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The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) · 17 of 37 · tr. American Standard Version (1901)

9:15-9:39

[9:15] Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see. [9:16] Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them. [9:17] They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet. [9:18] The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, [9:19] and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? [9:20] His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: [9:21] but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself. [9:22] These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. [9:23] Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. [9:24] So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give glory to God: we know that this man is a sinner. [9:25] He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. [9:26] They said therefore unto him, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? [9:27] He answered them, I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples? [9:28] And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses. [9:29] We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is. [9:30] The man answered and said unto them, Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes. [9:31] We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth. [9:32] Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. [9:33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. [9:34] They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. [9:35] Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? [9:36] He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him? [9:37] Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee. [9:38] And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. [9:39] And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.
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Themes
Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

The healed man's 'one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see' exemplifies salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine at work, contrasted with the Pharisees' reliance on doctrinal authority and ritual observance.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

Jesus' closing statement 'that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind' uses deliberate reversal to destabilize the Pharisees' self-assured spiritual sight and expose its blindness.

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Prophetic Rejectionethics

The phenomenon where spiritual messengers or healers are rejected by their own community due to familiarity or lack of awe.

The entire passage dramatizes the healer-prophet being rejected by his own religious community (Pharisees, synagogue authorities) who cast out the very person he healed, a canonical instance of the prophet rejected by his own people.

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Rejection Of Hypocrisyethics

Critique of outward religious observance that lacks inner transformation; form without substance.

The Pharisees' rigid Sabbath-keeping and institutional authority are implicitly critiqued as form without substance, since they reject the evident divine healing in favor of legalistic observance and social conformity.

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