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De genezing van een blinde man

Jezus liep verder en zag een man die al sedert zijn geboorte blind was. Zijn leerlingen vroegen: ‘Meester, heeft deze man zelf gezondigd of is hij blind geboren doordat zijn ouders gezondigd hebben?’ ‘Nee,’ antwoordde Jezus. ‘Het heeft niets te maken met zijn zonden of die van zijn ouders. Maar door hem van zijn blindheid te genezen, toont God zijn macht. Zolang het dag is, moeten wij doen wat God ons opdraagt. Als de nacht komt, kan niemand meer iets doen. Zolang Ik in de wereld ben, ben Ik het licht van de wereld.’ Daarna spuugde Hij op de grond en maakte met zijn speeksel wat modder. Dat deed Hij op de ogen van de blinde man en zei: ‘Ga u wassen in de vijver van Siloam.’ Siloam betekent ‘Gezondene’. De man ging er heen en waste zich. Toen hij terugkwam, kon hij zien. Zijn buren en de mensen die hem vroeger als bedelaar hadden gekend, waren verbaasd. ‘Dat is toch de blinde man die altijd zat te bedelen?’ vroegen zij. ‘Inderdaad!’ zeiden sommigen. ‘Nee,’ zeiden anderen, ‘het is iemand die op hem lijkt.’ ‘Ik ben het echt!’ riep de man uit. 10 ‘Hoe kan het dan dat u nu kunt zien?’ vroegen zij. 11 Hij antwoordde: ‘Iemand die Jezus heet, maakte wat modder, smeerde dat op mijn ogen en zei dat ik naar Siloam moest gaan om mij te wassen. Toen ik dat gedaan had, kon ik zien.’ 12 ‘Waar is die man dan nu?’ vroegen zij. ‘Dat weet ik niet,’ zei hij.

13 Zij brachten hem naar de Farizeeën, 14 want het was sabbat toen Jezus de ogen van de man genas. 15 De Farizeeën vroegen de man ook hoe het kwam dat hij kon zien. Hij antwoordde: ‘Hij deed wat modder op mijn ogen. Daarna heb ik mij gewassen en nu kan ik zien.’ 16 Enkele Farizeeën zeiden: ‘Die Jezus is niet door God gestuurd. Anders zou Hij niet op de sabbat werken.’ ‘Maar,’ brachten anderen er tegenin, ‘een slecht mens zou zulke goede dingen toch niet doen?’ De meningen waren verdeeld. 17 Zij vroegen de man die blind was geweest: ‘En u? Wat zegt u van Hem? Per slot van rekening waren het uw ogen die Hij genas.’ ‘Hij is een profeet,’ antwoordde de man.

18 De Joodse leiders wilden niet geloven dat hij vroeger blind was geweest. Daarom lieten zij zijn ouders roepen. 19 ‘Is dit uw zoon?’ vroegen zij. ‘Is het waar dat hij blind geboren is? Hoe kan hij nu dan zien?’ 20 Zijn ouders antwoordden: ‘Dit is onze zoon en hij is blind geboren. 21 Maar wij weten niet hoe het komt dat hij nu kan zien. Wij weten ook niet wie zijn ogen genezen heeft. Vraag het hem zelf. Wie weet het beter dan hij? Hij is oud en wijs genoeg.’ 22 Zij zeiden dit omdat zij bang waren voor de Joodse leiders. Want die hadden besloten dat ieder die erkende dat Jezus de Christus was, niet meer in de synagoge mocht komen. 23 Daarom zeiden zij: ‘Hij is oud en wijs genoeg. Vraag het hem zelf.’

24 Daarop riepen de Joodse leiders de man nog eens bij zich en zeiden: ‘Geef alle eer aan God. Wij weten dat die Jezus een zondaar is.’ 25 De man antwoordde: ‘Of Hij een zondaar is, weet ik niet. Ik weet maar één ding: ik was blind en kan nu zien.’ 26 Zij vroegen weer: ‘Wat heeft Hij eigenlijk gedaan? Hoe heeft Hij uw ogen genezen?’ 27 De man zei: ‘Dat heb ik toch al verteld? U luistert gewoon niet. Waarom wilt u het anders nog een keer horen? Of wilt u soms ook leerlingen van Hem worden?’ 28 Zij scholden hem uit en zeiden: ‘U bent een aanhanger van Hem, maar wij zijn leerlingen van Mozes. 29 Wij weten dat God met Mozes heeft gesproken, maar van die Jezus weten wij niet eens waar Hij vandaan komt!’ 30 De man zei: ‘Ik vind het maar vreemd dat u niet weet waar Hij vandaan komt. Hij heeft nog wel mijn ogen genezen! 31 Wij weten allemaal dat God niet naar zondaars luistert. Maar als iemand eerbied voor Hem heeft en doet wat Hij wil, luistert God wel. 32 Nog nooit heeft iemand de ogen van een blindgeborene genezen. 33 Als die man niet van God kwam, had Hij zoiets nooit kunnen doen.’ 34 De leiders werden kwaad en zeiden: ‘U bent zelf een zondaar! U moet niet denken dat u ons de les kunt lezen!’ En zij joegen hem weg.

35 Jezus hoorde wat er met de man gebeurd was. Hij zocht hem op en vroeg: ‘Gelooft u in de Mensenzoon?’ 36 De man antwoordde: ‘Ik weet niet wie dat is, Here. Anders zou ik in Hem geloven.’ 37 ‘Ik ben het,’ antwoordde Jezus. 38 ‘Ja, Here,’ zei de man, ‘ik geloof.’ En hij knielde voor Jezus neer. 39 Jezus zei: ‘Ik ben tot een oordeel in deze wereld gekomen: de blinden zullen zien en de zienden zullen blind worden.’

40 Enkele Farizeeën die erbij stonden, vroegen: ‘Zijn wij soms ook blind?’ 41 ‘Als u blind was,’ antwoordde Jezus, ‘zou u geen schuld hebben. Maar nu u beweert te zien, blijft u schuldig.’

And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. When I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, [a]and anointed his eyes with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he. 10 They said therefore unto him, How then were thine eyes opened? 11 He answered, The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to Siloam, and wash: so I went away and washed, and I received sight. 12 And they said unto him, Where is he? He saith, I know not.

13 They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14 Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see. 16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them. 17 They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet. 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, 19 and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself. 22 These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24 So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give glory to God: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 They said therefore unto him, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples? 28 And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes. 31 We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on [b]the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he [c]worshipped him. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind. 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.

Footnotes

  1. John 9:6 Or, and with the clay thereof anointed his eyes
  2. John 9:35 Many ancient authorities read the Son of Man.
  3. John 9:38 The Greek word denotes an act of reverence, whether paid to a creature (as here) or to the Creator (see 4:20).

And passing along, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw a man ivver (blind) from birth.

The talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach asked him, Rebbe, who committed averos, this man or the horim (parents) of him, that he was born ivver? [YECHEZKEL 18:20; SHEMOT 20:5; IYOV 21;19]

In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Neither this man sinned nor the horim of him, but that the pe’ulot of Hashem may be manifested in him.

It is necessary for us to work the pe’ulot of the One having sent me while it is Yom. Lailah comes when no one is able to work.[Jer 13:16] ]

As long as I am in the Olam Hazeh, I am the Ohr HaOlam.

Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva and he anointed the clay upon the man’s eyes,

And said to him, Go wash in the pool of Shiloach! [MELACHIM BAIS 5:10].‖The name means sent‖He went therefore and washed and came seeing. [YESHAYAH 35:5]

Therefore, the shchenim and the ones seeing the man who was formerly a betler, came, saying, Is this not the man who was sitting and begging?

Some were saying, This is the one! Others were saying, No, but it is a man like him. But the man was saying, I am the one!

10 Therefore, the people were saying to him, How, then, were your eyes opened?

11 In reply, the man said, The one called Yehoshua took clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to Shiloach [MELACHIM BAIS 5:10] and wash. Therefore, having gone, and having washed, I saw!

12 And they said to him, Where is that one? The man says to them, I do not have da’as of that.

13 The people lead the man to the Perushim…the man who had formerly been ivver (blind).

14 Now the time period Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach took the clay and opened his eyes was a Shabbos.

15 Then again also the Perushim were asking him how his eyes were opened, and the man said to them, The man placed clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see.

16 Therefore some of the Perushim were saying, This man is not from Hashem, because he is a Mechallel Shabbos (desecrator of Shabbos). But others were saying, How is a man who is a choteh (sinner) able to do such otot? There was a machloket (division of dissension) among them.

17 Therefore, they say to the ivver (blind man) again, What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes? And the man said, He is a Navi.

18 Therefore, those of Yehudah did not believe that the man had been ivver (blind) until they called the horim of the man whose eyes were opened.

19 And they asked the horim, saying, Is this the ben of you, whom you say was born ivver? How, therefore, does he now have sight?

20 In reply, therefore, his horim said, We have da’as that this man is the ben of us and that he was born ivver,

21 But how he sees now we do not have da’as nor do we have da’as of who opened his eyes. Interrogate him. He’s had his Bar Mitzvah (T.N. i.e., he is of age). He will speak for himself.

22 His horim said these things, because they were fearing those of Yehudah, for already those of Yehudah had agreed that if any person made hoda’ah (confession) of him to be the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, that person would be put under cherem ban from the shul.

23 Therefore, his horim said, He has reached his religious majority and is of age. Interrogate him.

24 They called a second time, therefore, the man who had been ivver (blind) and said to him, V’ten lo todah. (Give glory to G-d) [YEHOSHUA 7:19] We have da’as that this man is a choteh (sinner). [TEHILLIM 68:35; YEHOSHUA 7:19]

25 In reply, therefore, he said, If he is a choteh (sinner), of that I don’t have da’as. Of one thing I do have da’as, that though I was ivver, now I see.

26 They said, therefore, to him, What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?

27 The man answered them, I told you already, and you do not listen. Why again do you want to hear? Surely you do not want to become his talmidim also?

28 And they reviled him and said, You are a talmid of that man, but we are talmidim of Moshe Rabbeinu. [BAMIDBAR 12:2,8]

29 We have da’as that Hashem has spoken to Moshe Rabbeinu, but this man, we do not have da’as from where he comes.

30 In reply, the man said to them, Here is a real cheftza! That you do not have da’as from where he comes, and he opened my eyes!

31 We have da’as that G-d does not listen to chote’'im (sinners), but if anyone has chassidus and yirat shomayim and does the ratzon (will) of Him, this one G-d hears. [TEHILLIM 18:23-32; 34:15 16; 66:18; 145:19-20; 51:7(5); MISHLE 15:8,29; YESHAYAH 1:15; 59:1-2]

32 Never vi-bahlt the Bri’at HaOlam (the Creation of the World) it was heard of that anyone opened the eyes of an ivver (blind man) having been born thus.

33 If this man was not from Hashem, he would not be able to do anything.

34 They answered and said to him, You were born totally B’AVON (in sin) and you teach us? And they threw him out. [TEHILLIM 51:5(7)]

35 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach heard that they threw him out, and, having found him, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Do you have emunah (faith) in the Ben HaAdam?

36 In reply, the man said, And who is he, Adoni, that I may have emunah in him?

37 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.

38 And the man said, Ani ma’amin, Adoni. And he fell down prostrate before him.

39 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, For the sake of Mishpat, I came into the Olam Hazeh, that the ones who are ivrim (blind ones) may see, and the ones seeing may become ivrim.

40 Some of the Perushim heard these things, the ones being with him, and they said to him, Surely we are not ivrim, are we?

41 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, If you were ivrim (blind men), you would not have chet, but now vi-bahlt (since) you say, We see, the chet of you remains.

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.

Healing the Man Born Blind

While He was passing by, He noticed a man [who had been] blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), who [a]sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works].” When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva, and He spread the mud [like an ointment] on the man’s eyes. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of [b]Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. So the neighbors, and those who used to know him as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Still others said, “No, but he looks like him.” But he kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11 He replied, “The Man called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received my sight!” 12 They asked him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

Controversy over the Man

13 Then they brought the man who was formerly blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was on a Sabbath day that Jesus made the mud and opened the man’s eyes. 15 So the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He smeared mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Then some of the Pharisees said, “This Man [Jesus] is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner (a non-observant Jew) do such signs and miracles?” So there was a difference of opinion among them. 17 Accordingly they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “[It must be that] He is a [c]prophet!”

18 However, the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the man’s parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but as to how he now sees, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him [and stop asking us]; [d]he is of age, he will speak for himself and give his own account of it.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of [the leaders of] the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated). 23 Because of this his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So a second time they called the man who had been [born] blind, and said to him, “Give God glory and praise [for your sight]! We know this Man [Jesus] is a sinner [separated from God].” 25 Then he answered, “I do not know whether He is a sinner [separated from God]; but one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did He [actually] do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I already told you and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again and again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?” 28 And [at that remark] they stormed at him and jeered, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know [for certain] that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this Man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man replied, “Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes! 31 We know [according to your tradition] that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the [e]beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything [like this because God would not hear His prayer].” 34 They answered him, “You were [f]born entirely in sins [from head to foot], and you [presume to] teach us?” Then they threw him out [of the synagogue].

Jesus Affirms His Deity

35 Jesus heard that they had [g]put him out [of the synagogue], and finding him, He asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Sir? Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and [in fact] He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe [in You and Your word]!” And he worshiped Him [with reverence and awe]. 39 Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.(A)

Footnotes

  1. John 9:2 It was a commonly held belief that suffering was punishment for a specific, personal sin.
  2. John 9:7 The ancient town of Siloam is now an Arab village named Silwan. It is east of Jerusalem and south of the Old City. The pool of Siloam was fed by the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley through a channel (Hezekiah’s tunnel) that carried water into Jerusalem.
  3. John 9:17 Prophets were able to foretell the future and perform other miracles under the power and direction of God.
  4. John 9:21 Anyone 13 years and one day old was considered of age.
  5. John 9:32 There is no OT record of any blind person being healed.
  6. John 9:34 See note v 2.
  7. John 9:35 I.e. excommunicated him.