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    John 9:24-41
    ​Lesson 188

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Lesson 187 continues. 
     
    The healed blind man defends Jesus.  
    The Pharisees saw a miracle, but not the truth.
    The Pharisees question the healed blind man. 
    Study Tip: 
     
    Whenever you encounter a difficult passage, scroll back and forth between the "New Living Translation" and the "King James Version."

    The Gospel According to St. John

    The King James Bible    ​

    John 9:24-41
    Spiritual blindness

    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.

    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.

    26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

    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?

    28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

    29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

    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.

    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.

    32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

    33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

    34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

    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?

    36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

    37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

    38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

    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.

    40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

    ​41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "I have told you already." (9:27) - He told them in verse 9:15 (lesson 187). 

    "Wherefore would ye hear it again." (9:27) - "Why do you want to hear it again?" 

    "Then they reviled him." (9:28) - "Then they insulted him." 

    "Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind." (9:32) -  In other words, no one born blind had ever gained their sight.  Healing the blind man was a powerful miracle that had a profound effect on Jerusalem.  There is no other recorded case of a person born blind gaining their eyesight for the next 1,700 years.  Finally, a young boy born blind in England gained their sight after surgery in 1728. 

    "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." (9:33) - Even though the Pharisees threatened to kick him out of the  synagogue for saying so (9:22), the healed blind man told them that Jesus was "of God."  Additional Note: Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees own, had already decided that Jesus was "from God" (John 3:1-2). 

    "I believe." (9:38) - The healed blind man went from thinking Jesus was a prophet (9:17) to believing He was the Messiah. 

    "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." (9:41) - Jesus will repeat this message in John 15:22.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    John 9:24-41
     
    24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, "God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner."
     
    25 "I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!"
     
    26 "But what did he do?" they asked. "How did he heal you?"
     
    27 "Look!" the man exclaimed. "I told you once. Didn't you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
     
    28 Then they cursed him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don't even know where this man comes from."
     
    30 "Why, that's very strange!" the man replied. "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it."
     
    34 "You were born a total sinner!" they answered. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue.
     
    Spiritual Blindness
     
    35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
     
    36 The man answered, "Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him."
     
    37 "You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!"
     
    38 "Yes, Lord, I believe!" the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
     
    39 Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment-to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."
     
    40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, "Are you saying we're blind?"
     
    41 "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.
    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1.  Does Jesus take away the sight from those who see? (9:39)


    ​When you start to obey the Bible, you start to understand the Bible.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. No, Jesus is referring to spiritual sight.  God's gift of salvation is given to those who "see" that they are sinners and ask for forgiveness.  The Pharisees believed they could see the truth without Jesus, which kept them from reaching out to God and growing spiritually.  Jesus gives spiritual sight to the blind when they're ready to leave the darkness, but takes it away from those who reject Him.


    Application thought for the day:

     
    What lessons can you take from verse 9:39?  
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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