John 9 - CSB Disciple’s Study Bible

9:1-4 EVIL AND SUFFERING, Punishment—Jesus rejected the view that all suffering was due to sin. Because the man was blind, Jesus had the opportunity to reveal God’s power. We do not have explanations about the cause of every case of suffering. We can look to see how God can work even through suffering to achieve his purposes. See note on Lk 13:1-5.

9:1-41 JESUS CHRIST, Miracles—John’s sixth sign, the healing of a blind man, provided the occasion for a long discourse on suffering, the problem of evil, and the cause and intention of affliction. Blindness is not God’s will. He wants all to see the light of salvation available only in Christ. See note on 1:4-5. Jesus’s miracles showed his unique, divine power. This confused religious leaders because he did not do religion their way. They acted defensively and barred from worship and membership in their religion anyone who acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah.

9:1-41 MIRACLE, Faith—Miracles do more than restore physical powers. They teach spiritual truth. The healing event became a parable of light and darkness. What faith the blind man acted out in his walk to Siloam! . . . dodging the crowds, with a dirty face, just because a man had placed mud in his eyes. Although the religious leaders sought to discredit the miracle, the man saw more clearly than they—both physically and spiritually. Powerful religious leaders remained in spiritual darkness. The blind man gained physical (v. 7) and spiritual sight (v. 38).

9:3-6 REVELATION, Persons—Suffering is not always the result of sin. Some suffering or disability may be an opportunity for God’s grace and healing to be displayed. Jesus felt compelled to be busy being God’s light in the world. In sickness or health his followers can reveal his light to the world’s darkness.

9:4 HISTORY, Time—Humans have a history, a beginning and an end. So does the created world. So did Christ in his earthly existence. Christ in his ministry and his disciples through the centuries of history must work urgently while their limited life and the world’s limited life give opportunity. Christ’s death points to the night of judgment when no one can proclaim or accept salvation. Each moment of time thus is filled the opportunity for doing God’s work of proclamation.

9:16-34 JESUS CHRIST, Sinless—Religious leaders classified Jesus as a sinner because he did not keep their legalistic rules such as Sabbath observance. Even some of them had to confess his power showed he was not to be dismissed as belonging to the category of sinful people. The healed man understood Jesus was a godly person sent from God who was doing his will.

9:35-37 REVELATION, Jesus Christ—Avoiding those who resisted believing in him, Jesus sought to reveal himself to a humble and teachable person. Jesus was the Son of Man revealing God’s kingdom to the world.

9:35-38 PRAYER, Faith—Jesus often probed for belief. The faith response to the healing was, properly, worship.Through faith Christ heals spiritual blindness.

9:35-41 JESUS CHRIST, Son of Man—Jesus accepted the “Son of Man” title and demanded faith in him as the way to salvation. Worship is the proper response to the Son of Man.

9:36-38 WORSHIP, Individual—See note on Mt 17:1-8. Worship is an activity of believers in positive response to Christ.

9:39 JESUS CHRIST, Judgment—Jesus’s presence brought a moment of decision—to believe or reject him, dividing humanity into two classes—the seeing and blind or the saved and lost.