John 9: Healing of Man Born Blind
How did the disciples know the man had been blind from birth?
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John 9:1–2 As Jesus walked down the street, he saw a man who had been blind since birth.
His disciples said, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was his condition caused by the man’s sin or the sin of his parents?”
King James
John 9:1–2 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Why did the disciples question who had sinned?
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John 9:2 His disciples said, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was his condition caused by the man’s sin or the sin of his parents?”
King James
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
What did Jesus identify as the cause of the man’s blindness? Why might that answer be hard to believe?
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John 9:3 “Neither one. His blindness is not due to sin but was given so the works of God could be revealed in him.”
King James
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
What do you think Jesus was referring to when he said “the night will come when no one can work”?
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John 9:4 “While we have daylight, we must do the work of the one who sent me, because the night will come when no one can work.”
King James
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
For the three years of his ministry, how many hours, on average, did Jesus work?
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John 9:4 “While we have daylight, we must do the work of the one who sent me, because the night will come when no one can work.”
King James
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Who is the light of the world? Why?
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Matthew 5:14 “You are here to give light to the whole world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.”
John 9:5 “For as long as I am here, I am the light of the world.”
King James
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Only this once do we have a record of Jesus applying mud to a blind man’s eyes. Why did he do that rather than simply touch his eyes or speak healing with his words?
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John 9:6 After saying this, Jesus spat on the ground, made mud from the saliva, and smeared the ointment on the blind man’s eyes.
King James
John 9:6 When 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,
What kinds of physical and emotional struggles might the blind man have endured before he could see?
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John 9:7 “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam,” he said.
The meaning of the pool’s name was sent.
The man washed his eyes and came back, able to see.
King James
John 9:7 And 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.
How far did the blind man have to walk, and where did he come back to, able to see?
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John 9:7 “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam,” he said.
The meaning of the pool’s name was sent.
The man washed his eyes and came back, able to see.
King James
John 9:7 And 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.
In what ways did the blind man’s life change after he could see?
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John 9:8–10 His neighbors and others who knew him when he was blind said, “Is this the same man we used to see sitting and begging?”
Some said, “Yes,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
But he said, “I am the man, all right.”
So they said to him, “How is it that you now can see?”
King James
John 9:8–10 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
What was so different about the man’s appearance that those who knew him weren’t sure who he was?
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John 9:9 Some said, “Yes,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
But he said, “I am the man, all right.”
King James
John 9:9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
How did the blind man know who had healed him? Why didn’t he know where Jesus was?
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John 9:11–12 “A man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes. He said, ‘Go to the Pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I did, and now I can see.”
“Where is this man?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
King James
John 9:11–12 He 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. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
Who took the formerly blind man to the Pharisees? Why did they take that action?
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John 9:13–14 They took the formerly blind man to the Pharisees because Jesus had made the mud and healed him on the Sabbath.
King James
John 9:13–14 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
Who were the men who questioned the formerly blind man? What was their interest in judging what happened?
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John 9:15 The Pharisees began their interrogation, asking how he had received his sight. He detailed how Jesus had anointed his eyes with mud, sent him to wash, and then he could see.
King James
John 9:15 Then 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.
What was the controversy among the Pharisees? Why didn’t they believe the man had been blind?
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John 9:16–18 Some said, “This Jesus cannot be from God, because he violates the Sabbath.”
Others disagreed, saying, “How can a sinner do such miracles?”
The controversy deepened. They could not reach an agreement about him.
Again, they said to the man, “What do you have to say about the man who opened your eyes?”
“He is a prophet.”
The Jewish leaders did not believe the man had been blind until they heard the testimony of his parents.
King James
John 9:16–18 Therefore 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. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But 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.
What did the parents think about their son’s healing? Were they thrilled? To what extent?
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John 9:19–23 “Is this your son?” they said. “Do you affirm that he was born blind? Then how does he now see?”
“Yes, he is our son. He was born blind. But we do not know how he can now see. We do not know who gave him his sight. He is of legal age, so ask him. He can speak for himself.”
They answered in this way because the Jewish leaders had made it known that they would put out of the synagogue anyone who said Jesus was the Messiah. That’s why they said, “He is of age, so ask him.”
King James
John 9:19–23 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But 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. These 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. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Why did Jewish leaders view Jesus as a sinner? How did they think discrediting Jesus would glorify God?
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John 9:24 For the second time, the Jewish leaders called the formerly blind man to appear before them. “Give God the glory for this miracle,” they said, “because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”
King James
John 9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
How much did the man know about Jesus?
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John 9:25 “I do not know whether he is a sinner or not,” the man said. “Of one thing I am sure. I used to be blind. Now I can see.”
King James
John 9:25 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.
Why did the Pharisees ask the same question they had asked before? Why did they accuse the formerly blind man of being Jesus’ disciple?
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John 9:26–29 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
“I already told you. Weren’t you listening? Why do you want to hear it all over again? Are you interested in becoming his disciples?”
They cursed and ridiculed him. “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know God spoke to Moses. As for this man, we do not even know where he came from.”
King James
John 9:26–29 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
Why did the healed man see the world so different from the Pharisees? What is the difference between physical and spiritual blindness?
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John 9:30–34 “This is amazing. You do not know where he came from, but he healed my blind eyes. We know God does not listen to sinners. He listens to a man who worships him and does his will. Never in the world’s history has anyone heard of a man healing someone who was born blind. If this man did not come from God, he could do nothing.”
“You were born a sinner,” they said. “Who are you to lecture us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.
King James
John 9:30–34 The 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. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Who could have told Jesus about what happened? Why did he go to find the man he had healed?
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John 9:35–38 After hearing what had happened, Jesus found the man. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Tell me who he is, sir, and I will believe in him.”
“You have already seen him,” Jesus said. “He is the one talking with you.”
He knelt before Jesus. “Yes, I do believe, sir.”
King James
John 9:35–38 Jesus 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? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
What determines who receives sight or blindness?
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John 9:39 Jesus said, “I came to this world to bring people to a point of decision, to give sight to the blind and blindness to those who think they see.”
King James
John 9:39 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.
Why did some Pharisees thing Jesus might be referring to them as blind?
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John 9:40 Some Pharisees overheard him. “Are you saying we are blind?”
King James
John 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
How can it be blameless to be blind?
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John 9:41 “If you were blind,” Jesus said, “you would be blameless. But because you say you can see, you remain blind.”
King James
John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.