Jesus Christ: The Light of the World – John 9:1-41
9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. (2) His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? (3) Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (4) We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (6) After having said this, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva; then he anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud (7) and said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which means, Sent). So he went and washed, and came home with his sight.
(8) The neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging, asked, Is not this the man who used to sit and beg? (9) Some said, Yes, it is he. Others said, No, but he looks like him. He said, I am that man. (10) Therefore they said to him, How then were your eyes opened? (11) He answered, The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and I received sight. (12) Then they asked him, Where is he? He said, I do not know.
(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) The Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said to them, He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.
(16) Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath. But others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? So there was division among them. (17) They turned again to the blind man and asked, What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes? The man replied, He is a prophet. (18) Therefore the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they summoned his parents (19) and asked them, Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How is it that he now sees? (20) His parents answered, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. (21) But we do not know how he is now able to see; nor do we know who opened his eyes. He is an adult, ask him; he can speak for himself. (22) His parents said this because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already decided that if any one should confess Jesus to be the Christ, he should be expelled from the synagogue. (23) Therefore his parents said, He is an adult; ask him.
(24) So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and said to him, Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner. (25) He answered, I do not know whether or not he is a sinner. One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I can see. (26) Then they asked him, What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? (27) He answered them, I already told you, but you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples? (28) They reviled him and said, You are his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses. (29) We know that God spoke to Moses; but we do not know from where this man comes. (30) The man replied, This is remarkable! You do not know from where he comes and yet he opened my eyes. (31) We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone worships God and does his will, God listens to him. (32) Since the world began no one has ever heard of anyone opening the eyes of a man born blind. (33) If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. (34) They responded to him by saying, You were totally born in sins, and would you teach us? And they threw him out.
(35) Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he asked, Do you believe in the Son of God? (36) He replied, Who is he, Sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him? (37) Jesus said to him, You have seen him and he is the one who is speaking to you. (38) Then the man said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.
(39) Jesus said, I came into this world for the purpose of judgment, so that those who do not see may see; and those who see may become blind. (40) Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, We are not blind, too, are we? (41) Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now you say that you see; therefore, your sin remains.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
