John 9:1-41 The Healing of the Man Born Blind
The Gospel story this Sunday was used in the early Church as an instruction on Baptism and an example of progressive conversion. A washing in water (cf. Baptism) is described and a healing of vision comes from that washing. One of the names of Baptism in the early Church was photismos, Greek for "enlightenment."
The First Reading from 1 Samuel 16 is related to this Gospel by contrasting how humans see (by outward appearances; we might say, by externals) and how God sees (the inward heart, a spiritual vision). The Second Reading exhorts us to "live as children of the light." (Ephesians 5:8) Jesus calls himself "the Light of the world" in the Gospel (John 9:5)
While this story involves a healing of the Man born blind, the great majority of the narrative involves the Man’s conflict with the Pharisees and their persecution of him because Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath (violating the prohibition of work on the Sabbath). Rather than discourage the Man, this conflict and persecution only makes his faith stronger. This is an encouraging story for any Christian going through trial and persecution.
As he [Jesus] passed by he saw a man blind from birth." (John 9:1)
In the Old Testament the phrase "passing by" is used to mark the onset of God revealing himself and his salvation. For example, in Exodus 33:19, God reveals himself to Moses: "And the Lord said, ‘I shall pass before you and proclaim my Name to you.’"
John is using traditional religious language to indicate that Jesus is going to reveal God’s salvation in this blind man’s life. Also note that Jesus sees the Blind Man who cannot see. Compare to Hagar in Genesis 16:3: "She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’" The blind man could have said this, as well, after his healing.
This Man, like the Woman at the well, is not named and so could be any man (or any woman).
"His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’"
(John 9:2-5)
Most Jewish thought at the time saw physical suffering and disabilities as the result of sin. The sin of one’s parents could result in their children suffering (which is a reasonable proposition, not because God passes on the punishment but because what parents do can affect their children). The disciples pose the only two possibilities they can think of regarding the situation of the Man born blind: either his parents sinned or he sinned. That the Man sinned before birth is absurd, but the disciples seem to be asking is that possible?
Jesus answers that neither the Man nor his parents sinned, thus teaching us that suffering and disability is not automatically the result of sin, though Jesus does not rule this out in other situations.
The second part of Jesus’ answer, as given in this Bible translation is problematic. In most translations of John, such as this one of the New American Standard version (NAB; used for the U.S. Catholic Lectionary), it seems to be teaching that God had this Man born blind so that (in order that) Jesus could manifest the works of God in him. It seems cruel that God would do such a thing to an innocent person (Jesus said he was so), to make him suffer blindness all those years, only to do a miracle in his life later.
We need to spend some time on this important issue.
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Sample of Greek New Testament (No punctuation) |
For those who study the Bible, it should be noted that the Greek New Testament text does not have punctuation. Punctuation in English is very important. Again, the NAB version reads:
"His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’
Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.’"
But the Greek didn’t have a semi-colon or periods. So with a slight variation of punctuation we could read:
"His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’
Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned.
But, so that the works of God might be made visible through him,
we have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.’"
That word "But" is indicated in the original Greek.
This passage is a good example of how important the translation of the Greek text of the New Testament is, and how a literal translation is not always the best translation. In this case, linguist Iver Lasen notes:
"It is difficult to handle this construction in a literal translation, so most English versions are more or less misleading or at best obscure. The Contemporary English Version (CEV) has made the meaning clear, because its translation philosophy allows for a less obscure rendering of the intended meaning: [It translates 9:3 thus:] "But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him."
In other words, God doesn’t cause the blindness so that God may do a miracle. It is because of the occasion of blindness, and Jesus present, that a miracle will be done.
In a unique translation of the New Testament called The Message, that is more a paraphrasing of the original Greek, its translator Eugene Peterson sought "to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original ancient Greek—writing straight out of the Greek text without looking at other English translations." (See a description of this version HERE). See, then, how he translates 9:3:
"Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do."
"When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and he said to him, ‘Go wash in the Pool of Siloam (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and he came back able to see." (John 9:6-7)
There are various speculations as to why Jesus used spit in performing this healing miracle. It could be because in that day spit was thought in some cases as medicinal. There could be a deeper symbolic meaning. We can note here that this use conforms to the "sacramental principle" where an earthly reality is used to convey God’s salvation.
It is possible that Jesus’ use of clay was meant to parallel God’s original creation of humankind: "The LORD God formed the man from the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7). Jesus will make of each of us a new creation through Baptism. (See Romans 6:4; also 2 Corinthians 5:17: "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!")
Jesus had said that he must do the works of the One who sent him. Then he sends this blind nan to wash in the Pool of Siloam which means "Sent." Through Baptism we share in Christ’s mission (from Latin, "to be sent") of bringing salvation to others.
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Artist's Rendition of the Pool of Siloam |
The Pool of Siloam was also used in Jesus’ time for ritual purification by Jewish pilgrims to the Temple. They needed to purify themselves before participating in the Temple worship. Compare this to Baptism: "Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, the faithful have received the sacramental character that consecrates them for Christian religious worship." (Catechism#1273) Indeed, at the end of this story the healed Man worships Christ. (John 9:38)
"His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, ‘Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘It is,’ but others said, ‘No, he just looks like him.’ He said, ‘I am [he].’ So they said to him, ‘[So] how were your eyes opened?’ He replied, ‘The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, "Go to Siloam and wash." So I went there and washed and was able to see.’ And they said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I don’t know.’" (John 9:8-12)
We will see the progression of this Man’s faith. He first only knows that Jesus, "the man," healed him. This Man born blind was obedient to Jesus and he was healed. He needs, however, deeper spiritual vision, as we will see.
"They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a Sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, ‘He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.’
So some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.’ [But] others said, ‘How can a sinful man do such signs?’ And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, ‘What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’" (John 9:13-18)
The religious experts (the Pharisees) were called in; why? The act of Jesus making the clay salve was seen as an act of work on the Sabbath, when no work was permitted. Such an act is sinful in their expanded religious system, though Jesus is never actually charged with law-breaking in this story. It is ironic that the Pharisees disregard the wonder and joy that this Man born blind now could see. Jesus on several occasions chastised the Pharisees for putting their Sabbath rules above human need and liberation. (See Mark 2:23-28)
Notice that under questioning, the Man begins to realize and confess that Jesus must be a prophet, not just any ordinary man. The world will ask us for a reason for the work of jesus in our lives. This Man becomes "a witness."
"His parents answered and said, ‘We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for him self.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, ‘He is of age; question him.’" (John 9:19-23)
This interrogation of the Man’s parents may make an important point that they knew their son, of course, but they were afraid to say how he was healed (implying they knew). The Christian audience may have been challenged to not act like these parents when persecuted.
"So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, ‘Give God the praise!’ We know that this man is a sinner.’ He replied, ‘If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.’ So they said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’
"He answered them, ‘I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?’ They ridiculed him and said, ‘You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses!" (John 9: 24-28)
The Pharisees begin to ridicule the Man. They are religious elitists, respected and admired by the people. This Man cannot say whether Jesus is a sinner or not at this point, but he has his experience which cannot be contradicted. And as he persists he is called " a disciple of Jesus."
"[The Pharisees said,] ‘We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.’ The man answered and said to them, ‘This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.’ They answered and said to him, ‘You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?’ Then they threw him out." (John 9:29-34)
The Man in the fire of being questioned and persecuted comes to realize that Jesus cannot be a sinner (remember, he wasn’t sure earlier), but is from God. The questioning and rejection of the Pharisees only highlight that they really don’t know how God is at work in Jesus and that they are spiritually blind.
The reference of being put out of the synagogue may refer to what had happened by the time the author wrote the Gospel according to John: Christians had been excommunicated from Judaism around 85AD.
"When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered and said, ‘Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘I do believe, Lord,’ and he worshiped him." (John 9:35-38)
This is the second time Jesus comes to the Man. He comes to the Christian in time of trial and persecution and rejection.
The Man also comes to the fullness of faith regarding Jesus: Jesus is God and he worships him. Compare this to Thomas after the Resurrection:
"Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’" (John 20:27-29)
Belief can be the highest manner of sight, greater than those who saw Jesus on earth and believed. Notice how the Pharisees have seen Jesus but lack the insight of belief, i.e. faith. Thus Jesus concludes:
"Then Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.’Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not also blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, "We see," so your sin remains.’"(John 9:39-41)
In this case sin leads not to physical blindness, as Jesus refuted in verse 2, but rather to a spiritual blindness.
