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治好生来瞎眼的人

耶稣走路的时候,看见一个生下来就瞎眼的人。 他的门徒问他:“拉比,这人生下来就瞎眼,是谁犯了罪?是他呢,还是他的父母呢?” 耶稣回答:“不是他犯了罪,也不是他的父母犯了罪,而是要在他身上彰显 神的作为。 趁着白昼,我们必须作那差我来者的工;黑夜一到,就没有人能作工了。 我在世上的时候,是世界的光。” 说了这话,就吐唾沫在地上,用唾沫和了一点泥,把泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上, 对他说:“你去西罗亚池洗一洗吧。”(西罗亚就是“奉差遣”的意思。)于是他就去了,洗完了,走的时候,就看见了。 那时,邻居和以前常常见他讨饭的人说:“这不是那一向坐着讨饭的人吗?” 有的说:“是他。”有的说:“不是他,只是像他。”他自己说:“是我。” 10 他们就问他:“你的眼睛是怎样开的呢?” 11 他回答:“那名叫耶稣的人和了一点泥,抹在我的眼上,对我说:‘你去西罗亚池洗一洗吧。’我去一洗,就看见了。” 12 他们说:“那人在哪里?”他说:“我不知道。”

法利赛人查问瞎眼的人

13 他们就把那个从前瞎眼的人带到法利赛人那里。 14 耶稣和了泥开他眼睛的那一天,正是安息日。 15 法利赛人又问他是怎样可以看见的。他告诉他们:“耶稣把泥抹在我的眼上,我一洗就看见了。” 16 有几个法利赛人说:“那个人不是从 神那里来的,因为他不守安息日。”另外有些人说:“一个罪人怎能行这样的神迹呢?”他们就起了纷争。 17 他们再对瞎子说:“他既然开了你的眼睛,你说他是甚么人?”他说:“他是个先知。”

18 犹太人不信他从前是瞎眼,现在才能看见的,于是把他的父母叫来, 19 问他们:“这是你们所说那生下来就瞎眼的儿子吗?现在他怎么又能看见呢?” 20 他的父母回答:“我们知道他是我们的儿子,生下来就瞎眼; 21 现在他是怎样可以看见的,我们不知道;谁开了他的眼睛,我们也不知道。你们问他吧;他已经长大成人,可以替自己讲话了。” 22 他的父母这样说,是因为怕犹太人,原来犹太人已经定好了,不论谁承认耶稣是基督,就要把那人赶出会堂。 23 因此他的父母说:“他已经长大成人,你们问他吧。”

24 于是法利赛人第二次把那从前瞎眼的人叫来,对他说:“你应当归荣耀给 神,我们知道这人是个罪人。” 25 那人回答:“他是不是个罪人,我不知道;我只知道一件事,就是我本来是瞎眼的,现在能看见了。” 26 他们就问:“他向你作了甚么呢?他怎样开了你的眼睛呢?” 27 他回答:“我已经告诉你们,但是你们不听;为甚么现在又想听呢?你们也想成为他的门徒吗?” 28 他们就骂他,说:“你才是他的门徒,我们是摩西的门徒。 29 我们知道 神曾对摩西说话;只是这个人,我们不知道他从哪里来。” 30 那人对他们说:“这就奇怪了,他开了我的眼睛,你们竟然不知道他从哪里来。 31 我们知道 神不听罪人的祈求,只听那敬畏 神,遵行他旨意的人。 32 自古以来,没有人听过生下来就是瞎眼的,有人可以开他们的眼睛。 33 这人若不是从 神那里来的,他就不能作甚么。” 34 他们说:“你的确是在罪中生的,还敢教训我们吗?”就把他赶出去。

35 耶稣听见他们把他赶出去,后来遇见他的时候,就对他说:“你信人子吗?” 36 他说:“先生,谁是人子,好让我信他呢?” 37 耶稣说:“你已经见过他,现在跟你说话的就是他。” 38 那人说:“主啊,我信。”就向他下拜。 39 耶稣说:“我到这世上来是为了审判,使那看不见的能够看见,能看见的反而成了瞎眼的。”

40 有些和耶稣在一起的法利赛人听了这话,就说:“难道我们也是瞎眼的吗?” 41 耶稣对他们说:“如果你们是瞎眼的,就没有罪了;但现在你们说‘我们能看见’,所以你们还是有罪的。”

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi,(A) who sinned,(B) this man(C) or his parents,(D) that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.(E) As long as it is day,(F) we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(G)

After saying this, he spit(H) on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”(I) (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.(J)

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”(K) Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”(L)

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.(M) 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.(N) “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”(O)

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?”(P) So they were divided.(Q)

17 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.”(R)

18 They(S) still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders,(T) who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out(U) of the synagogue.(V) 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”(W)

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,”(X) they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”(Y)

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already(Z) and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!(AA) 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”(AB)

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.(AC) 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God,(AD) he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth;(AE) how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.(AF)

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe(AG) in the Son of Man?”(AH)

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”(AI)

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”(AJ)

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.(AK)

39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment(AL) I have come into this world,(AM) so that the blind will see(AN) and those who see will become blind.”(AO)

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”(AP)

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. John 9:39 Some early manuscripts do not have Then the man said … 39 Jesus said.

A Sign of the Triumph of the Light[a]

Chapter 9

Jesus Cures a Man Born Blind.[b] As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
but it happened
so that the works of God
might be revealed in him.
We must do
the works of him who sent me
while it is still day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.”

When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the saliva, and smeared the paste on the eyes of the blind man. Then he said to him, “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.”[c] (The name means “Sent.”) The man went forth and washed, and he returned seeing.

That Man Is a Prophet.[d] His neighbors and those who had seen him begging asked, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “Yes, this is the same man,” but others insisted, “No. It simply is someone who looks like him.” He said, “I am the man.”

10 Therefore, they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He replied, “The man called Jesus made a paste and smeared it over my eyes. Then he said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and then I was able to see.” 12 They asked him, “Where is he?” He replied, “I do not know.”

13 They then brought the man who had formerly been blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was on a Sabbath day that Jesus had made the paste and opened his eyes.

15 The Pharisees also asked him how he had gained his sight. He said to them, “He put a paste on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I can see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man cannot be from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” Thus, they were divided in their opinions. 17 And so they spoke again to the blind man, asking, “What do you have to say about him? It was your eyes that he opened.” He replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 However, the Jews refused to believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then is he now able to see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we do not know how he is now able to see, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age. He can speak for himself.”

22 His parents responded in this way because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”

24 That Man Is from God.[e] And so for a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. But one thing I do know: I was blind, and now I am able to see.” 26 They then asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

28 Then they began to taunt him, saying, “It is you who are his disciple. We are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he is from.” 30 He answered, “That is what is so amazing. You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but that he does listen to anyone who is devout and obeys his will.

32 “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could not have been able to accomplish anything.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in sin and you would teach us?” Then they threw him out.

35 Do You Believe in the Son of Man?[f] When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He replied, “Who is he, sir, so that I may believe in him?” 37 “You have seen him,” said Jesus, “and he is the one who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he fell down in worship before him.

39 Spiritual Blindness.[g] Then Jesus said,

“It is for judgment
that I have come into this world,
so that those without sight may see
and those who do see may become blind.”

40 On hearing this, some Pharisees who were present asked him, “Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus replied,

“If you were blind,
you would have no guilt;
but since you claim, ‘We see,’
your guilt remains.

Footnotes

  1. John 9:1 The preceding chapters have made grand statements about Jesus, e.g., that he is the light of the world; in those chapters, however, the evangelist was guiding us through sometimes difficult reasonings. Here, on the other hand, is a lively story that illustrates the teaching that has been given. The man born blind is an image of the catechumen and of Christians, who allow themselves to be enlightened by Jesus. Not only their eyes but their hearts open to the light.
  2. John 9:1 In the view of the ancients, every illness had its origin in some sin, perhaps a secret one. Jesus firmly condemns this mentality. The blind man must take himself to the Pool of “Siloam” (= “Sent”); the evangelist emphasizes the word. Jesus is the one sent by the Father to bring light; it is he who opens the eyes of faith in those who go down into the pool of Baptism.
  3. John 9:7 The Pool of Siloam: it was at the foot of the southern spur of the temple mount.
  4. John 9:8 Who, then, is Jesus? Again there is questioning. Again also Jesus upsets the Pharisees, who have lost the essence of religion in the complexities of their traditions. The care for observances makes them forget that the Sabbath is first of all a testimony of liberty. In the presence of these teachers, the blind man who has been cured declares that Jesus is a prophet. They challenge his attestation and denounce it as a fraud. Thus, an inquiry is made to give themselves basis for their treatment of the man. A climate of fear ensues, and no one feels free to speak.
  5. John 9:24 The miraculously cured individual is interrogated a second time. His questioners bring up Moses to show that Jesus is in contradiction with him. This, they think, cannot be refuted. But it is necessary to recognize here the presence of the same God who spoke to Moses! The man born blind recognizes that Jesus came from God with a special mission. That is too much for them. They throw him out bodily.
  6. John 9:35 This is an encounter with Jesus, who identifies himself as the Son of Man—that is, as a being with a divine prerogative who has come to bring people to the presence of and communion with God. The profession of faith comes to the lips of the man born blind when he encounters Jesus, who is our light.
  7. John 9:39 Human beings cannot remain indifferent or neutral in the presence of Jesus: we must opt either for light or for darkness. In this choice, the divine judgment comes into play with a sentence of life or death—which foretells the division between synagogue and Church. The lot of each person depends on one’s attitude of faith or unbelief toward Jesus. Those who realize they are walking along the way of error and open themselves to the light of the Gospel revelation will be saved. Those who delude themselves that they possess the truth and voluntarily close their eyes to the light will be lost.
    While the man born blind receives not only his physical sight but also the light of faith, the Jews who claim that they have sight are blind in a spiritual sense, because they refuse the light of revelation brought by Christ. True blindness is not the physical blindness of the blind man but the lack of belief. The Pharisees are convinced that they possess the truth and oppose themselves to the Envoy of God. They deprive themselves of the way to salvation. For they remain slaves of the sin of unbelief.

The Healing of a Man Born Blind

As Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. But it happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. I must do the works of Him 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.”

When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva. He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away and washed, and returned seeing.

The neighbors and those who had previously seen that he was blind said, “Is this not he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.”

Others said, “He is like him.”

But he said, “I am he.”

10 So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

11 He answered, “A Man called Jesus made clay, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received my sight.”

12 They said to him, “Where is He?”

He said, “I do not know.”

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath day.”

Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” So there was division among them.

17 Then they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of the one who had received his sight. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

20 His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees, we do not know, or who opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this, because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed that He was the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”

24 So again they called the man who was blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this Man is a sinner.”

25 He said, “I do not know if He is a sinner. I know one thing: I was blind, but now I see.”

26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28 Then they insulted him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. As for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

30 The man answered, “Well, here is an amazing thing! You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. But if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began, it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

34 They answered him, “You were completely born in sin. Are you teaching us?” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”

36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks with you.”

38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Him.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.