John 9:35-41 - Lord, I Believe - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. 

Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains. [John 9:35-41 ESV] 

  

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In John 9:35–41, the narrative of the man born blind reaches its theological climax. This passage morphs from a physical miracle, the restoration of sight, to a spiritual revelation regarding faith, judgment, and the nature of "blindness."

The Search for the Outcast (Verses 35–38)

The passage begins with Jesus seeking out the man He had healed. The religious authorities had just excommunicated the man for defending Jesus. This highlights a recurring theme in John: when the world rejects a believer, Jesus moves toward them.

Jesus asks, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" This is a messianic title. The man’s response, “Lord, I believe”, indicates that the man’s progression of faith is now complete. Earlier in the chapter, he called Jesus "the man" (v. 11), then "a prophet" (v. 17). Here, he confesses Him as "Lord" and worships Him. This is one of the few instances in the Gospels where Jesus explicitly reveals His identity to an individual.

The Great Reversal: Spiritual Sight vs. Blindness (Verse 39)

Jesus issues a "verdict" that summarizes the entire chapter:

"For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

This is a paradoxical judgment. Jesus does not come primarily to condemn, but His presence naturally acts as a divider. Those who recognize their spiritual poverty and need for Grace are given "sight" (understanding). Those who claim to have all the answers and possess spiritual truth (the Pharisees) are left in their darkness.

The Condemnation of Self-Righteousness (Verses 40–41)

The Pharisees, sensing the jab, ask, "What? Are we blind too?" Jesus’ response is a stinging indictment of intellectual and spiritual pride.

Jesus pointed out that if the religious leaders were blind (admitting their ignorance and sin), they would have no guilt because they would be covered by grace. But since they claimed to “see”, they were claiming spiritual self-sufficiency and perfection. Therefore, their guilt remains.

Jesus explains that sin remains not because people are incapable of seeing, but because they refuse to admit they are in the dark. By claiming they already possess the light of the Law and tradition, the Pharisees close the door to the true Light standing right in front of them.

The chapter concludes by teaching that the greatest barrier to God is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge.