What I Noticed Today (John 9-10)
John 9
Sign 6. Healing the blind man.
In John 9, John records the healing of the blind man. It is the sixth of Jesus’ seven signs. There are three main sections to the story:
1) vv. 1-12, Jesus heals the blind man,
2) vv. 13-34, the testimony of the blind man, and
3) vv. 35-41, the blindness of the Pharisees.
Jesus left the temple complex on the Sabbath after the religious officials tried to stone him (John 8:59).
In verses 1-12, as Jesus was leaving, he passed by a man blind from birth. The disciples asked who sinned this man or his parents.
Note: A common belief among Jews was that sickness or other sufferings could be traced to specific sins in a person’s life (Job 4:7).
Jesus said neither sinned, but this man was born blind so that the Works of God might be displayed. Jesus said, as long as He was in the world, I am the light of the world.
Note: The reference to “day” is the time for Jesus to do the work God called Him to do.
Jesus mixed some clay and saliva to make mud, put it on the man’s eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. So the man left, washed, and came back seeing.
Note: “Siloam” means sent. The pool was on the southeast corner of Jerusalem.
His neighbors wondered if this was the man they knew as the blind man. He insisted he was. They asked how he was healed, and he related how Jesus had healed him.
In verses 13-34, the man who was once blind was brought before the Pharisees, and again they asked him how he was healed. He explained again. Some of the Pharisees complained this man could not be from God because he healed on the Sabbath, but others asked how could a sinful man perform such signs.
When asked, the man said he thought Jesus was a prophet. The Jews didn’t believe he had been blind, so they brought his parents forward and asked them. The parents admitted the man was their son but said they had no idea how he had been healed. The parents said since he was of age, they should ask him directly.
The parents were afraid to say anything because the Pharisees had already said anyone who confesses Jesus as the Messiah would be cast out of the synagogue.
The Pharisees summoned the man again and told him to give glory to God, for the man (Jesus) was a sinner. The man said he didn’t know whether Jesus was a sinner or not, but he knew He healed him.
The Pharisees ridiculed the man saying they were Moses’ disciples, and God had spoken through Moses, but they didn’t know who Jesus was.
The man responded God doesn’t listen to sinners but listens to those who do His will. No one in history had ever opened the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.
The Pharisees responded that this man was born in sin and had no right to teach them, so they threw him out of the synagogue.
Note: Being excommunicated, thrown out of the synagogue was a significant punishment given Jewish life centered on their faith.
In verses 35-41, Jesus found the man and asked, do you believe in the Son of Man.
Note: “Do you” is emphatic in Greek. It is an emphasis that calls for a conclusion. In this case, “do you believe?”
When Jesus told the man He was the Son of Man, the man said yes, I believe and worshiped Him. Jesus said He came into the world so the blind could see and the seeing would become blind.
Nearby Pharisees who heard this realized that Jesus was speaking about them and asked, are you saying we are blind? Jesus responded by saying, if you admit you are blind and sinful, then your sins can be forgiven, but if you claim not to have sinned, there is no forgiveness.
Note: The great sin claims to have spiritual insight while failing to recognize Jesus for who and what He said He was.
John 10
In verses 1-21, John records the Good Shepherd discourse. It is a continuation from the end of John 9. In this analogy, Jesus refers to Himself as a shepherd and his followers as sheep.
In verses 1-6, Jesus says anyone who enters the sheep pen by climbing over the wall is a thief. The shepherd would enter through the door. He would call his sheep, and knowing his voice, they would follow him. They will run away from a stranger whose voice they do not recognize.
Note: It was common to bring sheep into a walled pen at night to keep them safe from thieves and predators.
In verses 7-21, Jesus explains He is the door. Anyone who enters through Him will find pasture. He came to provide life and abundance to His sheep.
Note: The reference to thieves and robbers is directed at leaders (religious and otherwise) who led people away from God, caring only for themselves. The thief is a false shepherd who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus is the good and true shepherd. Jesus will lay down His life for His sheep, unlike the hired man who will run.
Jesus says I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep as I know the Father. I have sheep that are not of this fold (flock), and I must bring them also.
Note: The reference to another fold or flock is to the Gentiles who would believe in Jesus as Messiah.
In verses 17-18, Jesus repeats four times that He lays down His life voluntarily and will take it up again, just as the Father has commanded.
Note: This proclaims Jesus’ sovereignty over life and death.
Once again (the third time), the Pharisees were divided. Some thought Jesus was demon-possessed; others believed a demon-possessed man could not heal the blind.
In verses 22-42, John records Jesus’ final public teaching that began at the Festival of Dedication.
Note: The Festival of Dedication commemorated the re-consecration of the Temple in 164 B.C. It is known today as Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights.
Jesus was walking in the temple complex by Solomon’s colonnade when the Jews surrounded Him and demanded to know if He was Messiah. Jesus responded I did tell you, but you didn’t believe. The works I do testify about Me, but you didn’t believe it because you are not My sheep. My sheep know me, and I know them. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will ever snatch them away from Me. This is because the Father and I are One.
Note: “One” here is neuter in Greek, which means “the Father and I” are not the same person, but one in nature and purpose.
In verses 31-39, the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus for blasphemy once again. Jesus asked for which of the good works from my Father are you stoning me. They answered they were stoning him not for good works but for blasphemy.
Note: Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6, in which God appoints men as judges, and they are called “gods.” Jesus’ argument is if they hold to the scripture and scripture cannot be violated, then they cannot logically accuse him of blasphemy because he called himself a son of God since God had appointed Him (set Him apart) to do this work.
The Jews tried to grab Jesus again (5th attempt), but He eluded them.
In verses 40-42, because of their hostility, Jesus left them and went across the Jordan where He and John had been baptizing. Many believed in Him there.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- The Pharisees who questioned the blind man who was healed came to understand the healing but were so close-minded they rejected the truth that was right before them.
- The lame man Jesus healed (John 5) reported Jesus to the authorities and demonstrated no faith in Jesus. However, the blind man listened and responded to Jesus and eventually worshiped Him as Messiah.
- The Good Shepherd cares for His sheep, and none who are His will ever be lost.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
