The Gospels · Chapter 9 of 21

John 9

What is the meaning of John 9?

Jesus heals a man born blind by anointing his eyes with clay and sending him to wash, and the miracle triggers an escalating interrogation. As the healed man grows bolder and his accusers grow angrier, the story turns on its head: the man who could not see comes to worship Jesus, while those who claim to see are shown to be truly blind.

What happens in John 9

Passing by, Jesus sees a man blind from birth. His disciples ask whose sin caused it, and Jesus answers that no one sinned, but that the works of God might be shown in him. He anoints the man's eyes with clay and sends him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and he returns seeing. Neighbors bring him to the Pharisees, for the healing was done on the Sabbath. Divided, they interrogate the man, his fearful parents, and the man again. Pressed to call Jesus a sinner, the man answers with disarming simplicity: one thing he knows, that he was blind and now sees.

Because he reasons that only one from God could do this, they cast him out. Jesus finds him and asks if he believes in the Son of God; he believes and worships Him. Jesus says He came so that the blind might see and the seeing become blind, and warns that the Pharisees' claim to sight is itself their guilt.

John 9 in context

This sign flows out of the light of the world declaration in chapter 8 and dramatizes it: Jesus, the light, gives literal and then spiritual sight. It is the sixth sign in John and the second Sabbath healing to spark conflict, echoing chapter 5.

The whole chapter is a study in spiritual seeing and blindness, and the healed man's growing courage and expulsion foreshadow the cost disciples will pay for confessing Christ.

Main themes of John 9

John 9 (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.

Verses to carry from John 9

“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.”John 9:25

“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”John 9:3

“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.”John 9:39

Reflection

This chapter asks whether you will admit your own blindness, since only those who know they cannot see come to receive sight. It warns against the confidence that already claims to see. And it invites the simple, courageous witness of the healed man: whatever you cannot yet explain, tell what Christ has done for you.

A prayer from John 9