man’s healing; rather, their primary goal was to condemn Jesus as a sinner.

Salvation (9:35–41)

At John 9:34, it is ironic that on account of their own spiritual blindness, the Pharisees cast the now-seeing man out of their synagogue. This man is the first individual in the Gospels who was excommunicated on account of his belief in Jesus (cf. John 16:1–3). In John 9:35–41, after being cast out of the synagogue, Christ found the former blind man and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of God” (John 9:35)? By way of response, the man inquired, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him” (John 9:36)? Next, after Christ revealed Himself to the man, he both declared his faith and worshiped. This dialog shows that the man’s faith was incomplete, at best, when he was healed. Indeed, it was the miracle of sight and the proclamation of truth the resulted in his saving faith. Finally, in John 9:39–41 Jesus noted the dual-purpose of His ministry: judgment and salvation.

Application Questions:

1. Of the five times in the Gospels where Jesus heals blindness (cf. Matt. 9:27; 20:30; Mark 8:22; Luke 11:14; John 9:1), how is the John 9 account unique?
2. Is there ever a connection between personal suffering and personal sin (cf. John 5:14; 1 Cor. 11:30; Jas. 5:15)?
3. Why did Jesus command the man to wash in the pool of Siloam, rather than restoring the man’s sight immediately?
4. Was the response of the former blind man’s neighbors and the religious leaders a reasonable reaction (cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:5; 42:7)?
5. What did Jesus mean in teaching that He came so “that those who see may be made blind” (John 9:39)?