John 9:1-41

John 9:1-7:

^9:1And passing-by he saw a man blind from birth, ^.2and his learning-disciples asked him saying, "Rabbi, who sinned: this-person or his parents in order that he may be born blind?" ^.3Jesus answered, "Neither this-person sinned nor his parents: but in order that the works of God may be manifested in him ^.4it is necessary (for) us to work the works of the (One) having sent me until it is day - night comes when not-one-person is able to work; ^.5whenever I may be in the world, I am light of the world."

^.6Having said these-things he spat to the ground, and he made clay from the spittle, and he anointed the clay on his eyes, ^.7and he said to him, "You must go, you must wash-yourself into the pool of Siloam" - which is interpreted 'having been apostled²'. Therefore he went-away, and he washed-himself, and he came observing.

During the time that Jesus was passing-by (going along) on his way out from the temple area, he saw (perceived) a man who could not physically see with his eyes since he became born out from his mother's womb. This man had never seen with his eyes from the time of his genesis.

Jesus' learning-disciples asked him (his students inquired with familiarity for him to explain a certain topic) saying...

• "Rabbi (Teacher; refer to John 1:38),
• who sinned (who missed the mark of what God says, who performed aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts):
  • this-person (the blind man himself after his birth - which God might have known about beforehand like He knew about Jesus and told Abraham as recorded in John 8:56-58)
  • or his parents (his father and mother - perhaps by committing adultery or fornication)
    • for the purpose and result that
    • he would be born blind (begotten, given birth to, brought forth in the state of not being able to see with his eyes)?"

Jesus answered (he judicially replied to their question by saying)...

• "Neither this-person sinned nor his parents:
• but contrary to trying to find out who sinned as a cause, reason, or purpose for this man's blindness,
  • for the purpose and result that
    • the works of God (God's works, the deeds pertaining-to and proceeding-from God, the actions of expending energy, the effects that are to be produced originating from Him, the end-products issuing from Him to be done and accomplished in alignment, harmony and agreement with God)
    • would be manifested (caused to be evidenced, brought to light, shown-forth)
    • in him (within his sphere of action)
  • - what should we do, what should we focus our attention on so that the works of God would be manifested in him? -
  • it is necessary for us (it is binding, we must, ought, are obligated [some Greek texts read "me" instead of "us" in this phrase])
    • to work (to expend our energy, produce effects by our actions of being in work, be effective carrying-out)
    • the works of the One (God) Who sent me
  • until (continuing for as long a time as, while)
  • it is day (currently it is daytime, figuratively referring to the light shining at the present time enabling us to work from God's viewpoint)
  • - night comes when not-one-person is able to work (nighttime is coming, figuratively referring to the lack of light - at the point that night arrives then nobody has the ability, none is capable of working the works of God);
• at whatever time that I would be present in the world,
• I am light of the world (I exist being absolute light, the light that God is making available to/for mankind, human-beings, who inhabit the ordered-arrangement that God created; light is the opposite of the darkness of nighttime; also refer to John 8:12)."

After Jesus said these things to his learning-disciples in the presence of the blind man (who was not deaf and so he heard the conversation) - Jesus proceeded to work the works of God in this situation...

• he spat (ejected saliva from his mouth) onto the ground,
• and he made clay from the spittle (he produced clay, as a potter uses clay to make vessels),
• and he anointed the clay on his eyes (he rubbed it down onto his eyes, he touched the surface of his eyelids slightly, grazing or rubbing his eyes over with the clay that he made; it is interesting to note that the verb "anoint" in verse 6 comes from the same Greek root word that is translated "Christ" meaning "the Anointed-one"),
• and he said to him (to the man who was blind),
  • "You must go (it is imperative that you actively lead yourself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else - go),
  • you must wash yourself (wash the part of your body which needs to be washed - specifically your eyes where I put the clay)
  • into the pool of Siloam (directed to the pool of water for swimming or bathing called Siloam, which is transliterated from a Hebrew word; the pool located south of the temple)"
    • - which is interpreted 'having been apostled and continuing apostled' (the Hebrew word is explained in the Greek language as the verb that means: already sent and still sent forth/away on a specific mission or assignment).

Following-on logically, the man went away from where he was to the pool of Siloam, and he washed his eyes, and he came back to where Jesus was located observing - the man was now looking at things, mentally envisioning and contemplating what he could see with his eyes.

This man was born blind; from the time of his birth he was without sight; he had no light enabling sight in his eyes - but after he accepted what Jesus made available to him, physical light was entering into his physical eyes and now he could see with them.

[Reference: Exodus 20:1-5; Isaiah 59:2, 61:1; Ezekiel 18:20; Luke 4:18; John 8:12; Romans 5:12-21, 9:21; Revelation 3:18. Also refer to the article Adam and Eve.]

Verses 8-12:

^.8Therefore the neighbors and the (people) viewing him with-attention that formerly he was a beggar said, "This-person is the (man) sitting-down and begging, isn't he?" ^.9Other-people said that, "This-person is (the man)." Other-people said, "No, but he is like him." That-person said, "I am." ^.10Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" ^.11That-person answered, "The man, the (man) being said (as) Jesus, made spittle, and anointed-on my eyes, and said to me that 'You must go into the Siloam and you must wash-yourself'; therefore having gone-away and having washed-myself, I observed-upwardly." ^.12And they said to him, "Where is that-person?" He says, "I did not know²."

Following-on logically from the previous events, the people from the same neighborhood or land and the people attentively viewing him (contemplating him in their minds) that formerly he was a beggar (before, previously, firstly, prior to this time he was continuing to be someone constantly asking for things to be given towards himself) were saying...

• "This is the man sitting-down and begging, isn't he?"
  • [The Greek construction of this question indicates that they expected to receive an affirmative answer: "Yes."]
• Other people were saying that,
  • "This is the man (he is the same one to whom you are referring)."
• Other-people were saying,
  • "No, but on the contrary, he is similar to him (but not the same man)."

Specifically the man was saying, "Emphatically I am (in Greek there is a definite word for “I” plus the verb meaning “I am” giving emphasis – I myself am the man to whom you are referring)."

Following-on logically after they heard his reply, during that past time they were continuing to say to him, "How (in what way/manner) were your eyes opened (so that you can see now)?"

The man himself responded...

• "The man,
  • emphatically and specifically the man called Jesus,
• made spittle, and anointed-on my eyes, and said to me that 'You must go into the Siloam and you must wash-yourself' (refer to verses 6 and 7 above);
• therefore after I went away and washed my eyes,
  • I observed-upwardly (I looked-up in the recovery of my physical sight)."

And the people said to him, "Where is that-person (at what location is specifically that man now)?" He says, "I did not know and continue not to know (perceive - I don't know where he is)."

Verses 13-17:

^.13They lead him towards the Pharisees, the blind-man at-some-time. ^.14But it was a sabbath in which day Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes; ^.15therefore again the Pharisees also asked him how he observed-upwardly. But he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed-myself, and I observe." ^.16Therefore some-people from the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God because he does not keep the sabbath." Other-people said, "How is a sinful man able to do signs of-this-kind?" And there was a division among them. ^.17Therefore again they say to the blind-man, "What do you say concerning him because he opened your eyes?" But the (man) said that, "He is a prophet."

Then the people lead (bring, direct, conduct, convey) him towards the Pharisees, the man who had previously been blind.

However, during that past time, historically, it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened the blind-man's eyes - either the weekly sabbath on the last day of the Judean feast called Tent-Pitching (fastening, setting-up the covering or sheltering structures - also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, tents, or booths; refer to John 7:2 and John 8:2) or to the special sabbath on the 8th day.

Therefore again (a second, another, further time, once again) the Pharisees also were continuing to ask him how (in what way/manner; as verse 10 above) he observed-upwardly (looked-up in the recovery of his physical sight; as verse 11 above).

But he said to them, "He put (placed) clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and I am presently observing (looking at things, mentally envisioning and contemplating what I see with my eyes; as verse 7 above)."

Therefore some of the people from among the Pharisees were saying...

• "This man is not from God (God is not the source from Whom this human-being came into being, he is not existing from God)
• because he is not keeping the sabbath (he is not keeping an eye on it, having it in safekeeping, and therefore he is neglecting or violating it, he is not able to watch-over, take-care-of, maintain, and be observant of the instructions pertaining to the sabbath)."

Other people were continuing to say...

• "How is a sinful man (in what way/manner is a man who misses the mark of what God says, who performs aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts)
• able to do signs of this sort (capable of doing, have the ability to perform such designated signals or standards of authentication, showing or proving authenticity)?"

There was continuing to be a division among them (a schism or partition, a splitting as tearing a garment apart between them).

Therefore again they say to the man who was blind, "What emphatically do you say (in Greek there is a definite word for “you” plus the verb meaning “you say” giving emphasis – what is it that you yourself are saying) about him because he opened your eyes?"

But the man said that, "He is a prophet (a man who speaks-forth God's words being revealed to him concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people)."

[Reference: Matthew 12:10-13; John 5:9 and 10, 6:46, 7:22, 23 and 43.]

Verses 18-23:

^.18Therefore the Judeans did not believe concerning him that he was blind and observed-upwardly, while they sounded (for) the parents of him, the (man) having observed-upwardly, ^.19and they asked them saying, "Is this your son, whom you say that he was born blind - how therefore does he now observe?" ^.20Therefore his parents answered and said, "We knew² that this is our son and that he was born blind - ^.21but how he now observes we did not know², or who opened his eyes we did not know²; you must ask him, he has stature, he will utter-forth concerning himself."

^.22His parents said these-things because they were fearful (of) the Judeans, for the Judeans had already consented in order that if-ever someone may express-agreement (regarding) him - Christ - he may become away-from-synagogue; ^.23because-of-this his parents said that, "He has stature, you must ask him."

Following-on logically from the man's response that in his opinion Jesus was a prophet, the Judeans did not believe (have faith, trust) the details about the man - that he used-to-be blind and that he looked-up in the recovery of his physical sight (as verses 11 and 15 above) - while (continuing during that time when) they sounded for (voiced, summoned) the parents of him, specifically of the man who was healed from blindness.

They asked the parents saying, "Is this your son, whom emphatically you say (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – you yourselves are saying) that he was born blind - in what way/manner therefore does he look at things at the moment (this point in time)?"

Therefore his parents answered and said...

• "We knew and continue to know (perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with our minds)
  • that this is our son
  • and that he was born blind -
• but how he is observing at the present time we did not know and continue not to know (perceive),
• or who opened his eyes emphatically we did not know and continue not to know (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “we” – we ourselves do not perceive);
  • you must ask him (it is imperative that you inquire from him about this, request him to tell you),
    • he has stature (he has reached the degree or time of life, maturity of age, height, greatness, etc, that comes with his becoming an adult),
    • he will speak about himself."

His parents said these-things because they were continuing to be afraid of the Judeans, for by this time the Judeans had consented (put together, organized, resolved) for the purpose and result that...

• if it should happen at any time that
• someone would express agreement regarding him - Christ (say the same words, speak agreement with, assent to the same spoken thing with him - that Jesus is the Anointed-one, the Messiah) -
• that person would become away-from-synagogue (he would be excommunicated from the synagogue);

...on account of this his parents said that, "He has stature (as verse 21 above), you must ask him (inquire directly from him for information on this topic)."

[Reference: John 7:13.]

Verses 24-34:

^.24Therefore they sounded (for) the man a second-time who was blind and they said to him, "You must give glory to God; we knew² that this man is a sinner." ^.25Therefore that-person answered, "If he is a sinner I did not know²; one-thing I knew² that being blind - now I observe." ^.26Therefore they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" ^.27He answered to them, "I said to you already and you heard, didn't you? - (yes), why do you intend again to hear? You do not also intend to become his learning-disciples, do you?" ^.28And they reviled him and said, "You are a learning-disciple of that-person, but we are learning-disciples of Moses; ^.29we knew² that God uttered-forth² to Moses, but this-person - we did not know² from-where he is."

^.30The man answered and said to them, "For in that is the marvelous-thing: because you did not know² from-where he is - and he opened my eyes! ^.31We knew² that God does not hear sinners but if-ever someone may be Godly and he may do His intention - He hears that-person. ^.32Out-from the age it was not heard that someone opened eyes of a (person) having been born blind² - ^.33except this-person was from God he was not able to do nothing."

^.34They answered and said to him, "In sins wholly you were born, and you teach us!" And they threw him out outside.

Following-on from their discussion with the parents, these Judeans sounded for (voiced, summoned) the man who used-to-be blind another time and they said to him...

• "It is imperative that you give glory to God (give the importance, splendor, renown to God regarding this situation - be truthful about it);
• emphatically we knew and continue to know (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “we” – we ourselves perceive)
  • that this man (referring to Jesus)
  • is a sinner (one who misses the mark of what God says, who performs aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts; as verse 16 above)."

Therefore the man who was healed answered, "If he (Jesus) is a sinner I did not know and continue not to know (perceive); there is one thing that I knew and continue to know (perceive) which is that - I was in the state of being blind - at this very moment I am observing (at this point in time I am looking at things)."

Therefore they said to him, "What did he do to you (perform for you)? How did he open your eyes (causing you to see)?"

He answered to them...

• "I said to you already (by this time - I told you before) and you heard, didn't you?
  • – yes (the Greek construction of this question must receive an affirmative answer: "yes, that would be correct"),
• why do you intend again to hear (for what reason do you will with active volition and desire a second, another, further time, once again to listen)?
• Emphatically you do not also intend (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – you yourselves do not will with active volition and desire in addition to other people)
  • to become his learning-disciples (to come to pass to be students of him, people who are learning from him regarding God and the things of God and who are interested in learning more),
    • do you?"
    • [The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is: "No."]

However, they reviled him (railed at him, insulted him, verbally abused him with abusive language) and said as their response to his question...

• "Emphatically you are (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – you yourself are)
  • a learning-disciple of that-person (a student of Jesus),
• but emphatically we are (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “we” – we ourselves are)
  • learning-disciples of Moses;
• emphatically we knew and continue to know (again there is emphasis as verse 24 above – we ourselves perceive)
  • that God spoke to/with Moses and this fact has not changed,
• but this-person (referring to the man Jesus) -
  • we did not know and continue not to know (perceive) from what location he is (how, from what manner of action he exists, what source or place he came from or who sent him)."

The man answered and said to them...

• "For in that is the marvelous-thing (the astonishment, the object or occurrence being looked-on by you with wonder and amazement):
  • because emphatically you did not know and continue not to know (perceive) from where he is -
  • and he opened my eyes!
• We knew and continue to know that God does not hear sinners (He does not listen to them speaking to Him; refer to verse 16 above)
• but contrary to that, if it should ever happen that
  • someone would be Godly (reverentially respectful towards God during everyday living)
  • and he would do His intention (perform God's will, His active volition and desire) -
    • God hears that-person (He listens to him speaking to Him to the end of answering or granting the request).
• Originating from the age (since the duration of life relative to mankind)
• it was not heard that someone opened the eyes of a person who was born (begotten, given birth to, brought forth) in the state of being blind and who remained blind as he was getting older -
  • except this-person was from God (if this man was not continuing to be from God whereby God is the source from Whom this one came into being, unless he was existing from God)
  • he was not able to do nothing (the double negative emphasizes the point - during that past time he was continuing not capable, unable, he did not have the able-power to perform anything, not one thing)."

Evidently this man had heard and learned a lot of the old covenant scriptures during his lifetime - and opening the eyes of someone who was born blind was not ever recorded - and he told these Judeans of this fact.

They answered and said to him...

• "Within the cause and sphere of action of sins
  • emphatically you (you yourself),
    • your whole being (entire make-up),
  • were born (refer to verses 2 and 3 above),
• and emphatically you are teaching (instructing) us!"

And they threw him out outside (they cast the man out external to the synagogue; refer to verse 22 above).

[Reference: Psalm 34:15-19, 145:19; Proverbs 1:28, 15:29, 28:9; John 5:46, 7:21, 8:14; I John 5:14 and 15.]

Verses 35-41:

^.35Jesus heard that they threw him out outside, and having found him he said, "Do you believe into the son of man?" ^.36That-person answered and said, "And who is he, Lord, in order that I may believe into him?" ^.37Jesus said to him, "Both you knew² him and the (man) uttering-forth with you is that-person." ^.38But the (man) said, "I believe, Lord" - and he worshipped him. ^.39And Jesus said, "I came into this world with-a-view-to judgment in order that the (people) not observing may observe and the (people) observing may become blind." ^.40The (people) being with him from the Pharisees heard these-things and said to him, "We are not also blind, are we?" ^.41Jesus said to them, "If you were blind you had not ever sin, but now you say that 'We observe' - your sin remains."

When Jesus heard that they had excommunicated the man who was blind from the synagogue, he found (located) him and said...

• "Do emphatically you believe into the son of man (do you yourself have faith-in, trust into, directed-to, or regarding the son of man whereby he is the object of your believing, trusting what he says and does [some Greek texts read "son of God"])?"

The man answered and said...

• "And who is he, Lord (he addresses Jesus as "Master" recognizing his power and authority in this situation),
• for the purpose and result that I would believe into him?"

Jesus said to him...

• "Both you knew and continue to know him (you have already perceived him, you see him to the end of perceiving and knowing him with your mind)
• and the man who is speaking in company and association with you is that-person (the son of man)."

Then the man said (brought to light by speaking), "I believe, Lord" - and he worshipped him (he paid homage to Jesus, he was obeisant towards him being the son of man - whom Jesus told him that he was). The man did not worship Jesus as though Jesus were God because that is not what Jesus told him!

And Jesus explained further about himself by saying...

• "Emphatically I came into this world (the ordered-arrangement that God created but which fell away from God because of sin, the present fallen world; the current world will continue to exist until it will be replaced by the new heaven and new earth recorded in Revelation 21:1)
• with-a-view-to judgment (directed to, for the purpose of a pronounced decision, a sentence passed, the right/just decision that God arrives at, the decision made issuing from the judging process - for God's judgment to come to pass and take effect, which is)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • the people who are not observing would observe (would look at, mentally envision, be mentally aware of, contemplate - even though something may not physically be seen by them with their physical eyes)
  • and the people who are observing would become blind (come to pass to be without the ability to observe)."

The people, from among the Pharisees who were in the vicinity being in company and association with the man who was healed, heard the things that Jesus said, and they said to Jesus, "Emphatically we are not also blind, are we?" The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is: "No - you are not also blind."

However, Jesus said to them...

• "If it were a fact that you used-to-be blind (if you were continuing during a past time to be blind physically)
  • then during that time you would not ever continually have sin (hold the state of sin, missing the mark of what God says to/for you, aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts; the word "sin" is singular - the root-cause of all other sins against the only true God originated with respect to mankind with Adam's rejection of what God gave him to believe, and it resulted in Adam's loss of the holy spirit-life which God had given to him upon the condition of believing what God told him and then living accordingly),
    • [These people would have accepted what Jesus was making available to them - their salvation, being saved, made safe to God from sin and its consequence of destruction.]
• but at the present time you are saying that 'We observe' -
  • your sin remains (stays, continues, abides)."
    • [These people were rejecting what Jesus was offering to them so as to save them from their sin. Their attitude was they they did not need help from Jesus regarding God, the things of God, salvation, healing, etc, or anyone else's teaching regarding the promised Messiah. They rejected salvation.]

The son of man

The phrase "the son of man" refers to Jesus himself and emphasizes that he is the one who is descended from the man whom God created and made and formed as recorded in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, the first man Adam to whom God gave dominion, etc, on/over the earth. However, this first man gave it to satan as recorded in Genesis chapter 3. In accordance with God's promise - Jesus is the seed of the woman (refer to Genesis 3:15).

Today of course Jesus has accomplished redemption and salvation and so he is the resurrected Christ, the second man, having received his spiritual body, the life of which is holy spirit (not soul/breath life). Therefore the title "the son of man" is not relevant to holy-people (Christians) because true Christians have the spirit of Christ within them - Christ being the new man, the last man. After the time that all Christians will be gathered together away from the earth, Christ Jesus will come to be present on earth for those who will believe at that time among the nation of Israel and the other nations, the Gentiles, as "the son of man" and he will exercise the authority that he has, his dominion on/over the earth having regained and replaced the first man and all that the first man gave to the devil/satan.

[Reference: John 1:18 and 51, 5:19-30, 6:27, 8:21-29; Romans 2:19, 5:12-21; II Peter 1:9; Revelation 3:17.  Also refer to the article Adam and Eve. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

John Chapter 10