John 9

(1)  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
(2)  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(3)  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(4)  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
(5)  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
(6)  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
(7)  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
(8)  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
(9)  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
(10)  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
(11)  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
(12)  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
(13)  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
(14)  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
(15)  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
(16)  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
(17)  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
(18)  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
(19)  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth 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 by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
(22)  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
(23)  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
(24)  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
(25)  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
(26)  Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
(27)  He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
(28)  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
(29)  We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
(30)  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
(31)  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
(32)  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
(33)  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
(34)  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
(35)  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
(36)  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
(37)  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
(38)  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
(39)  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
(40)  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
(41)  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

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Study Questions

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1. Why did the disciples ask such a question? Did anyone think the blind man sinned before he was born? Is physical disability the result of somebody’s special sin? Verses 1-2.

2. What good opportunity was afforded Jesus because of the blind man’s affliction and what was the urgency in taking advantage of it? Verses 3-4.

3. By bringing physical light to one born blind, what proof should have been available to all? Verse 5.

4. Do you think the blind man’s healing was due to medicinal value in the clay, the water, or to the command of Jesus when coupled with obedience? Verses 6-7.

5. The matter of the man’s identity was finally settled in what way? Verses 8-9.

6. Did the neighbors of the man ask about the fact of the man’s healing or the manner of his healing? Verses 10-11.

7. Why do you think the neighbors and acquaintances took the former blind man to the Pharisees? Verses 12-13.

8. What is significant about Jesus healing the man on the Sabbath? Verse 14.

9. What was ignored by the Pharisees that should have been of the greatest interest? Verse 15.

10. What was the subject of the division among the Pharisees and what was the improved opinion of the healed man? Verses 16-17.

11. What three questions did the Jews ask the healed man’s parents? Verses 18-19.

12. What two questions did the parents answer, and how did they very timidly evade the third one? Verses 20-21.

13. Did the parents decline to answer because of a lack of knowledge or for some other reason? Verses 22-23.

14. What was the meaning of the phrase, “Give glory to God,” and how did the healed man avoid the trap of the Jews? Verses 24-25.

15. When the Jews were unable to discover any fraud, what did they do for the third time and what ironic, and humorous question was asked by the former blind man? Verses 26-27.

16. What is absurd about the Jews’ boast of being disciples of Moses? Where did they get their knowledge about Moses and what first-hand testimony did they reject? Verses 28-29.

17. What was the “marvel,” or the marvelous thing of the beggar? Verse 30.

18. How did the beggar know “that God heareth not sinners,” and what it takes for God to hear someone? Verse 31.

19. How does the beggar prove Jesus to be from God? Verses 32-33.

20. What do the Jews now admit that they had been denying, and how did they punish the former blind man? Verse 34.

21. Was the man at this point a believer in the Son of God? Verses 35-36.

22. If Jesus had been simply a good man, would he have received the worship of this man? Verses 37-38.

23. Is this verse a contradiction of John 3:17, which reads, “God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world” (American Standard Version)? Verse 39.

24. In what way were the Pharisees remaining in their sins? Verses 40-41.