John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
This chapter begins with an encounter between Jesus and His disciples and a man who has been blind since birth. The disciples asked Jesus why the man was born blind—for the sin of his parents or because of his own sin? This is a strange question to me since the man was blind from birth. If they thought it was because of sin—why would they think a baby would be born blind for sins he hadn’t even committed. Jesus quickly answered that it wasn’t because of sin, but so that the work of God could be displayed in his life.
All of us are born with a purpose. The scripture says that purpose is for God’s pleasure.
Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
The word pleasure in this verse means “a determination, choice, purpose.” We are individuals created to serve God’s purpose. We fulfill our purpose through the manifestation of His works in us.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
I’ve read this story many times, but never really stopped to think about verses 4-5. What is the LORD saying? The first part of verse 4 is in reference to the work Jesus was doing in his earthly ministry at that time. He then transitions to speaking of a time in which “no man” can work. In chapter 6, verse 29, the LORD told us “the work of God is to believe on Him whom He hath sent.” The time is coming when the opportunity to believe will no longer be available. After death, the darkness of night sets in and there is no more opportunity to turn to Jesus.
I liked this quote from JVMcGee: “The lack of sight does not mean that light is not there. Light reveals the condition of the eye. The “Light of the World” reveals the condition of the soul. The Pharisees thought they saw, but they were blind.”
Jesus calls Himself the “light of the world.” He is the source of the illumination God’s truth. He lived that truth before the people of Israel during His earthly ministry.
“As long as I am in the world” is the part that is harder. It sounds like He is referring to His physical presence. However, His presence is always with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. He is still the light, and people are still being saved. The phrase “as long as” indicates a temporary time to respond to the light. “The world” must be the operative term. Maybe it should say this world in contrast to the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth and this world will no longer be. As long as this world exists, the opportunity to respond to the light exists for those living on planet earth. There is one sure exception. During the tribulation, the seven years on earth prior to Jesus’ coming back as King, those who accept the mark of the beast will no longer have the opportunity to respond to the light.
Revelation 14:9-10 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb….”
John 9:6 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,
John 9:7 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.
Then Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with His saliva, and put the mud on the man’s eyes. He told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. So the man went, washed, and was made whole. He could see! Why didn’t the LORD just speak and command his eyes to see? I don’t know, but it makes a good object lesson. Dirt and mud represent sin and its filth. It blinds us to the truth. When we put our faith in Jesus as this man did (get rid of the “dirt and mud” in our lives), our spiritual eyes of faith are opened; and we begin to see and learn truths that were hidden from us before.
John 9:8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
John 9:9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
John 9:10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
John 9:11 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.
People began to recognize the man who was blind and used to sit and beg as he walked about normally. Other people piped in that he only looked like the beggar. When he confirmed that he was that man, they wanted to know how he was healed. He told them that a man called Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam—and he did; then he could see. He was eager to share his good news and point the people to Jesus, the healer.
Another good thought from McGee with my paraphrase: When God touches your life, the difference is visible.
John 9:12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
John 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
John 9:14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
John 9:15 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.
John 9:16 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.
John 9:17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
They (legalists looking to cause trouble) asked him where Jesus was, but he didn’t know. Then the people took the man to the Pharisees. Now we find out that it “just happened” to be the Sabbath when Jesus had healed him. The Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight, and the man repeated his story to the Pharisees. The Pharisees determined that Jesus couldn’t be sent from God because He did not keep the Sabbath. Some of the Pharisees were of the opinion that a sinner could not perform such miracles. They were divided in their opinion. Finally, they turned and asked the man who had been healed what he thought about Jesus. He told them that he thought Jesus was a prophet.
When we have believed something to be true for a long time, it is hard for us to accept that we may have been wrong. This is something I really have to guard against when I am studying the Word. I want my eyes and heart to be open to The Truth—wherever that leads.
When we are in a position of authority, we tend to attack or want to destroy anyone or anything that would jeopardize our position.
John 9:18 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.
John 9:19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
John 9:20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
John 9:21 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.
John 9:22 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.
John 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Many of the Jews didn’t even believe the man had been blind until they sent for his parents. They asked them if he was their son, whether he was born blind, and how he was able to see. They confirmed that he was their son and he was born blind—but they did not know how he came to see. The parents were afraid because the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged Jesus as the Christ would be kicked out of the synagogue. This would basically ostracize one from society.
B. W. Johnson’s commentary states: “There were, according to Rabbinical writers, various degrees of excommunication, the mildest of thirty days duration. The effect of even the mildest grade was to render the offender a heathen, to cut him off from religious privileges, from association with his Jewish friends and neighbors, and even from his own family. If, at the end of thirty days, the offence was not repented of, a severer punishment was administered.”
So the parents told them to ask their son how he was healed; he was an adult and could speak for himself.
John 9:24 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.
John 9:25 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.
So the man was called before them again and was told to give glory to God for his healing because Jesus was a sinner. The man was brave in his reply. He could not swear whether Jesus was a sinner or not, but he did know that once he was blind and now he could see (because of Jesus).
The last half of verse 25 should be the testimony of every believer—“one thing I know.” Once we become a child of God, we are privileged with spiritual sight that reveals how blind we have been. It’s like stepping into the sunlight out of the darkness. It’s a personal experience.
John 9:26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
John 9:27 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?
This man seems to be speaking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Again they asked him how his eyes were opened. (I am sure they were looking for a contradiction in his story.) He basically said—I’ve told you once already; didn’t you listen? Do you want to hear it again so that you can become his disciples too? (It seems that he counted himself among the followers and disciples of Jesus.)
John 9:28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
John 9:29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
John 9:30 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.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
John 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
John 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
This statement caused them to insult him. They were disciples of Moses because they knew God had spoken to Moses. They didn’t even know where Jesus was from. Then the man is really bold. He basically said—Amazing! You don’t know where He’s from, even though He healed me! We know God doesn’t listen to sinners; He listens to those who do His will. No one has ever heard of a man blind from birth being healed and made able to see. If this man weren’t from God, He could not have healed me.
This man “knew” that God does not hear sinners. How? I believe from the scripture.
Psalms 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me….”
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
John 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
The Jews basically called him a liar and threw him out.
John 9:35 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?
John 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
John 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Jesus heard what happened and found the man. He asked him if he believed in the Son of God. The man wanted to know who that was so he could believe in Him. (He had obeyed Jesus and gone home seeing—but had never seen Jesus.) Jesus identified Himself as He, and the man believed Him and worshipped Him.
This man’s heart was open and seeking. As Jesus said—only those who are sick need a physician.
Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Mark 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
John 9:39 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.
Verse 39 tells us that Jesus came into this world to judge (sin). He came so that those blinded by sin could be made to see, and those who think they know it all and refuse to recognize their sin would be blinded. It’s either/or with the truth—you either believe and see or reject and are blind.
John 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Some of the Pharisees who heard Him asked if He thought they were blind. Jesus basically tells them that to be blind means you don’t recognize your sin. You have to admit you are sick before a physician can help you.
They claimed to “see” the truth, but that claim didn’t get rid of the fact that they were sinners. They were just refusing to admit it.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Jesus starts this narrative with a truth they can relate to from their own lives. A man who comes into the sheep pen any other way than through the gate is a thief and robber. He only means harm to the sheep. The shepherd comes in by the gate of the pen. He doesn’t have to sneak around. His intent for the sheep is only good; he wants to provide for and protect them. The watchman opens the gate for him and the sheep listen to his voice. It’s familiar and reassuring to them. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out. They recognize him and his voice from close and regular association. When he has brought out all the sheep that belong to him, they follow him because they know his voice and they trust him. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from the stranger because they don’t know his voice.
Dumb sheep know instinctively to do what we as Christians have such a hard time doing. We don’t even acknowledge the voice we hear as that of a stranger (the enemy) sometimes. Other times we know it is the voice of a stranger, and we choose to follow him anyway. Worst of all, sometimes we recognize the Shepherd’s voice and refuse to follow Him.
John 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Even though the LORD was using word pictures familiar to their culture, the people still didn’t understand what He was trying to tell them—so He spelled it out. He emphasized that what He was about to say is a truth that is irrefutable—“verily, verily.” Jesus told them that He is the door of the sheep. He is the only source of salvation, of God’s provision and protection. Evidently others had come claiming to be the Messiah and were not believed by those who trusted God because the sheep didn’t recognize them. They had at least been as smart as the sheep to this point.
McGee: “The word parable is really not an accurate translation. The Greek word for parable is parabola and the word in this verse is paroimia, which really means ‘an allegory.’ The Gospel of John does not record any of the parables of our Lord. It records the metaphors and allegories such as ‘I am the light of the world’ (John 8:12) and ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35).”
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Those who come to the LORD in faith will find pasture (food for the soul) and safety (salvation). The thief comes only to steal (take what doesn’t belong to him), kill (murder; cause to be sacrificed for his own purposes) and destroy (bring to a complete end in destruction—both physically and spiritually). Jesus’ whole purpose in coming was to provide abundant life for his sheep—a life of power, protection and blessing for those who would place their faith in Him.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Jesus goes on to describe Himself as the “good” shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. He was a willing sacrifice.
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
He goes on with His story—The hired hand doesn’t own the sheep; so when he sees the wolf or danger coming, he runs away—he doesn’t really care about the sheep. The wolf is then free to attack and scatter the sheep. Jesus as our Shepherd, on the other hand, willingly gave His life for our salvation. He loves us! Because of His sacrifice we have His provision, power, and protection.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Again Jesus calls Himself the “good shepherd.” He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him—just like Jesus (the Son) and His Father (God) know each other. He willingly “lays down” His life for the sheep.
For the umpteenth time, He identifies Himself as the Son of God. He also reiterates that He willingly will give His life to provide salvation for His sheep.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Then Jesus told them that He has other sheep from a different sheep pen. They will listen to the voice of the shepherd and become part of one flock that follows the shepherd. Because He was talking to the Jews, He was making it clear that His salvation would be open to “other sheep”—the Gentiles. Those who choose to follow Him will be just as much a part of His flock as the Jewish sheep.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
God the Father gave Jesus the authority and power to lay down His life and to take it up again. It is the Father’s will for Him to be the sacrifice, but the power is in His hands. The Father is full of love for His Son for being willing to provide the way of salvation for mankind in obedience to Him. Again, Jesus emphasized that He is the One in control. Man can do nothing to the Son except it be in the Father’s plan.
This is also true of each one of us who become His child through faith in His Son. Man cannot do anything to us that the Father doesn’t allow; and if He allows it, it is for good—whether we understand it or not at the time.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
John 10:19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
John 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
John 10:21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
As usual, when Jesus had finished speaking, the Jews who were listening were divided in their response. Some of them thought He had a devil/demon that caused Him not to be in his right mind; so they couldn’t understand why anyone would bother to pay any attention to Him. Others thought just the opposite. A devil could not cause the blind to see.
John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
John 10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
John 10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
It was winter and time for the Feast of Dedication (Hannukah) in Jerusalem. This is about two months after the feast of tabernacles (December). Jesus is at the temple walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. This was an area in the outer court area of the temple. The Jews gathered around Him and basically said—“How long will you keep us in suspense? Tell us plainly if you are the Christ.” (These people are really hard of hearing. How many times does He have to tell them!)
John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Jesus answered that He had already told them, but they had not believed Him. The miracles that He did in His Father’s name were proof of His claim. They didn’t believe because they weren’t “of my sheep.” He had already explained this to them.
“in my Father’s name” – Jesus wasn’t trying to seek His own glory; He was seeking the glory of the Father. This is a good test to apply to anyone who is working miracles. Are they pointing people to God as the One deserving of praise and worship or themselves? Or are they acting in the power of spiritual forces of evil to their own glory?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Patiently He repeats the truth.
“My sheep hear my voice”-- They listen to what He says and understand and accept it as truth. They trust Him.
“I know them”—I can identify those who trust me.
“They follow me” – Those who hear Him and understand Him show their belief and trust in Him through obedience to His commands.
“I give unto them eternal life” – This isn’t just existing for eternity. It is abundant life in the presence of the Father and Son that will never end.
“They shall never perish” – This emphasizes the previous statement; they will not suffer condemnation to everlasting punishment in hell.
“Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” – Once we have accepted Jesus as Savior, He holds us safely in His grip. His is the ultimate power grip; no one can remove us from the grip He has on us as His children. Once we are His, we are His forever.
“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all”— God the Father is the one who brings each believer to His Son. He is the all powerful God. No one or no thing has greater power than He.
McClean: “In John 3:16 God gave His Son to us; here He gives us to His Son.”
Now He gets to the root of their question.
“No man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” – He just said that His sheep were held in His hand and now He says they are in the Father’s hand. How can they be in two hands at one time?
“I and my Father are one.” You can’t get any clearer than that. I think they are refusing to change their expectation of the Christ, the Messiah. They are expecting the Messiah as the coming King who will bring Israel to great glory, but they aren’t willing to accept the Messiah as the Son of God. Jesus’ claim of equality with God was just too much for them to accept—even if He could do great miracles.
It is a very thought-provoking statement for Jesus to say that the Father “gives” Him each one of His sheep. If we just remember to take it in context with the whole scripture, we know that God is not willing that any should perish.
2Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?}
We are chosen based on God’s foreknowledge.
1Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
It gets a bit more difficult when we understand that salvation takes faith, without which we can never please God…
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him.”
…and He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
My simple logic tells me that means He is the point where faith begins and the power that will bring it to completion with eternal life.
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ….”
The concept of God the Father and Jesus the Son being separate yet one is one of the hardest concepts for me to understand.
John 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
After the statement equating Himself to God, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him. He didn’t run, but confronted them. Jesus asked them for which miracle from the Father they were stoning Him. They answered that is wasn’t for the miracles, but the fact that He, a mere man, was claiming to be God.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Jesus uses the “law,” the scriptures, in answer (as He often does). The term “gods” appears to refer to rulers on the earth when I read Psalm 82, the apparent source of reference. He also emphasizes that the Scripture is firm and not to be changed. If the Father used this term to indicate the position of leadership appointed to some, why should not His very own Son, whom He sent, claim His identity as “God’s Son”? Jesus then challenged them to test His claim by measuring His actions against those of His Father. Then, if the miracles represent the work of the Father, make them the basis of their belief as to His identity. They are proof that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.
John 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
John 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
In spite of His argument, they again tried to seize Him—but He escaped. (The time was not yet right.) Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had baptized in earlier days, and He stayed there awhile (from December, feast of dedication cf verse 22, to March/April, “Passover nigh” cf 11:55).
John 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
John 10:42 And many believed on him there.
It’s interesting that they placed a lot of faith in what John had said about Jesus even though John did not perform miracles. Jesus couldn’t get the same respect with miracles. However, many believed on Jesus during this time.