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治好生來瞎眼的人

耶穌走路的時候,看見一個生下來就瞎眼的人。 他的門徒問他:“拉比,這人生下來就瞎眼,是誰犯了罪?是他呢,還是他的父母呢?” 耶穌回答:“不是他犯了罪,也不是他的父母犯了罪,而是要在他身上彰顯 神的作為。 趁著白晝,我們必須作那差我來者的工;黑夜一到,就沒有人能作工了。 我在世上的時候,是世界的光。” 說了這話,就吐唾沫在地上,用唾沫和了一點泥,把泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上, 對他說:“你去西羅亞池洗一洗吧。”(西羅亞就是“奉差遣”的意思。)於是他就去了,洗完了,走的時候,就看見了。 那時,鄰居和以前常常見他討飯的人說:“這不是那一向坐著討飯的人嗎?” 有的說:“是他。”有的說:“不是他,只是像他。”他自己說:“是我。” 10 他們就問他:“你的眼睛是怎樣開的呢?” 11 他回答:“那名叫耶穌的人和了一點泥,抹在我的眼上,對我說:‘你去西羅亞池洗一洗吧。’我去一洗,就看見了。” 12 他們說:“那人在哪裡?”他說:“我不知道。”

法利賽人查問瞎眼的人

13 他們就把那個從前瞎眼的人帶到法利賽人那裡。 14 耶穌和了泥開他眼睛的那一天,正是安息日。 15 法利賽人又問他是怎樣可以看見的。他告訴他們:“耶穌把泥抹在我的眼上,我一洗就看見了。” 16 有幾個法利賽人說:“那個人不是從 神那裡來的,因為他不守安息日。”另外有些人說:“一個罪人怎能行這樣的神蹟呢?”他們就起了紛爭。 17 他們再對瞎子說:“他既然開了你的眼睛,你說他是甚麼人?”他說:“他是個先知。”

18 猶太人不信他從前是瞎眼,現在才能看見的,於是把他的父母叫來, 19 問他們:“這是你們所說那生下來就瞎眼的兒子嗎?現在他怎麼又能看見呢?” 20 他的父母回答:“我們知道他是我們的兒子,生下來就瞎眼; 21 現在他是怎樣可以看見的,我們不知道;誰開了他的眼睛,我們也不知道。你們問他吧;他已經長大成人,可以替自己講話了。” 22 他的父母這樣說,是因為怕猶太人,原來猶太人已經定好了,不論誰承認耶穌是基督,就要把那人趕出會堂。 23 因此他的父母說:“他已經長大成人,你們問他吧。”

24 於是法利賽人第二次把那從前瞎眼的人叫來,對他說:“你應當歸榮耀給 神,我們知道這人是個罪人。” 25 那人回答:“他是不是個罪人,我不知道;我只知道一件事,就是我本來是瞎眼的,現在能看見了。” 26 他們就問:“他向你作了甚麼呢?他怎樣開了你的眼睛呢?” 27 他回答:“我已經告訴你們,但是你們不聽;為甚麼現在又想聽呢?你們也想成為他的門徒嗎?” 28 他們就罵他,說:“你才是他的門徒,我們是摩西的門徒。 29 我們知道 神曾對摩西說話;只是這個人,我們不知道他從哪裡來。” 30 那人對他們說:“這就奇怪了,他開了我的眼睛,你們竟然不知道他從哪裡來。 31 我們知道 神不聽罪人的祈求,只聽那敬畏 神,遵行他旨意的人。 32 自古以來,沒有人聽過生下來就是瞎眼的,有人可以開他們的眼睛。 33 這人若不是從 神那裡來的,他就不能作甚麼。” 34 他們說:“你的確是在罪中生的,還敢教訓我們嗎?”就把他趕出去。

35 耶穌聽見他們把他趕出去,後來遇見他的時候,就對他說:“你信人子嗎?” 36 他說:“先生,誰是人子,好讓我信他呢?” 37 耶穌說:“你已經見過他,現在跟你說話的就是他。” 38 那人說:“主啊,我信。”就向他下拜。 39 耶穌說:“我到這世上來是為了審判,使那看不見的能夠看見,能看見的反而成了瞎眼的。”

40 有些和耶穌在一起的法利賽人聽了這話,就說:“難道我們也是瞎眼的嗎?” 41 耶穌對他們說:“如果你們是瞎眼的,就沒有罪了;但現在你們說‘我們能看見’,所以你們還是有罪的。”

Chapter 9

The Man Born Blind. [a]As he passed by he saw a man blind from birth.(A) [b]His disciples asked him,(B) “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.(C) We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.(D) While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(E) When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes,(F) and said to him, “Go wash[c] in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see.(G)

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.” 10 So they said to him, “[So] how were your eyes opened?” 11 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.” 12 And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.”

13 They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now Jesus had made clay[d] and opened his eyes on a sabbath.(H) 15 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.” 16 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.(I) 17 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.”(J)

18 Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” 20 His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 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 himself.” 22 [e](K)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. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.”(L)

24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise![f] We know that this man is a sinner.”(M) 25 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.” 26 So they said to him, “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 want to become his disciples, too?” 28 They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”(N) 30 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. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.(O) 32 [g]It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”(P) 34 They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.”(Q) 38 He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. 39 [h]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.”(R)

40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”(S) 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 9:1–10:21 Sabbath healing of the man born blind. This sixth sign is introduced to illustrate the saying, “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12; 9:5). The narrative of conflict about Jesus contrasts Jesus (light) with the Jews (blindness, Jn 9:39–41). The theme of water is reintroduced in the reference to the pool of Siloam. Ironically, Jesus is being judged by the Jews, yet the Jews are judged by the Light of the world; cf. Jn 3:19–21.
  2. 9:2 See note on Jn 5:14, and Ex 20:5, that parents’ sins were visited upon their children. Jesus denies such a cause and emphasizes the purpose: the infirmity was providential.
  3. 9:7 Go wash: perhaps a test of faith; cf. 2 Kgs 5:10–14. The water tunnel Siloam (= Sent) is used as a symbol of Jesus, sent by his Father.
  4. 9:14 In using spittle, kneading clay, and healing, Jesus had broken the sabbath rules laid down by Jewish tradition.
  5. 9:22 This comment of the evangelist (in terms used again in Jn 12:42; 16:2) envisages a situation after Jesus’ ministry. Rejection/excommunication from the synagogue of Jews who confessed Jesus as Messiah seems to have begun ca. A.D. 85, when the curse against the mînîm or heretics was introduced into the “Eighteen Benedictions.”
  6. 9:24 Give God the praise!: an Old Testament formula of adjuration to tell the truth; cf. Jos 7:19; 1 Sm 6:5 LXX. Cf. Jn 5:41.
  7. 9:32 A person born blind: the only Old Testament cure from blindness is found in Tobit (cf. Tb 7:7; 11:7–13; 14:1–2), but Tobit was not born blind.
  8. 9:39–41 These verses spell out the symbolic meaning of the cure; the Pharisees are not the innocent blind, willing to accept the testimony of others.

Jesus Gives Sight to a Blind Man

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin?”

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him. We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming. As long as I’m in the world, I’m light for the world.”

After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground and mixed the spit with dirt. Then he smeared it on the man’s eyes and told him, “Wash it off in the pool of Siloam.” (Siloam means “sent.”) The blind man washed it off and returned. He was able to see.

His neighbors and those who had previously seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”

Some of them said, “He’s the one.” Others said, “No, he isn’t, but he looks like him.” But the man himself said, “I am the one.”

10 So they asked him, “How did you receive your sight?”

11 He replied, “The man people call Jesus mixed some spit with dirt, smeared it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam, and wash it off.’ So I went there, washed it off, and received my sight.”

12 They asked him, “Where is that man?”

The man answered, “I don’t know.”

13 Some people brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 The day when Jesus mixed the spit and dirt and gave the man sight was a day of rest—a holy day. 15 So the Pharisees asked the man again how he received his sight.

The man told the Pharisees, “He put a mixture of spit and dirt on my eyes. I washed it off, and now I can see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “The man who did this is not from God because he doesn’t follow the traditions for the day of rest—a holy day.” Other Pharisees asked, “How can a man who is a sinner perform miracles like these?” So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions.

17 They asked the man who had been born blind another question: “What do you say about the man who gave you sight?”

The man answered, “He’s a prophet.”

18 Until they talked to the man’s parents, the Jews didn’t believe that the man had been blind and had been given sight. 19 They asked his parents, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? Why can he see now?”

20 His parents replied, “We know that he’s our son and that he was born blind. 21 But we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough to answer for himself.” 22 (His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. 23 That’s why his parents said, “You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough.”)

24 So once again the Jews called the man who had been blind. They told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner.”

25 The man responded, “I don’t know if he’s a sinner or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see.”

26 The Jews asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he give you sight?”

27 The man replied, “I’ve already told you, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 The Jews yelled at him, “You’re his disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man came from.”

30 The man replied to them, “That’s amazing! You don’t know where he’s from. Yet, he gave me sight. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. 32 Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do anything like that.”

34 The Jews answered him, “You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us?” Then they threw him out ⌞of the synagogue⌟.

35 Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out ⌞of the synagogue⌟. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 The man replied, “Sir, tell me who he is so that I can believe in him.”

37 Jesus told him, “You’ve seen him. He is the person who is now talking with you.”

38 The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, “I believe, Lord.”

39 Then Jesus said, “I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with Jesus heard this. So they asked him, “Do you think we’re blind?”

41 Jesus told them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be sinners. But now you say, ‘We see,’ so you continue to be sinners.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus' disciples asked, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?”

“No, it wasn't!” Jesus answered. “But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. As long as it is day, we must do what the one who sent me wants me to do. When night comes, no one can work. (A) While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.”

After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man's eyes. Then he said, “Go wash off the mud in Siloam Pool.” The man went and washed in Siloam, which means “One Who Is Sent.” When he had washed off the mud, he could see.

The man's neighbors and the people who had seen him begging wondered if he really could be the same man. Some of them said he was the same beggar, while others said he only looked like him. But he told them, “I am that man.”

10 “Then how can you see?” they asked.

11 He answered, “Someone named Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. He told me to go and wash it off in Siloam Pool. When I did, I could see.”

12 “Where is he now?” they asked.

“I don't know,” he answered.

The Pharisees Try To Find Out What Happened

13-14 The day when Jesus made the mud and healed the man was a Sabbath. So the people took the man to the Pharisees. 15 They asked him how he was able to see, and he answered, “Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. Then after I washed it off, I could see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus doesn't come from God. If he did, he would not break the law of the Sabbath.”

Others asked, “How could someone who is a sinner work such a miracle?”[a]

Since the Pharisees could not agree among themselves, 17 they asked the man, “What do you say about this one who healed your eyes?”

“He is a prophet!” the man told them.

18 But the Jewish leaders would not believe that the man had once been blind. They sent for his parents 19 and asked them, “Is this the son that you said was born blind? How can he now see?”

20 The man's parents answered, “We are certain that he is our son, and we know that he was born blind. 21 But we don't know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. Ask him! He is old enough to speak for himself.”

22-23 The man's parents said this because they were afraid of their leaders. The leaders had already agreed that no one was to have anything to do with anyone who said Jesus was the Messiah.

24 The leaders called the man back and said, “Swear by God to tell the truth! We know that Jesus is a sinner.”

25 The man replied, “I don't know if he is a sinner or not. All I know is that I used to be blind, but now I can see!”

26 “What did he do to you?” they asked. “How did he heal your eyes?”

27 The man answered, “I have already told you once, and you refused to listen. Why do you want me to tell you again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

28 The leaders insulted the man and said, “You are his follower! We are followers of Moses. 29 We are sure God spoke to Moses, but we don't even know where Jesus comes from.”

30 “How strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know where he comes from. 31 We know that God listens only to people who love and obey him. God doesn't listen to sinners. 32 And this is the first time in history anyone has ever given sight to someone born blind. 33 Jesus could not do anything unless he came from God.”

34 The leaders told the man, “You have been a sinner since the day you were born! Do you think you can teach us anything?” Then they said, “You can never come back into any of our synagogues!”

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he went and found the man. Then Jesus asked, “Do you have faith in the Son of Man?”

36 He replied, “Sir, if you will tell me who he is, I will put my faith in him.”

37 “You have already seen him,” Jesus answered, “and right now he is talking with you.”

38 The man said, “Lord, I put my faith in you!” Then he worshiped Jesus.

39 Jesus told him, “I came to judge the people of this world. I am here to give sight to the blind and to make blind everyone who can see.”

40 When the Pharisees heard Jesus say this, they asked, “Are we blind?”

41 Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty. But now that you claim to see, you will keep on being guilty.”

Footnotes

  1. 9.16 miracle: See the note at 2.11.