John 9

 

1: As He went on His way Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth.

2: His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, why was his man born blind? Who sinned, this man or his parents?”

3: “It is not that he or his parents have sinned,” Jesus answered, “He was born blind so that God’s power might be displayed in curing him.

4: While daylight lasts we must carry on the work of Him who sent me; night is coming, when no one can work.

5: While I am in the world I am the light of the world.”

6: With these words He spat on the ground and made a paste with a spittle; He spread it on the man’s eyes,

7: and said to him, “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.” (The name means “Sent”). The man went off and washed, and came back able to see.

8: His neighbours and those who were accustomed to see him begging said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?”

9: Some said, “Yes it is.” Others said, “No, but it is someone like him.” He himself said 2I am the man.”

10: They asked him, “How were your eyes opened?”

11: He replied, “The man called Jesus made a paste and smeared my eyes with it, and told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and found I could see.”

12: “Where is he?” they asked “I do not know,” he said.

13: The man who had been blind was brought before the Pharisees.

14: As it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened his eyes,

15: the Pharisees too asked him how he gained his sight. The man told them, “He spread a paste on my eyes; then I washed, and now I can see.”

16: Some of the Pharisees said, “This man cannot be from God; he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How could such signs come from a sinful man?” So they took different sides.

17: Then they continued to question him: What have you to say about Him? It was your eyes he opened” He answered, “He is a prophet.”

18: The Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, until they had summoned his parents

19: and questioned them: “Is this your son? Do you say that he was born blind? How is it that he can now see?”

20: The parents replied, “We know that he is our son, and that he was born blind.

21: But how it is that he can now see, or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age; let him speak for himself.”

22: His parents gave this answer because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jewish authorities had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged Jesus as Messiah should be banned from the synagogue.

23: That is why the parents said, “He is of age, ask him.”

24: So for the second time they summoned the man who had been blind, and said, “Speak the truth before God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

25: “Whether or not He is a sinner , I do not know,” the man replied. “All I know is this: I was blind and now I can see.”

26: “What did He do to you? They asked. “How did he open your eyes?”

27: “I have told you already,” he retorted, “but you took no notice. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28: then they became abusive. “You are that man’s disciple,” they said, “but we are disciples of Moses.”

29: We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from.”

30: The man replied, “How extraordinary! Here is a man who has opened my eyes, yet you do not know where He comes from!

31: We know that God does not listen to sinners; He listens to anyone who is devout and obeys His will.

32: To open the eyes of a man born blind – that is unheard of since time began.

33: If this man was not from God He could do nothing.”

34: “Who are you to lecture us?” they retorted. “You were born and bred in sin.” Then they turned him out.

35: Hearing that they turned him out, Jesus found him and asked. “Have you faith in the Son of Man?

36: The man answered, “Tell me who He is, sir, that I may put my faith in Him.”

37: “You have seen Him” said Jesus; “Indeed it is He who is speaking to You.”

38: “Lord I believe” he said, and fell on his knees before Him.

39: Jesus said, ”It is judgement that I have come to this world – to give sight to the sightless and to make blind those who see.”

40: Some Pharisees who were present asked, “Do you mean that we are blind?”

41: “If you were blind,” said Jesus, “You would not be guilty, but because you claim to see, your guilt remains.”