John 9 - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

9:1–12 Assuming that an individual case of suffering was due to specific sin, the disciples inquired into the cause of the man’s blindness. Jesus, however, notes that beyond the tragedy of human defects, which result in a general way from man’s fall and the consequent entry of sin, sickness, affliction, and death into the world, God’s merciful and sovereign grace is available.

9:1–7 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

9:4 Day signifies Jesus’ messianic ministry, and the night refers to the Crucifixion.

9:13 The perverse reasoning of the Pharisees placed them in a dilemma from which the only escape was to disprove the miracle that had been performed. They argued that no miracle could have occurred because it was the Sabbath, and God would never violate the law of rest by healing a person. However, the fact that a man born blind now had perfect sight refuted their theory. Thus, they must either deny the facts or confess the divine nature of Jesus. The logic of the healed man was simple and irrefutable (vv. 30–33). Unable to deny the man’s testimony, the religious authorities took the cowardly way out and excommunicated him.

9:35–41 Jesus moved the discussion from physical blindness to spiritual blindness. To believe in Jesus means to see spiritually, whereas those who do not believe in Him remain blind.