Chapter Nine

1. And passing by, He saw a man blind from birth.

2. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this [man] or his parents, that he was born blind?

3. Jesus answered, Neither has this [man] sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.

4. I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day; night comes, when no one can work.

5. While I am in the world, I am [the] Light of the world.

Throughout the Hebrew scriptures there is a dominant theme which can be summed up in the words, “Obey and prosper. Disobey and perish” (See Deuteronomy 28:1-68). Not only was God seen as the source of every blessing, but also as an angry, punishing God who wipes out enemies, curses sinners, and even punishes future generations of those who disobey Him. This idea of God was a starting point for faith—a belief that God is almighty, all powerful, and as such is capable of rewarding and punishing our actions. But this idea of God must gradually give way to a truer idea of God—a God who is the fountain of every blessing, a God who never punishes, never curses, and never condemns. This is why Jesus Christ needed to come into the world to teach the truth about God, about heaven and hell, and about how we attain spiritual life through learning truth and doing it willingly. ¹

As the next episode begins, Jesus encounters a man who has been “blind from birth” (John 9:1). The disciples are curious. Turning to Jesus, they say, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). According to their limited understanding, the disciples believe that God punishes children for the sins of their parents. Further, they mistakenly believe that all physical afflictions, and in this case blindness, is a curse from God—a divine punishment for human sin. ²

In response, Jesus says, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3). Jesus is taking advantage of this situation to continue His teaching ministry. He is teaching that this man’s blindness is neither the man’s fault, nor his parent’s fault, nor a divine punishment for sin. Rather, it is an opportunity to reveal the works of God—that is, to show how God works within us, opening our hearts to receive His goodness and opening our minds to receive His truth.

Jesus then adds these words: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5). As Jesus said in the previous chapter, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). These words describe an essential aspect of the work that Jesus has been sent to do. He has come into the world to be “a light.” He has come to reveal the true nature of God. He has come to show and teach the way that leads to heaven. He has come to reveal the truth that can open blind eyes.

Jesus says, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day.” In sacred scripture, the term “day” refers to those times when we are open to the goodness and truth that are flowing into us from God. In the light of this teaching, act on the good feelings and true thoughts that come to you, and make the most of them while you are in these God-given states. These are the “day-time states”—times when you are inspired and strengthened to “work the works” of Him who is sending you. For example, if the thought comes to you that it’s time to send a thank-you note, or make an apology, or reach out to a friend, don’t put it off. Work the works of Him who is sending you. The night is coming when no one can work. Your heavenly character is formed in this life, now, through every choice you make. ³

6. When He had said these things, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He dabbed the clay upon the eyes of the blind [man],

7. And said to him, Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam, which is, being translated, Sent. He therefore went his way and washed, and came, seeing.

The young man in this episode is described as being “born blind.” Spiritually speaking, this is true of all of us. For example, we say that the sun “rises” and “sets” because it appears that way to our physical senses. But the truth is that the sun remains constant while the earth revolves around it. Similarly, we may believe that when things are going well for us that God is rewarding us. Things feel sunny and bright. But when bad things happen, and we are going through a dark time, it feels as though God is punishing us. As long as we are immersed in these misunderstandings, we are spiritually blind. We cannot “see” that God remains constant and that it is our states that change. The truth is that God’s love is always shining, ready to bless us. Like the sun, it never “sets.” ⁴

Before we learn these truths, we are like the blind man in this episode. He represents all who have been raised without a clear idea of God, the spiritual life, or life after death. In this regard, he is accurately described as a blind beggar. This is the part of us that is unable to see the truth because we lack proper instruction. Nevertheless, like a blind beggar, we long to know the truth. ⁵

After telling His disciples that the works of God are about to be made manifest in this blind beggar, Jesus spits on the ground and makes clay with His saliva. Then He anoints the eyes of the blind man with the clay (See John 9:6). In order to more deeply understand what is happening, we need to look at the sacred symbolism represented by Jesus’ actions.

In the Word, the term “ground” signifies basic, down-to-earth goodness. It includes a humble, receptive attitude. This is the attitude that willingly receives God who comes to us just as Jesus comes to the blind beggar. God then touches us with His spirit through easily digestible teachings from His Word. This is what is meant by “saliva” from the mouth of God. Just as saliva breaks down food so that it is easily digestible, Jesus gives us spiritual truth in natural imagery so that it can be heard, understood, and acted upon. ⁶

The saliva from the Lord’s mouth when mixed with the earth and applied to the blind man’s eyes represents the way in which truth from the mouth of the Lord can bring clarity and insight to our mind. This is how our understanding is reformed. But the next step in the process is up to us. We need to hear the voice of the Lord. In the case of the blind beggar, he cannot see Jesus, but he can hear Him. Therefore, when Jesus tells him to “go and wash in the Pool of Siloam,” he does so willingly and without hesitation. As it is written, “He went and washed and came back seeing” (John 9:7). ⁷

This washing represents our part in the process. Spiritually, we must hear the voice of the Lord, and then go to the Pool of Siloam. This is where we put the truth that Jesus is speaking into our lives. And when we do so, we come back “seeing.” Our spiritual eyes are opened, and we return to our daily lives seeing things in a new way. ⁸

8. The neighbors, therefore, and those beholding him before, that he was blind, said, Is not this he that was sitting and begging?

9. Some said, It is he; but others, He is like him. He said, I am [he].

10. Then they said to him, How were thine eyes opened?

11. He answered and said, A Man called Jesus made clay, and dabbed [it] on my eyes, and said to me, Go thy way to the Pool of Siloam and wash. And I went away and washed, [and] received sight.

12. Then they said to him, Where is He? He says, I know not.

13. They bring to the Pharisees him that once was blind.

14. And it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

Having been healed from his blindness, the man returns from the Pool of Siloam. The last time he was seen, he was blind, but now his vision is fully restored. Wondering whether he is the same person, his neighbors say, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” (John 9:8). Perhaps it is someone else. They are not sure. He looks the same, but he is different. As it is written, “Some say, ‘It is he.’ Others say, ‘It is like him’” (John 9:9).

It is similar in each of our lives. When our spiritual eyes are opened, we are transformed. Because we see things in a new light, we respond differently. Rather than react from our needy lower nature, we begin to thoughtfully respond from our higher, God-centered nature. Like the transformed beggar, we may look the same outwardly, but inwardly we are a very different person. ⁹

While some are in doubt, the man who has received his sight assures them that he is the one who has been cured of blindness. “I am he,” he says (John 9:9). Therefore, they ask him, “How were your eyes opened?” (John 9:10). The man responds with the basic facts. He says, “A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the Pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and I received sight” (John 9:11).

As it turns out, some of these questioners are associated with the Pharisees who are looking for Jesus. This becomes apparent in their line of questioning which quickly shifts from the details of the miracle to the whereabouts of Jesus. “Where is He?” they ask. And when the man responds with the simple words, “I do not know,” they take him directly to the Pharisees for further questioning (John 9:12-13).

John warns us, through a suggestive hint, that this is not going to be a pleasant reception. He writes, “Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes” (John 9:14). Rather than focusing on the miracle that has just taken place, the Pharisees focus on the fact that Jesus has made clay and opened blind eyes on the Sabbath. In their eyes, this is a blatant disregard for Sabbath law and is deserving of death. Earlier in this gospel, after Jesus healed a paralyzed man, it is written that the religious leaders “persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him because He had done these things on the Sabbath” (John 5:16). Once again, the Pharisees see Jesus as a sinner because He is “working” on the Sabbath.

In the original Hebrew, the word for Sabbath is Shabbat [שַׁבָּת]. It means, quite simply, “rest.” More than a holy day of physical rest, it is a spiritual state available to us whenever we choose to rest in God. It is a state in which we quiet our mental chatter, relinquish our stubborn need to be right, renounce our restless need for approval, and set aside our anxious need to accomplish our goals. Instead, we pray that God can work in us and through us so that we might do His will rather than our own. This is true Sabbath rest. It is, indeed, a “holy day.” ¹⁰

At the beginning of this episode, Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me” (John 9:4). Every healing that Jesus performs represents a healing in our spiritual life. This is the “work” that Jesus came to do. It is also a picture of how God is continually working to heal, reform, and regenerate our spirit. It does not just take place on a given day. Rather, it takes place continually, unceasingly, and even to eternity. ¹¹

15. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received sight. And he said to them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and I see.

16. Then some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, because He keeps not the Sabbath. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a schism among them.

17. They say again to the blind [man], What sayest thou of Him, that He has opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.

18. Then the Jews did not believe concerning him that he used to be blind, and received sight, until they called the parents of him that had received sight.

19. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?

20. His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.

21. But how he now sees we know not; or who has opened his eyes, we know not; he is of age, ask him; he shall speak for himself.

22. His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already put together [an agreement] that, if anyone should profess Him [to be] the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

23. On account of this his parents said, He is of age, ask him.

24. Then they called the man who was blind a second [time], and said to him, Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.

25. Then he answered and said, Whether He be a sinner, I know not; one [thing] I know, that having been blind, I now see.

26. But they said to him again, What did He to thee? How opened He thine eyes?

27. He answered them, I have told you already, and you did not hear; why do you will to hear [it] again? do you also will to become His disciples?

28. Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

29. We know that God spoke to Moses; but [as for] this [Man], we know not whence He Isaiah 30. The man answered, and said to them, Indeed, this is something to marvel at, that you know not whence He is, and He has opened my eyes.

31. And we know that God hears not sinners; but if anyone be a worshiper of God, and do His will, him He hears.

32. From eternity it was not heard that anyone opened the eyes of [one] who was born blind.

33. If He was not with God, He could do nothing.

34. They answered and said to him, Thou wast wholly born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

35. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him, says to him, Dost thou believe in the Son of God?

36. He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe in Him?

37. And Jesus said to him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that speaks with thee.

38. And he declared, I believe, Lord; and he worshiped Him.

From the point of view of the Pharisees, the fact that Jesus is working on the Sabbath is not a demonstration of His divinity, but rather evidence of His sinfulness. As they put it, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath” (John 9:16). Interestingly, this is not the view of all the Pharisees. Some say, “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?” (John 9:16). Because of this there is a division of opinion regarding Jesus among the Pharisees. This brings to mind Nicodemus’ words to Jesus earlier in this gospel. At that time, Nicodemus, who is a Pharisee, said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him” (John 3:2).

This division among the Pharisees represents a division that takes place in our own mind. Usually, when the Word speaks about the Pharisees, it represents that part of our mind that resists change, especially any change that threatens the way we see things. But there are also other Pharisees who are open to seeing the truth. In this case, they are willing to see that there is something divine about Jesus. As they put it, “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?”

In order to settle the issue, the Pharisees decide to question the man who was born blind. “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes,” they ask. The man answers simply, “He is a prophet” (John 9:17). Alarmed and threatened by the young man’s testimony, the Pharisees reason that this must be some kind of hoax, and that this man has never been blind at all. Therefore, they question the parents, saying, “Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” (John 9:19).

The parents of the young man are in a difficult situation. The religious leaders have already agreed that if anyone confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, that person will be cast out of the synagogue and regarded as a social outcast. Therefore, the parents say, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but by what means he now sees, or who opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself” (John 9:21-22).

Unable to get a direct answer from the young man’s parents, the religious leaders turn their attention back to the son, telling him to give God the credit for his healing—not Jesus. As they put it, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner” (John 9:24). Instead, the young man says, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. But one thing I know. Once I was blind, but now I see” (John 9:25).

Not satisfied with his answer, the religious leaders interrogate him further. “What did He do to you?” they say. “How did He open your eyes?” (John 9:26). This is the third time they have asked the same question. But their cross-examination tactics do not intimidate the young man. Instead, the young man stands his ground and says to them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” (John 9:27).

Frustrated by the young man’s unyielding defense of his experience, the religious leaders state their credentials, “You are His disciple,” they say “but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this fellow, we do not know where He is from” (John 9:29). The young man’s personal experience trumps their authoritative claims. Therefore, the young man says to them, “Why this is a marvelous thing that you do not know where He is from, and yet He has opened my eyes. Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:30-33).

Just a short while ago, this young man was a blind beggar. But now he sees the truth and proclaims it boldly. This represents the part of us that is willing to hear the truth and act on it. The religious leaders, however, see things differently. Blinded by their limited understanding and their stubborn self-righteousness, they now turn on the young man and condemn him as a sinner—just as they condemned Jesus. Repeating the false charge that the young man must be a sinner because he was born blind, they say, “You were completely born in sins. And are you teaching us?” (John 9:34).

This is how it is when falsity is confronted by the truth. When our preconceived notions are challenged by the truth, there is a part of us that resists. This is represented by the Pharisees who resist the young man’s testimony. These Pharisees also represent the false ideas that blind us to the real truth about God, about ourselves, and about the path that leads to heavenly life. Standing in the midst of these false witnesses, this young man declares, “I once was blind, but now I see.”

The religious leaders are not pleased to hear this. Similarly, whenever we take a strong stand for the truth, as we have been given to see it by Jesus, we will be met by resistance from within. The evil spirits that have kept us imprisoned by falsity are threatened. Because they feed on lies, they despise truth, fear it, and want nothing to do with it. Therefore, it is written that they “reviled him … and cast him out” (John 9:28; 34). ¹²

When the young man is cast out of the synagogue, Jesus goes looking for him. When Jesus finds him, He says to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” (John 9:35). In response, the young man says, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” (John 9:36). Jesus then says to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” The young man replies, “Lord, I believe” (John 9:38).

In those days, being cast out of the synagogue was a form of excommunication. This included being forbidden to speak with any other member of the synagogue. In effect, it amounted to total exclusion from the Jewish community. But Jesus does not leave him feeling abandoned. He not only finds the young man, but He also reveals Himself to him. The young man’s eyes are now fully open. He sees in Jesus not just a man who healed his eyes, not just a prophet who had been sent into the world to speak the truth, but also the Son of God Himself, who is indeed the light of the world. That is why it is written that the young man “worshipped Him” (John 9:39).

Like the religious leaders who reviled the young man, evil spirits strive to insult us, berate us, and condemn us. But when they see that it is to no avail, because we are standing in the light of truth, they eventually separate themselves from our presence. The light of truth is too much for them. While the appearance is that they cast the young man away from their presence, the spiritual reality is that evil spirits cast themselves away from the presence of God. As a practical application, try keeping scripture in mind. Scripture is God’s presence with us. As it is written in the beginning of this gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Here are some examples. Each one is “the light of truth.” Each one is God’s presence with us:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105).

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10).

“Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10; Mark 14:36; Luke 11:12; See also John 1:13).

These truths, and others like them, have power in our lives to the extent that we can say, like the young man in this episode who received His sight, “Lord, I believe.” ¹³

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

40. And [some] of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and said to Him, Are we blind also?

41. Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would not have sin; but now you say, We see; then your sin remains.

As this episode draws to a conclusion, Jesus says in the presence of the man who regained his sight and in the presence of the religious leaders, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind” (John 9:39). Hearing this, some of the Pharisees, say, “Are we blind also?” (John 9:40). The question seems to hover in the air, as they wait for Jesus’ response. Jesus could have said something like, “Here I am, God incarnate, and all you can see is a sinner. You must be blind indeed.” But Jesus does not put it that way. Instead, He says, “If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains” (John 9:41).

In order to understand what Jesus means, we need to know that there are two kinds of spiritual blindness. One kind relates to our inability to see beyond the material world because we have not been instructed. In this case, our understanding is limited to what we see through our external senses. Instead of living in a world of true ideas, we are continually misled by the fallacies of our senses. We see nothing deeper than the surface. Like children who believe that the earth is flat because it seems to be so, or that the moon is following us because this is what it seems to be doing, we have little comprehension of anything beyond what our physical eyes report to our limited understanding. This kind of blindness, which arises from ignorance, is forgivable. It is the ignorance of little children and uninstructed adults. We all begin our lives believing what the senses tell us. It is simply the human condition. This is represented by the young man in this story before he received his sight. He was simply uninstructed or misinformed. This is, quite simply, blindness from ignorance.

There is, however, another, more serious, kind of blindness. It is a rigid adherence to a particular set of beliefs and a limited point of view, even when better, more reasonable perspectives are offered. This stubborn, self-righteousness is the unwillingness to believe anything that contradicts our own way of seeing the world. As we mentioned in the preceding chapter, the religious leaders were steeped in a rigid, inflexible way of understanding God. Because they thought they already knew the truth, they could not see that their viewpoint left out mercy and compassion. They could not see that they were in bondage to the very rules they had created, nor could they see that these rules were keeping the people in bondage as well. In this regard, they were spiritually blind.

When Jesus says to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin,” He is speaking about the kind that is forgivable. It is simply a lack of proper instruction. Jesus then adds, “But now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.” In essence, Jesus is telling them that their stubborn insistence on teaching a system of false beliefs is creating undue hardship on the people. In their pride, the Pharisees imagine themselves to be more intelligent than anyone else. Unlike the blind beggar whose state of humility represents the willingness to receive sight, the stubborn arrogance of the religious leaders prohibits them from seeing the truth that Jesus is offering. Their sin is not their false beliefs, but rather their unwillingness to even hear what Jesus is saying. Certain that they already know, they are determined to destroy anyone, including Jesus, who opposes their way of thinking or threatens their power and authority. That is truly the sin that remains. ¹⁴

There is a remarkable connection between this dialogue with the religious leaders and the dialogue that Jesus conducted with them in the previous chapter. In the previous chapter, they believe that they have never been in bondage (See John 8:33). And in this chapter, they believe that they have never been blind (See John 9:40). In spiritual reality, they are in both spiritual bondage and spiritual blindness. The sequence of these two episodes involving both bondage and blindness parallels a prophecy given in the Hebrew scriptures where it is written, “Jehovah sets free those who are in bondage, and opens the eyes of the blind” (Psalms 146:8).

It’s one thing to think about how blind the religious leaders are. But it’s quite another matter to consider our own blindness. As a practical application, consider how blind you might be to the many blessings in your life. Instead of focusing on your fears, resentments, and complaints, try focusing on the many ways God is filling your life with blessings. As one person put it, “I asked the Lord to open my eyes to see the joy in my life—and it was everywhere.” Give it a try. See how much the Lord is in your life. As the man in this episode said, after his eyes were opened by Jesus, “Once I was blind, but now I see.”

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