John 9 (NIV) - Full Chapter
In John 9, we witness one of Jesus’ most profound miracles: the healing of a man born blind. This chapter falls within the Gospel of John, a New Testament book that emphasizes the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”
9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 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.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.
14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.
15 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.”
16 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.
17 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.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents.
19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.
21 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.”
22 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.
23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 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.”
25 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!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 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?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!
29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Jesus Heals Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
John 9 (NIV) - Verse-by-Verse Explanation
This detailed, verse-by-verse breakdown of John 9 offers deeper insight into one of the Gospel’s most striking miracles: Jesus healing a man born blind.
John 9:1–7 - Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind
- Verses 1–2: The Disciples' Assumption
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
The disciples reflect a common Jewish belief that suffering was always the result of sin (see Job 4:7; Luke 13:1–5). They assume either prenatal sin or generational curse (cf. Exodus 20:5) caused the blindness.
- Verse 3: Divine Purpose in Suffering
“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Jesus reframes suffering, not as punishment but as a platform for God's glory. This does not deny original sin or human fallenness, but it shifts the focus to God’s redemptive power. It's a lesson in providence: God can use even brokenness to manifest His glory (Romans 8:28).
- Verses 4–5: Urgency and Identity
”As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me....I am the light of the world"
Jesus stresses urgency in fulfilling His mission. “Day” symbolizes His earthly ministry; “night” refers to the time after His death. The phrase “light of the world” (cf. John 8:12) reinforces His role in revealing spiritual truth.
- Verses 6–7: The Healing Act
Jesus uses unconventional means, mud made with saliva, to heal. The use of spit and clay was culturally offensive, but Jesus disregards social norms to accomplish divine healing. Sending the man to Siloam (“Sent”) subtly points to Jesus as the One sent by the Father (cf. John 5:36-38). The man’s obedience results in healing.
John 9:8–12 - The Public Reaction
The community is baffled. The man insists, “I am the man” (v.9), underscoring the reality of the miracle. He doesn’t yet fully understand who Jesus is (v.11), but he testifies faithfully. His healing sets up a clash between evidence of God’s work and skeptical religious structures.
John 9:13–17 - The Pharisees’ Skepticism
The healing took place on the Sabbath, which triggers the Pharisees. Jesus’ act of making mud was considered work, violating their strict interpretation of Sabbath law (cf. Exodus 20:8–11). Some Pharisees reject Jesus outright; others are divided (v.16), revealing that legalism can blind people to grace.
The man’s response in v.17 “He is a prophet” shows growing spiritual awareness. Like the blind man gaining physical sight, his spiritual sight is also dawning.
John 9:18–23 - The Parents’ Fear
The religious authorities pressure the man’s parents, who confirm his identity but avoid affirming Jesus out of fear of being expelled from the synagogue (v.22). This hints at the high social cost of following Jesus (cf. John 12:42-43). It sets the stage for the man’s boldness in contrast.
John 9:24–34 - Bold Testimony, Religious Rejection
- Verses 24–25: Simple, Powerful Faith
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
This is perhaps the most famous line in the chapter and a summary of authentic Christian testimony. The man refuses to argue theology; he sticks to personal transformation.
- Verses 26–29: The Pharisees’ Contempt
They accuse Jesus of being a sinner and dismiss the man’s experience. They appeal to Moses, yet fail to see that Moses pointed forward to Christ (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15).
- Verses 30–34: Courage and Consequence
The man logically argues that such a miracle proves Jesus is from God. The Pharisees respond with insult and excommunication, revealing that pride leads to spiritual blindness.
John 9:35–41 - Spiritual Sight and Judgment
- Verses 35–38: Personal Faith and Worship
Jesus seeks out the man after his rejection, an image of the Good Shepherd (cf. John 10:11). When Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of Man (a Messianic title from Daniel 7:13–14), the man immediately believes and worships. This is one of the few direct worship scenes in the Gospels, affirming Jesus’ divinity.
- Verse 39: Reversal of Sight
“...the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
Jesus’ mission involves a reversal of perception: the humble receive revelation; the self-righteous remain in darkness (cf. Isaiah 6:9–10; Luke 4:18).
- Verses 40–41: Condemnation of Pride
The Pharisees’ question is dripping with irony. Jesus responds that claiming spiritual sight without acknowledging blindness is what condemns them. True guilt lies in refusing to admit one’s need for grace.
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Biblical Connections: Blindness, Faith, and the Messiah
The Healing of Bartimaeus: Mark 10:46–52 and Luke 18:35–43
Both Mark 10:46–52 and Luke 18:35–43 record the healing of a blind man near Jericho, often identified as Bartimaeus. Although these accounts involve a different man than John 9, the theological connections are striking.
Key Parallels:
- In all three cases, Jesus responds to individuals society overlooks: beggars, the blind, the outcast.
- Bartimaeus cries out in faith: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47; Luke 18:38), explicitly acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.
- Jesus says to him: “Your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52; cf. Luke 18:42), linking spiritual insight and trust in Christ with physical healing.
- Bartimaeus responds by following Jesus (Mark 10:52), which echoes the man in John 9 who ultimately believes and worships Jesus (John 9:38).
Isaiah 42:6–7 - Prophetic Fulfillment
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind...” - Isaiah 42:6–7, NIV
Isaiah 42 is a Servant Song that prophetically describes the mission of the coming Messiah. It contains several key elements directly echoed in John 9:
- “light for the Gentiles” - This corresponds to Jesus’ statement: “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).
- “To open the eyes that are blind” - Fulfilled literally in John 9 and spiritually through Jesus’ teaching (cf. John 9:39).
- The Messiah is portrayed as one who brings liberation, justice, and healing, not only to Israel but to the Gentiles - a global mission (cf. Luke 2:32).
The healing in John 9 isn’t a random act of compassion; it’s a messianic signpost fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy.
Final Thoughts
The healing of the blind, whether in John 9, Mark 10, or Luke 18, is not just a miracle of compassion; it is a declaration of who Jesus is: the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Light to the nations, and the Messiah who brings true sight.
John’s Gospel, in particular, uses this miracle to challenge readers:
Do you recognize your own blindness and let Jesus give you sight? Or do you claim to see and remain blind?
“Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. - John 9:38
Let this be the response of every heart that truly sees.
References:
Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
