What does John 9:31 mean?
A theme of the Old Testament is that God's attention is generally tuned to the prayers of those who follow Him, and generally against the prayers of those who oppose Him. While not an absolute rule, this principle takes on a greater meaning when applied to miracles. Elijah used God's miraculous response to his prayer as proof that his preaching was the truth (1 Kings 18:20–40). Jesus' supernatural works are meant to be "signs" that He is operating with divine power and godly approval (John 12:37–38; Isaiah 29:18; 35:5; 42:7). For the scribes and Pharisees to dismiss Jesus' obvious power by calling Him a "sinner" (John 9:16, 24) is proof that they're grasping at straws.This point is being made by a man who was born blind and ultimately healed by Jesus (John 9:1–7). Jesus' religious critics have responded to this man's testimony with insults and anger (John 9:28, 34), demonstrating that they have no reasonable arguments to use. As part of this rejection, the scribes and Pharisees claimed to be followers of Moses, but that they did not know who Jesus was or where He was from (John 9:29). The beggar is pointing out that even if they don't know everything about Jesus, the fact that He's performing healing miracles is evidence enough.
In the next verses, this man will continue to apply this theme by pointing out that Jesus' miracle is not just potent evidence; it's a unique sign which no other prophet had accomplished before.
John 9:13–34 describes the Pharisees' reaction to Jesus' healing of a man born blind. Rather than being swayed by an obvious sign of divine power, they look for excuses and criticisms to discredit the miracle. They interrogate the man's parents, who timidly defer back to their son. The healed man knows nothing more than this: ''though I was blind, now I see.'' His matter-of-fact responses to the Pharisees highlights their obvious prejudice. As a result, they excommunicate the healed man from the synagogue. Jesus will meet with the man in the next passage to give more context for the miracle.
Jesus encounters a man who has been blind his entire life. Consistent with notions of that era, the disciples assume the disability is due to some specific sin: either the man's or his parents'. Jesus challenges this idea and heals the man. His restoration leads to interrogation. The Pharisees try to discredit Jesus' miraculous work. The healed man's simple, straightforward perspective embarrasses the religious leaders, who excommunicate him in frustration. Jesus meets with the healed man, explaining more about His identity and the purpose of His ministry. Jesus also reminds the Pharisees that those who ought to know better, spiritually, will be held more accountable as a result.
