JHN 9

Jesus is the Light of the World

1 As Jesus was walking along, He observed a man who had never been able to see from the moment of his birth.

2 His disciples posed a question to Him: "Rabbi, what caused this man to be born without sight? Did he commit some sin, or was it his parents who sinned?"

3 Jesus responded: "The reason for his blindness has nothing to do with sin—neither his own nor that of his parents. He was born blind so that God's mighty works could be put on display through his life.

4 While daylight remains, we must accomplish the work that the One who sent Me requires of us. The time is coming when darkness will fall and no work can be done.

5 During the time I remain in the world, I serve as the Light that illuminates it."

6 Having spoken these words, Jesus spat onto the ground and formed mud by mixing the saliva with dirt. He then applied this mud to the man's eyes.

7 Jesus instructed him: "Go to the pool called Siloam"—a name meaning “Sent—"and wash yourself there." The man obeyed, went to wash, and returned with his sight fully restored.

8 The people who lived nearby and those who had previously observed him sitting and begging began asking: "Is this not the same person who used to sit in that spot and beg for money?"

9 Some were convinced: "Yes, this is definitely him." Others disagreed: "No, it cannot be him—just someone who resembles him closely." But the man himself kept insisting: "I am indeed that same person."

10 So they pressed him: "Then explain to us—how did your eyes come to be opened?"

11 He explained: "The man named Jesus made mud, applied it to my eyes, and instructed me: 'Go to Siloam and wash there.' So I went, washed as He said, and my sight came to me."

12 They asked him: "Where can we find this man?" He replied: "I have no idea where He is."

The Pharisees Doubt the Healing of the Man Born Blind

13 They brought the formerly blind man before the Pharisees for examination.

14 It happened that the day on which Jesus had made the mud and restored the man's sight was a Sabbath day.

15 The Pharisees then questioned him again about how his sight had been restored. He told them: "He placed mud on my eyes, I washed it off, and now I have the ability to see."

16 This prompted division among the Pharisees. Some declared: "This man cannot be from God, since He violates the Sabbath regulations." But others countered: "How could a man who is a sinner accomplish such miraculous signs?" They were split in their opinions.

17 They turned back to the man who had been blind and asked: "What is your assessment of Him, considering He is the one who opened your eyes?" The man responded: "He must be a prophet."

18 The Jewish leaders refused to accept that he had actually been blind and received his sight until they summoned his parents to testify.

19 They interrogated them: "Is this your son? Are you claiming he was born blind? Then how do you explain the fact that he now has sight?"

20 His parents answered carefully: "We can confirm that this is our son, and we know for certain he was born blind.

21 But as for how he now possesses sight, we cannot explain that, nor do we know who gave him the ability to see. You should ask him directly—he is an adult and can speak on his own behalf."

22 His parents spoke with such caution because they feared the Jewish authorities, who had already announced that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.

23 This fear is precisely why his parents said: "He is old enough to answer for himself—question him."

24 So they summoned the healed man a second time and said to him: "Give glory to God by telling the truth. We have determined that this man is a sinner."

25 He answered them: "Whether He is a sinner or not is beyond my knowledge. But one fact I know with complete certainty: I was blind, and now I see!"

26 They questioned him further: "What exactly did He do to you? How did He accomplish the opening of your eyes?"

27 He answered: "I have already given you a full account, and you paid no attention. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you perhaps considering becoming His disciples as well?"

28 At this they hurled insults at him and declared: "You are His follower! We are followers of Moses!

29 We know with certainty that God spoke directly to Moses, but regarding this man, we do not even know His origins."

30 The man responded to them: "Now this is truly astonishing! You claim not to know where He comes from, yet He opened my eyes!

31 We all understand that God does not respond to the prayers of sinners. But He does listen to anyone who worships Him reverently and carries out His will.

32 Never in all of history has anyone heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind.

33 If this man did not come from God, He would possess no power to do anything of this nature."

34 They shot back at him: "You were born completely immersed in sin, and you presume to instruct us?" Then they threw him out of the synagogue.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus learned that they had expelled him, and when He located him, He asked: "Do you place your faith in the Son of Man?"

36 The man replied: "Tell me who He is, Sir, so that I may believe in Him."

37 Jesus said to him: "You have already seen Him with your own eyes; in fact, He is the very one speaking with you right now."

38 Then the man declared: "Lord, I believe," and he bowed down in worship before Him.

39 Jesus then said: "I have entered this world to bring about a judgment, so that those who cannot see will gain sight, and those who claim they can see will become blind."

40 Some Pharisees who were present heard this statement and challenged Him: "Surely You are not suggesting that we are blind as well?"

41 Jesus replied to them: "If you were actually blind, you would bear no guilt for sin; but because you keep insisting 'We can see clearly,' your guilt remains upon you.

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JHN 9: AFINT

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