Can you comment on John 9?
Introduction. John chapter nine devotes itself to one single event - the healing of the blind man by the Lord. We shall break down the chapter into three divisions: various mentioned people, the miracle itself, and the blind man & the Lord.
The mentioned people. There are several mentioned groups of people outside of the two principal people, Jesus and the blind man. Jesus' disciples are only mentioned because of their mistaken belief (vss. 1-2). there is brief allusion to the blind man's parents (vss. 18-23). The parents are presented as lacking conviction and being very fearful. There were also the Pharisees, Jesus' greatest enemies. They also labored under a false doctrine (vs. 34). They were sinfully accusing and stubborn (vss. 16, 24-27, 40), rejecting all evidence regarding the miracle (vss. 16, 18, 20).
The healing of the blind man. Jesus' miracles shared a common trait - they were undeniably miraculous in nature and effect. The miracle is concisely stated in verses six and seven. The man was "blind from his birth" (vss. 1, 8, 9, 19, 20). The simple facts were he was born blind, Jesus healed him, and now he had complete vision! Miracles had a purpose (John 20: 30-31; Mk. 16: 20)
The blind man and the Lord. The healed man had no doubt regarding his healing and the source (vss. 11, 30). He stood his ground with the Pharisees (vss. 26-33). The man bravely defended Jesus and allowed his physical healing to also result in his spiritual healing (vss. 33, 37, 38). Jesus received worship - indicative of his Sonship (vs. 38). The Lord exposed false doctrine and caused division (vss. 3, 16). Truly, Jesus is both a prophet, of God and divine (vss. 17, 33, 38).
Conclusion. Besides containing one of Jesus' many faith-producing miracles, John chapter nine gives us better insight into the love and nature of Jesus.
The mentioned people. There are several mentioned groups of people outside of the two principal people, Jesus and the blind man. Jesus' disciples are only mentioned because of their mistaken belief (vss. 1-2). there is brief allusion to the blind man's parents (vss. 18-23). The parents are presented as lacking conviction and being very fearful. There were also the Pharisees, Jesus' greatest enemies. They also labored under a false doctrine (vs. 34). They were sinfully accusing and stubborn (vss. 16, 24-27, 40), rejecting all evidence regarding the miracle (vss. 16, 18, 20).
The healing of the blind man. Jesus' miracles shared a common trait - they were undeniably miraculous in nature and effect. The miracle is concisely stated in verses six and seven. The man was "blind from his birth" (vss. 1, 8, 9, 19, 20). The simple facts were he was born blind, Jesus healed him, and now he had complete vision! Miracles had a purpose (John 20: 30-31; Mk. 16: 20)
The blind man and the Lord. The healed man had no doubt regarding his healing and the source (vss. 11, 30). He stood his ground with the Pharisees (vss. 26-33). The man bravely defended Jesus and allowed his physical healing to also result in his spiritual healing (vss. 33, 37, 38). Jesus received worship - indicative of his Sonship (vs. 38). The Lord exposed false doctrine and caused division (vss. 3, 16). Truly, Jesus is both a prophet, of God and divine (vss. 17, 33, 38).
Conclusion. Besides containing one of Jesus' many faith-producing miracles, John chapter nine gives us better insight into the love and nature of Jesus.