John 9 - CSB Tony Evans Study Bible

9:1-5 Many in ancient times believed serious birth defects were the product of personal sin—thus the disciples’ question in verse 2. But sickness, disease, and defect are not necessarily the result of personal sin (consider Job). Sometimes God allows negative conditions and circumstances in our lives in order to accomplish positive goals: our good, his glory, and bringing benefit to others (see Gen 50:19-20; Rom 8:28).

9:6 In this instance, the word of God (i.e., saliva from Jesus’s mouth) was mixed with humanity (i.e., dirt from which man was created) to provide the basis for a miracle.

9:12 He could hardly be expected to lead them to Jesus’s current location. After all, he had never seen him!

9:18-23 These parents were interested in self-preservation (9:22). If you publicly confess Christ, you will likely experience some form of ridicule or ostracism. Believing in a generic “God” is safe; confessing Christ will earn you mockery.

9:26-27 When they asked him to give another account of his healing, it was clear that they hadn’t believed him the first time. That may explain the bold tone of his reply.

9:30-34 In going toe-to-toe with the Jewish religious leaders, the healed man soundly bested them. Humiliated, they kicked him out of the synagogue to limit his influence on others.

9:35 Whatever negative consequences you experience for confessing Christ are not the last word.

9:38 Were Jesus not divine, accepting worship would be an endorsement of idolatry.

9:39 Jesus used the man’s physical blindness to teach spiritual truth. Jesus had come into the world to give spiritual sight to those who desperately acknowledge their spiritual blindness. But to those who claimed to be spiritual know-it-alls, Jesus promised the judgment of becoming even more spiritually blind.

9:41 If they had been willing to admit their blindness—their lostness, their sinfulness—Jesus would have shown them grace. But since they claimed to see, their sin remained. When you think that nothing is wrong with you (see 1 John 1:8), everything is wrong.