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Healing of a man born blind

This article explores Jesus’ healing of a man born blind in Jerusalem (John 9.1-34). The narrative highlights the theological depth of the event, symbolically linking the Jewish feasts to Jesus’ mission as the light of the world. The healing emphasizes the spiritual and prophetic message of the Gospel according to John.

12 min Healing Jesus Born blind John 9 15 verses 1 book

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Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not cited in the book
Mark
Mark (King James Version) not cited in the book
Luke
Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book
John
John 9.1-34 (King James Version)

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

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,

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.

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

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.

Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

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.

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.

They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

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.

And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

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.

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 .

Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

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

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

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

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Technical details

Year AD 32

Location: Jerusalem in Judea

Date: from 15 December to 23 December AD 32

Method: We now switch to John

Note on the method: John is the only one to report the healing of this man

Journey to Bethany

John now tells the story of a man born blind.

Healing of a man born blind

The man born blind

Temporal context: the Feast of Tabernacles

The healing of the man born blind in John 9.1-34 takes place in Jerusalem, probably near the . The close link between this healing and the Feast of Sukkot should imply that it took place during that feast, when the Messiah Jesus was in Jerusalem (PER206) in October AD 32.

Now, nothing says that the Messiah Jesus would perform healings in direct connection with current events. We can hardly imagine the Messiah Jesus timing healings according to the feast he was attending.

This is why we think John groups together here facts that follow a logic rather than a chronology. Thus this healing could very well have taken place after the Feast of Sukkot, between October and December AD 32.

The Messiah Jesus adjusted his discourses to the feast in order to give the story its true meaning, in connection with the prophetic sense, as we have mentioned.

But it is no coincidence that John places this discourse here, thus giving it an undeniable sense of prophetic fulfillment.

This context is essential for understanding the symbolic and theological significance of the account.

Geographical location: Jerusalem and the (John 9.7)

Starting point: the Messiah Jesus passes the blind man, probably in the streets of Jerusalem, where beggars settled to ask for alms.

Act of healing: the Messiah Jesus makes mud with his , applies it to the man’s eyes, then tells him to go and wash in the (John 9.7).

Meaning of the place: The name Siloam means “sent,” which reinforces the link with the Messiah Jesus, the One sent by the Father. This pool was located south of Jerusalem, fed by Hezekiah’s tunnel, and used for ritual ablutions.

Temporal context: the Feast of Tabernacles

The account follows on from John 7.8-9 and John 7.14, where the Messiah Jesus teaches in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a celebration marked by symbols of light and water.

The Messiah Jesus declares:

John 8.12 (King James Version) :
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

This declaration is put into action in John 9.1-34, where he opens the eyes of a blind man, illustrating his mission as the light.

The account of John 9.1-34 belongs to a narrative sequence that begins with the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7.2) and continues to the (John 10.22). This suggests that John 9.1-34 takes place between these two feasts, most likely just before the , in the same geographical setting: Jerusalem.

Narrative and theological context

Debate about sin: The disciples ask whether the blind man is being punished for his own sins or those of his parents. The Messiah Jesus rejects this punitive logic and declares that it is so that the works of God may be displayed.

Controversy with the : After the healing, the man is questioned several times by the religious authorities, who refuse to believe the miracle and reject the Messiah Jesus.

Spiritual progress: The blind man moves from physical healing to spiritual revelation, affirming his faith in Jesus as the Son of God (John 9.38).

In summary

Place: Jerusalem, near the .

Time: between the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7.32) and that of Dedication; according to our analysis, this event takes place shortly before the latter (John 10.22).

Central theme: the Messiah Jesus, light of the world, heals a man born blind to reveal the power of God and denounce the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders.