John 9:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

NIV: Then they turned again to the blind man, 'What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.' The man replied, 'He is a prophet.'

NASB: So they *said again to the man who was blind, 'What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?' And he said, 'He is a prophet.'

CSB: Again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes? ""He's a prophet," he said.

NLT: Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, 'What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?' The man replied, 'I think he must be a prophet.'

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

NKJV: They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Pharisees are interrogating a beggar who was born blind (John 9:1–2), but now is able to see thanks to a miraculous intervention by Jesus (John 9:6–7). These supernatural actions are intended to prove that Jesus is, in fact, divine, and is the Promised One predicted by Scripture. In fact, the Old Testament specifically refers to restoring the sight of the blind as part of the Messiah's ability (Isaiah 29:18; 35:5; 42:7). Unfortunately, the Pharisees are more concerned with their own traditions and interpretations than obvious evidence. Among their most sacred beliefs is a strict approach to the Sabbath. Jesus' miracle not only occurred on this day (John 9:14), it involved making clay, which oral traditions specifically forbade on the Sabbath, as a form of work. Many of the Pharisees, despite the miracle, refuse to believe that a man who does not accept their traditions can be from God (John 9:16).

At this point, the interrogators continue to press the formerly blind man for answers. Throughout this story, the once-blind man is consistent, sincere, and honest. He does not pretend to know anything other than what has actually happened. His conclusion, stated here, is common sense. Jesus has done something profoundly good, and supernaturally powerful. Therefore, the man believes that Jesus is "a prophet." Since he hasn't actually seen or spoken to Jesus since being told to wash mud off of his then-still-blind eyes (John 9:11–12), this is as much as he can really assume.

What happens next proves how hard-headed and stubborn religious skeptics can be. People in the crowd realize this is a man who was born blind (John 9:8–9). Even those who doubt have to admit that he certainly looks like the same person—suggesting some explanation other than a miracle. The Pharisees, on the other hand, are so cynical that they want to interview the man's parents, just to confirm that this is, in fact, the same beggar everyone recognizes!

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. Seeking 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 highlight 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. In typical fashion for that era, the disciples assume this condition is due to some specific sin--either the man's sin or his parents' sin. Jesus challenges this idea, and heals the man. His restoration leads to interrogation, as 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 is able to meet with the 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.

Jesus has begun to actively confront the false teachings of local religious leaders. His most recent debate included a heated exchange with the Pharisees, where Jesus claimed to have existed before Abraham. This resulted in an attempted stoning for blasphemy. Here, Jesus continues to antagonize religious hypocrites by healing a man who was born blind. The ensuing ruckus further exposes Jerusalem's religious leaders as shallow, prejudiced, and false. This event launches Jesus into another lengthy discussion of His ministry, recorded in chapter 10, including several crucial teachings on His role as Shepherd.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.