John 9 - The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

9:1 blind from his birth. An apparently hopeless condition.

9:2–3 who did sin. We should be careful not to draw hasty conclusions based upon the disabilities or trials that come upon people (remember Job). Our Lord made it clear that this man’s blindness was not because of a sin but had been conferred on him for a different and greater reason.

9:4 work . . . while it is day. Jesus knew that His death (night) was approaching, and He, like all men, had a limited amount of time to do good on earth. He looked at the affliction of the blind man as an opportunity to be of service to God.

9:5 light of the world. See 1:4,9; 8:12. This statement suggests that the blindness of the man would become an illustration for the manner in which Christ illuminates the soul.

9:6–7 spittle. Spit, saliva, a method Christ sometimes used in healing (Mark 7:33; 8:23), a gesture ordinarily associated with shame (Num. 12:14; Deut. 25:9). The mud did nothing to heal the blindness but constituted a test of the man’s obedience in washing as commanded.

9:7 pool of Siloam. A reservoir cut into the rock by Jerusalem (Neh. 9:13). interpretation. Translation (from Hebrew to Greek). came seeing. The healing of the blind was a distinctive sign that the Christ had come (v. 32; Matt. 11:5).

9:8–12 Neighbors were at a loss to explain how the man now had sight, but they served as witnesses that Christ had indeed performed a miracle.

9:13 aforetime. Before.

9:16 keepeth not the sabbath day. See 5:16. How can . . . a sinner do such miracles? The powerful testimony of Christ’s signs caused a division even among the Pharisees.

9:17 The healed man courageously confessed Christ to be a prophet, though he did not yet recognize His deity (vv. 35–36).

9:18–23 The cowardice of the man’s parents (they feared the Jews) is an example of those who will not confess and follow Christ because of their fear of man (5:44; 12:42–43).

9:24 Give God the praise. They placed him under oath (Josh. 7:19).

9:25–33 The bold testimony of the man and his refusal to be pressured into accusing Jesus of wrong is a model of faithful witness.

9:34 cast him out. Excommunicated him (v. 22; 12:42). The stark refusal of the Pharisees to acknowledge the plain facts before them reveals the total blindness of lost sinners (3:3).

9:35–38 Christ gave the man further teaching about His identity, and the man became an example not just of outward healing but of the inward healing of faith as He worshiped Christ as the Son of God.

9:39–41 Christ teaches a deep truth here. His coming has a twofold effect upon men. As the light of the world (v. 5) He enables those who are spiritually blind to see His glory by faith in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:6). On the other hand, those who think they have spiritual sight because they are religious ( ye say, We see) are doubly blind—hampered by a Christless religion and self-righteousness (3:19). When people are ignorant of God’s truth but are open to being corrected, their sinful state is less of a deterrent. Such people have hope that God may save them, but those adamant in their proud opinion that they are right are hardened in their unbelief.

Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship: Chapter 9

1. God has given each of His servants a day to work, but the night is coming. Until the Lord returns we will all die. Therefore, let us learn to redeem the time. Even the sorrows of this fallen world are opportunities to glorify God.
2. Christ’s Word confronts us, and there is no neutrality. We can be like the man who was healed and boldly follow the truth to worship at the feet of Jesus and confess Him before men; like his parents, who in the fear of man bowed under the intimidation of this world; or like the Pharisees, who were so blind they rejected the plain truth to cling to their own ways. Only one of these individuals or groups could see; the others were blind to the light of Christ’s glory. Which do you most resemble?