The Gospel According to
John 9
41 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind
Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth,
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The disciples
and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.
While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
His neighbors
At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”
Some claimed that he was, but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
The man born blind
But the man kept saying, “I am the one.”
His neighbors
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
The man born blind
He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”
His neighbors
“Where is He?” they asked.
The man born blind
“I do not know,” he answered.
Reflect
Who sinned?
The disciples saw a puzzle to solve: “who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus saw a man, and a place where “the works of God would be displayed.” Think of someone whose suffering you have quietly tried to explain. How might Jesus be asking you to see them instead?
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”
He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!”
“What did He do to you?” they asked. “How did He open your eyes?”
He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.”
“That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do no such thing.”
1:01
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.
Question
Quick question
Jesus sent the man to wash his eyes in a pool in Jerusalem, and John stops to explain its name.
What does the name of the pool mean?
Spiritual Blindness
There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!
John 9:25
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
The Pharisees
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
Jesus
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Who is blind?
Whiteboard
The chapter ends turned upside down. The man who could not see ends up worshiping. The men who were sure they could see end up blind. The only cure is to admit we need one.
Pray
Open my eyes
The man had one thing he knew for sure: “I was blind, but now I see!” Ask Jesus to keep you honest about where you still can’t see, to open your eyes to Him, and to give you the courage to say plainly what He has done for you.
You’ve experienced
John 9
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A verse to carry with you
There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!
John 9:25
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