John 9:35-41

BLINDNESS INDEED!

Text 9:35-41

35

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36

He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?

37

Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee.

38

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39

And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.

40

Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?

41

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.

Queries

a.

How did the beggar worship Jesus?

b.

Why would Jesus come to make some blind?

c.

How would being blind help the Pharisees to be without sin?

Paraphrase

Jesus heard that the rulers had cast the beggar out and had excommunicated him; so Jesus went searching for the man and, having found him, said to him, Do you believe in the Son of manthe Messiah? The beggar answered, saying, Who is he, Sir, Tell me in order that I may believe in him? Jesus answered and said, You have seen Him, in fact, He is talking to you right now. The beggar cried, Lord, I believe! and he fell down before Jesus and worshipped Him. And Jesus said, I came into this world and my coming has necessarily brought judgment, for my doctrine brings spiritual sight to those who recognize their spiritual blindness and my teaching, by its very nature, blinds those who are certain they have all spiritual sight. Some of the Pharisees who were near, hearing what He said, replied, We are not blind also, are we? Jesus answered them, If you would admit your spiritual blindness and believe on Me you would have your sins forgiven, but you are persisting in trusting your own self-righteousness when you say we seewe know, therefore your sin remains unforgiven and you remain blind.

Summary

Jesus finds the beggar who has been cut off from the Israel that is passing away and makes him a member of the new Israel that is coming. He gives the man who has already exhibited a spark of faith an opportunity to come to full faith in Him as the Messiah. The man, because of his faith, receives a great blessing. The Pharisees, because of their unbelief, become even more hardened.

Comment

The Greek word heurisko (find) may mean to find, with previous search. This is the word used of Jesus-' finding the beggar after he was cast out. The Good Shepherd does not find his precious lambs by accidentHe searches for them until He does find them and takes them under His loving protection. Jesus intends to offer the beggar that which is far superior to what he has lost in being excommunicated. He is being offered the opportunity to believe in the One in whom all the law and the prophets is fulfilled!

The American Standard Version has translated the latter half of John 9:35: ... the Son of God? while the Nestle Greek text has ... ton huion tou anthropou (the Son of man). The most ancient manuscripts (Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and Bezae) have the Son of man. The latest great Codex on John, Bodmer II (P66), confirms the reading, the Son of man and the Revised Standard Version has this reading also.

The term Son of man is used by Jesus (exclusively by Him) in the Gospels at least eighty timesthirteen of which are found in the Fourth Gospel (cf. John 1:51, John 3:13, John 3:14, John 5:27, John 6:27, John 6:53, John 6:62, John 8:28, John 9:35, John 12:23, John 12:34 (twice), John 13:31). It was clearly a Messianic term and the people understood it as such (cf. John 12:34). The prophet Daniel foretold of the Messiah, using the term son of man, and Revelation 1:13; Revelation 14:14 use the same term. Therefore, when the beggar heard the term Son of man, he anticipated beholding the Messiah of Israel.

We can almost hear the eagerness in the man's reply. Just tell me who he is, sir, in order that I may believe on him. We have translated the word kurie (Lord) in John 9:36 to read sir. The word kurie may be translated either sir or lord and is so translated (cf. John 4:11; John 4:15; John 4:19; John 4:49; John 5:7; John 12:21; John 20:15, where it has been translated in both the KJV and the ASV as sir. The beggar has not yet had it revealed to him just who Jesus is, but in John 9:38 he knows Jesus as the Messiah and the same word, kurie, may be translated Lord.

Only a very few times did the Lord reveal Himself so plainly as the Messiah. Most of the time He allowed the people to form their own conclusions and make their own statements as to His Messiahship. One other time that we recall, He said, I that speak unto thee am he. (John 4:26).

The Greek word aphiemi used for the word said in John 9:38 is the same word used of Jesus when He uttered a loud voice (Mark 15:37) upon the cross. The word, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary is used of uttering a cry. How the man must have been startled to find that he stood in the presence of and had been healed by the very Messiah for whom the Jews had waited century upon century. The man uttered a cry, Lord, I believe. and probably fell upon his knees before Jesus as he worshipped Him. Notice, Jesus never refused the worship of men as did the apostles (Acts 10:26; Acts 14:15), for Jesus deserved man's adoration! According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, page 235, The Note to John 9:38 in the American Standard Version in this connection is most unsound; it implies that Christ was a creature. While the word proskuneo (used here for the beggar's worship toward Jesus) may also be used when one man does reverence or obeisance toward another man, it is most unsound to imply, as does the footnote in the ASV, that Jesus is a creature.

In John 9:39 Jesus makes a claim that, at first glance, seems contradictory of John 3:17; John 12:47 where He claims that He did not come to judge. However, after careful study, they are found to complement one another rather than contradict (see our comments on John 3:17, Vol. I, pages 112-113). He came to convict men of their sins and to proclaim the one way of salvation. His coming resulted in two reactions by mensome refused to come to the light lest their works be shown for what they really are; others gladly came to the light (cf. our comments on John 3:19-20, Vol. I, pages 114-115). He came to declare the truth and man's reaction one way or another results in man's being judgedworthy or unworthy. The prophet Isaiah was commissioned to go and preach to Judah purposely to dull the understanding of those who would not understand, to close the ears of those who would not hear, and to close the eyes of those who would not see (cf. Isaiah 6:9-10). Jesus quoted this same passage to explain that He taught in parables to bring about judgment upon those who refused to understand Him (cf. Matthew 13:10-15). And so the man who deliberately rejects or disobeys the doctrines of Christ necessarily judges himself. Christ's teachings, by their very nature of demanding faith and obedience and by their absolute finality, cannot be rejected without judgment. No man, once confronted with the Gospel of Christ, can remain neutral. Jesus demands a choiceeither for or against Him (cf. Matthew 12:30).

Some of the Pharisees who were standing near, began to get the message. They knew from their past experiences with Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles that He must be talking of them and their blindness.

Jesus furnished the Pharisees and all the world for all ages a truism which needs to be remembered. No man is so blind as one who will not see! If the Pharisees had realized their blindness and had been pure in heart they would have sought the Light which would have led them to Jesus, the true Light, which lighteth every man (cf. John 1:9). The man who knows his own ignorance and blindness, but who desires to know more, is the man whose vision can be increased and his knowledge enlarged. But the Pharisees boasted of their visionwe know, again and again. They did not seek the Light for they did not think they needed the Lightthey already possessed all the Light there was. Therefore, because they would not recognize their own spiritual destitution, they rejected the only source of grace and forgiveness. What a lesson this is for all of us today! May we never arrive at the place where we reject God's Word in favor of our own opinion or knowledge. Let us never be so presumptuous as to think that we, as a group or as individuals, can never be taught from God's Word because we know it all.

Quiz

1.

Did Jesus find the beggar by accident? Explain.

2.

What did Jesus call Himself in John 9:35? What did the title imply?

3.

Does John 9:39 contradict John 3:17? Explain.

4.

In what way were the Pharisees remaining in their sins?