Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

CHAPTER NINE:
A BLIND MAN SEES AND SIGHTED MEN ARE BLIND

[“The Blind Sighted and the Sighted Blind”]
Key Word: Sight

John 9:1-7 A Blind Man Sees for the First Time

JN9:1 Now as he traveled Jesus saw a person born blind from birth. JN9:2 So his disciples questioned Jesus, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, 524 this person or his parents, so that he was born blind?”
524 Who sinned: Some persons who believe in the pre-existence of all human souls use this verse as proof of such pre-existence. However, these are the words of some of Jesus’ disciples, not the Nazarene himself. His answer is: “Neither.” Some think this question reflects the contamination of Greek philosophy on 1^st Century Judaism. Josephus comments on this: “They also believe that souls have an immortal vigour in them, and that under the earth there will be rewards or punishments, according as they have lived virtuously or viciously in this life; and the latter are to be detained in an everlasting prison, but that the former shall have power to revive and live again… They say that all souls are incorruptible, but that the souls of good men only are removed into other bodies, but that the souls of bad men are subject to eternal punishment.”-Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, chapter I, ¶3; Wars of the Jews, Book II, chapter VIII, ¶14. Thus, it was thought by some that either a person could have sinned before, or even sin in the womb. All persons are born in sin as if inheriting the flawed DNA of Adam and Eve. [Job 14:4; Psalm 51:5] On the matter of pre-human existence see notes on 1 Corinthians 15:46 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©.
JN9:3 Jesus answered: “Neither this person or his parents sinned, but rather so that the works of The God might become manifest by means of [this blind man]. JN9:4 It is a necessity to continue to work the works of the One who sent me while it is day. 525 The night is coming 526 when no one will be able to work.
525 While it is day: During the remaining months of Jesus’ life.
526 The night is coming: The three days in the grave during which Jesus could do not work, and his disciples abandoned him and returned to their fishing business.
JN9:5 As long as I am in the world of humanity I am the world’s Light.” 527
527 As long as I am in the world of humanity I am the world’s Light: That Light would go out upon Jesus’ death, to shine again in great power. Only a few months remained before the Nazarene’s execution and that darkness which descended on the land of Judea. Compare John 1:5; 8:12. [1 John 2:8]
JN9:6 Having said these things, Jesus spit on the ground and made clay from the spittle. He then put this clay upon the eyes of [the blind person]. JN9:7 Jesus told him: “Withdraw! Wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.” 528 [Siloam when translated means, “Sent forth.”] Therefore the blind person left and bathed himself, and he return with sight.
528 Wash yourself in the pool of Siloam: The whole point behind Jesus’ unusual healing method here is to draw attention to the “pool of Siloam” which means “Sent Forth.” Thus, the matter of Jesus being “sent forth” by The God his Father was manifest by this object lesson. Compare Isaiah 8:6 LXX on Siloam. There is something of a similarity with Elisha’s healing of the leper Naaman by asking him to bathe seven times in the Jordan.

John 9:8-12 A Testimony about the Healer

JN9:8 As a result, the neighbors, and those who saw him formerly, were saying: “Is this not the person who used to sit and beg?” JN9:9 Others said, “That is the same person!” Still others said: “No, but it was someone else like him!” The former blind man kept saying: “I am he!” 529
529 I am he: The blind man uses the same EGO EIMI in the emphatic case as Jesus uses at John 8:28. It cannot be argued that this is some kind of reference to Exodus 3:15 in the LXX.
JN9:10 Therefore, they asked him: “How, then, were your eyes opened?” JN9:11 The former blind man answered: “The person called Jesus made clay and he anointed my eyes, 530 and then told me, ‘Withdraw to the pool of Siloam and bath yourself.’ Then, after I had bathed I began to see!”
530 He anointed my eyes: Or, smeared, pasted. The Greek is EPECHRISEN.
JN9:12 And they asked him: “Where is that person?” He said: “I have no idea.”

John 9:13-17 “How Can a Sinner Perform These Signs?”

JN9:13 These people led the former blind man to the Pharisees. JN9:14 Now it was the Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened the man’s eyes. JN9:15 So then again the Pharisees also asked the former blind man how he came to see. The former blind man said to them: “He put clay upon my eyes, and I bathed, and then I began to see!” JN9:16 Therefore, some from the Pharisees said: “This is not a person who came from God, 531 because he does not observe the Sabbath!” 532 But, other people said: “How is a person who is a sinner able to perform such signs?” So, there was a schism among them. 533
531 This is not a person who came from God: Or, from beside God; BER: man of God.
532 He does not observe the Sabbath: Of course, this is a lie. What they mean is that the Nazarene did not observe their man-made regulations added to the Sabbath law.
533 There was a schism among them: Or, division, disagreement, split. The Greek is SCHISMA.
JN9:17 As a result, the Pharisees said again to the blind man: “Because he opened your eyes, what are you saying about him?” The man answered: “He is a prophet!” 534
534 He is a prophet: Another example where a prophet is not one who foretells the future, but stands as a Man of God who speaks and does God’s righteousness. Compare John 4:19.

John 9:18-23 Fear of Being Expelled

JN9:18 However, the Jews did not believe that the man had been formerly blind and now had gained his sight, until they called the blind man’s parents. JN9:19 So they questioned them, asking: “Is this your son whom you claim was born blind? How, then, does he see now?” JN9:20 So his parents answered and said: “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind! JN9:21 But, how he now has sight we have no idea! You [Jews] question him. He is old enough so he can speak for himself!” JN9:22 The blind man’s parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed to expel from the synagogue 535 anyone who should ever confess [Jesus] as Christ. 536
535 The Jews had already agreed to expel from the synagogue: Or, put out, excommunicated, excluded, expelled, unchurched. As elsewhere when John says Jews he often means the Jewish hierarchy or leadership. This was an excommunication for apostasy. Compare also John 12:42 and John 16:2.

536 Confess [Jesus] as Christ: Or, acknowledged, admitted. [Romans 10:9, 10]
JN9:23 Because of this the blind man’s parents said, “He is old enough. You [Jews] ask him.”

John 9:24-34 Is This Man from God?

JN9:24 Therefore, [the Jews] called the former blind man a second time and told him: “Give glory to The God! We have known [for some time] that this person [Jesus] is a sinner.” 537
537 This person [Jesus] is a sinner: When a person’s arguments fail they begin to attack the person with derogatory terms. The last person who was a sinner was called a sinner.

JN9:25 So the former blind man responded: “Whether this person is a sinner or not I have no idea! One thing I know. I had been blind, but right now I can see!” JN9:26 Therefore, [The Jews] said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” JN9:27 He answered them: “I already told you [Jews] but you do not listen! Why do you again want to hear [the story]? Do you also want to become his disciples?” JN9:28 [The Jews] hurled abuses 538 at him, and then they said: “You are a disciple of that person! But, we are disciples of the Moses. 539
538 Hurled abuses: Or, reviled, stormed him, became abusive.

539 We are disciples of the Moses: Some of these Pharisees later became Christians and continued to insist on some form of discipleship to Moses. [Acts 15:1, 2]
JN9:29 We know that The God has spoken to Moses, but we have no idea where this person is from.” JN9:30 The former blind man answered: “That you [Jews] do not know where he is from is the marvel! Also, that he opened my eyes! JN9:31 We realize that The God does not hear sinners, 540 but if ever anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, 541 this person [God] hears.
540 God does not hear sinners: The man either does not understand God’s love, or he means a habitual sinner who no longer fears God. [Psalm 51:5, 7]
541 God-fearing, and does His will: Or, KJV: worshipper of God; RHM: God-revering; NEB: devout; BER: reverences.
JN9:32 From ancient times it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 542
542 It has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind: Why is not such a miracle mentioned in the other three Gospels? It may be that these were not present on this occasion and John was the only apostle to have witnessed this matter.
JN9:33 If this person was not from God’s side, he would not be able to do anything.” JN9:34 The Jews answered him: “You were entirely born in sins, and you are teaching us?” 543 And so the Jews cast him outside 544 [the synagogue]!
543 You are teaching us: The tyranny of authority!
544 Cast him outside: Or, WMS: turned him out of the synagogue; GDS: excluded him from the synagogue; NEB: expelled him from the synagogue. [John 9:22; 16:2]

John 9:35-41 Those Seeing Become Blind

JN9:35 Jesus heard that the Jews had expelled 545 the blind man, and when Jesus found him, he said: “Do you believe in the Son of Humankind?” [Daniel 7:13]
545 Expelled: Or, cast out, unchurched. That is, excommunicated from the synagogue.
JN9:36 The former blind man asked Jesus: “Who is he, sir, 546 so that I should believe in him?”
546 Who is he, sir: The book of Daniel was sealed indeed and only now was such knowledge on the increase. [Daniel 12:9, 10] Most likely “lord” here is more like the Spanish “senor” or the English “sir.”
JN9:37 Jesus said to him: “Now you have seen him, and the person speaking with you is that person.” 547
547 The person speaking with you is that person: Or, RIE: he is talking to you. A Hebrew idiom indirectly meaning, “I am the Son of Humankind.” Compare John 4:26.
JN9:38 Now, the former blind man said: “I believe, Master!” 548 And then he bowed [and kissed the feet of] Jesus. 549
548 I believe, Master: Now, this “lord” means more than sir, or senor. He acknowledges the Son of Humankind as his Lord, or Master. See notes elsewhere on KYRIE [KYRIOS].
549 He bowed [and kissed the feet of] Jesus: Or, NOR: he knelled before him. The Greek is PROSEKUNESEN and is a combination of before + kiss and refers to the Middle Eastern manner of bowing in respect to another. This is the word in the LXX which describes Abigail’s bowing before David. See notes on PROSKUNEO in Nazarene Commentary 2000© Error of the Trinity.
JN9:39 Then, Jesus said: “For [the purpose of] judgment I came into the world of humanity, 550 so that those not seeing may see, 551 and those seeing should become blind.” 552
550 For [the purpose of] judgment I came into the world: Or, NOR: I came into the world to bring judgment; TCN: to put men to the test; PME: my coming into this world is itself a judgment. Some will not like this phrase from Jesus as they have become totally focused on salvation, a word Jesus only uses twice in the Gospels. [Luke 19:9; John 4:22] The word group judg(ment) occurs often in the teachings of the Nazarene, and most often in John’s Gospel. [Compare Matthew 7:2; 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:3, 6, 41, 42; 22:30; 23:33; Mark 12:40] Note that when Jesus promises to send the Pneumatic Helper it speaks about three subjects, and one of them is judgment, and neither is “salvation.” [John 3:19; 5:24, 29, 30; 8:16, 26; 16:8, 11]
551 Those not seeing may see: Or, KNX: those who are blind should see; MOF: make the sightless see; PME: those who cannot see have their eyes opened. [John 12:46; Luke 4:18]
552 Those seeing should become blind: Or, PME: those who think they can see become blind. [Isaiah 29:14; Matthew 11:25; 13:13; Acts 28:26; 2 Peter 1:9]
JN9:40 Some from among the Pharisees, being present with him, asked: “Are we also blind?” JN9:41 Jesus said to them: “It is not likely you would have any sin if you had been blind, 553 but now that you [Pharisees] say, ‘We can see!’ your sin remains.” 554
553 Not likely you would have any sin if you had been blind: Or, RSV: if you were blind, you would have no guilt.

554 ‘We can see!’ your sin remains: Or, WEY: you boast that you see; BER: since you claim to have sight, your sin remains. [Proverbs 26:12]

Review Questions on Chapter Nine

How does a man born blind come to see?
What is the blind man’s testimony?
What question does he ask?
Of what were his parents in fear?
How does the former blind man respond to the Jewish leaders?
What contrast does Jesus make to the Pharisees?

Mark Heber Miller