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FRAMEWORKS: John's Gospel

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FRAMEWORKS: John's Gospel, Chapter 9

 

v.1-12   Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

v.13-34 The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

v.35-41 Spiritual Blindness

  

(Notes: It is fascinating to see how in this chapter Jesus takes a physical healing of blindness and leads on to teach about spiritual blindness)

          

v.1-12 Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

 

v.1 (Jesus sees a blind man) As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.

v.2 (His disciples question why the man is blind) His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

v.3 (it's about letting God be glorified, he replies (implied – by healing him) “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

v.4 (while we can see, let's do the Father's work) As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

v.5 (An amazing declaration) While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

v.6 (he puts mud on the man's eyes) After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.

v.7 (and tells him to wash in the pool – he does and sees) “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

v.8 (others see him and wonder if it's the same man) His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?”

v.9 (they disagree) Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him. ”But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

v.10 (they ask him what happened) “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

v.11 (he tells what Jesus did) He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

v.12 (they ask where Jesus is) “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don't know,” he said.

   

  

v.13-34 The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

 

v.13 (they take the man to the Pharisees) They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.

v.14  (it was a Sabbath) Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath.

v.15 (so the Pharisees question the man) Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

v.16 (they objected that it had happened on the Sabbath) Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

v.17 (questioning the man, he said Jesus was a prophet) Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

v.18 (they still don't believe the man had been blind) They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents.

v.19 (they question his parents) “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

v.20 (they affirm he had been born blind) “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.

v.21  (how he regained his sight was a mystery to them) But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”

v.22,23 (his parents hedged from fear of the authorities) His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

v.24 (so they question the man again) A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

v.25 (he gives a clear testimony) He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

v.26 (they ask again how it happened) Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

v.27 (he gives a derisory answer) He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

v.28,29 (they insult him and demean Jesus) Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.”

v.30 (the man finds that amazing) The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.

v.31-33 (would God heal for a sinner?) We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

v.34 (they abuse him and throw him out) To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

   

  

v.35-41 Spiritual Blindness

  

v.35 (Jesus finds him again and challenges him) Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

v.36 (the man questions Jesus) “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

v.37 (Jesus reveals himself as the expected Son of Man) Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

v.38 (the man believes and worships Jesus) Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

v.39 (Jesus declares a principle) Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

v.40 (the Pharisees speak defensively ) Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

v.41 (Jesus challenges them) Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

 

  

Continue to Chapter 10