John 9

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 9

1¶ And 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.›

4‹I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.›

5‹As 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.

8¶ The 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.

13¶ They 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.

35¶ 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?›

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.

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.›

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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus heals a man born blind on the Sabbath, stirring controversy among the Pharisees. The healed man boldly testifies to Jesus' power despite being questioned and subsequently cast out of the synagogue. Jesus later finds him, reveals his identity as the Son of God, and the man believes, while Jesus teaches about spiritual sight and blindness.

Medium Summary

Jesus encounters a man blind from birth, declaring that his condition was for the manifestation of God's works. He heals the man by anointing his eyes with clay and instructing him to wash in the pool of Siloam, after which the man receives his sight. This miracle, performed on the Sabbath, sparks a dispute among the Pharisees, who question the man, his parents, and Jesus' authority. The parents, fearing excommunication, defer to their son, who steadfastly defends Jesus as a prophet and one sent from God, despite the Pharisees' accusations. Consequently, the man is cast out of the synagogue for his testimony. Jesus then seeks out the excommunicated man, reveals himself as the Son of God, and the man believes and worships Him. Jesus concludes by explaining that He came for judgment, that those who are spiritually blind might see, and those who claim to see might become blind, highlighting the Pharisees' spiritual condition.

Long Summary

As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth, prompting His disciples to inquire if the blindness was due to the man's or his parents' sin. Jesus clarified that it was neither, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him, declaring Himself the light of the world. He then healed the man by making clay with spittle, anointing his eyes, and instructing him to wash in the pool of Siloam, after which the man miraculously received his sight. The man's neighbors and acquaintances were astonished, and upon questioning, he recounted how Jesus had healed him. The formerly blind man was then brought before the Pharisees, who were divided because the healing occurred on the Sabbath. Some condemned Jesus as a sinner for breaking the Sabbath, while others questioned how a sinner could perform such a miracle. The man himself declared Jesus to be a prophet. Unconvinced, the Pharisees summoned the man's parents, who confirmed their son was born blind but, fearing excommunication from the synagogue if they confessed Jesus as the Christ, told the Pharisees to ask their son directly. Recalling the man, the Pharisees pressed him to give glory to God, asserting Jesus was a sinner. The man, however, boldly affirmed his newfound sight and challenged their disbelief, arguing that if Jesus were not of God, He could do nothing. He pointed out the unprecedented nature of healing one born blind and asserted that God hears those who worship Him and do His will, not sinners. Infuriated by his teaching, the Pharisees reviled him, accused him of being born in sin, and cast him out of the synagogue. Jesus, hearing of the man's excommunication, found him and asked if he believed in the Son of God. Upon learning that Jesus Himself was the Son of God, the man declared his belief and worshipped Him. Jesus then pronounced His purpose for judgment: that the spiritually blind might see, and those who claim to see might become blind. When some Pharisees present questioned if they too were blind, Jesus responded that if they were truly blind, they would have no sin, but because they claimed to see, their sin remained, highlighting their spiritual pride and unbelief.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Purpose of SufferingJesus states that the man's blindness was not due to sin, but "that the works of God should be made manifest in him," indicating that affliction can serve a higher divine purpose.
  • Jesus as the Light of the WorldBefore healing, Jesus proclaims, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world," signifying His role in illuminating spiritual and physical darkness.
  • Sabbath ControversyThe healing on the Sabbath day becomes a central point of contention for the Pharisees, who accuse Jesus of being a sinner for not observing their interpretation of the Sabbath law.
  • Fear of ExcommunicationThe parents of the healed man refuse to directly attribute their son's healing to Jesus, fearing they would be "put out of the synagogue" if they confessed Him as the Christ.
  • Spiritual vs. Physical SightThe chapter contrasts the physical healing of the blind man with the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees, who, despite witnessing a miracle, refuse to believe and understand Jesus' divine origin.
  • Testimony and FaithThe formerly blind man's steadfast testimony to Jesus' power, even under duress and leading to his excommunication, culminates in his personal encounter with Jesus and his declaration of belief and worship.
  • Judgment and Spiritual BlindnessJesus declares His coming for judgment, where those who are spiritually blind might gain sight, and those who claim to see (like the self-righteous Pharisees) might become spiritually blind, emphasizing the consequences of rejecting truth.