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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.

Người Mù Bẩm Sinh Được Sáng

Dọc đường đi, Đức Giê-su thấy một người mù từ thuở sinh ra. Các môn đệ hỏi Ngài: “Thưa Thầy, vì tội của ai? Của anh này hay của cha mẹ mà anh ta phải chịu sinh ra mù lòa?”

Đức Giê-su trả lời: “Chẳng phải vì anh ta hay cha mẹ phạm tội đâu, nhưng để việc làm của Đức Chúa Trời được thể hiện trong người ấy. Khi còn ban ngày, chúng ta phải làm những công tác của Đấng đã sai Ta đến, kẻo khi đêm xuống, không ai làm việc được nữa! Đang khi còn ở thế gian, Ta là sự sáng của thế gian.”

Nói xong, Ngài nhổ nước bọt xuống đất hòa thành bùn, rồi xức bùn ấy vào mắt người mù và bảo: “Hãy đến rửa ở ao Si-lô-am”, Si-lô-am có nghĩa là “được sai đi”. Vậy người ấy đi ra ao, rửa, rồi trở lại thì được thấy rõ.

Hàng xóm láng giềng và những người vẫn thường thấy anh ta ăn xin trước kia hỏi nhau: “Có phải anh này là người hay ngồi ăn xin không?” Một số thì bảo đúng là anh ta, số khác lại nói: “Không phải, một người nào đó giống hắn!” Anh ta lên tiếng: “Chính tôi đây mà!”

10 Họ liền hỏi anh: “Vậy thì làm sao mắt ngươi được sáng?”

11 Anh ta trả lời: “Một người tên là Giê-su hòa bùn xức lên mắt tôi và bảo tôi đi đến ao Si-lô-am rửa cho sạch. Tôi đi rửa thì thấy được.”

12 Họ hỏi tiếp: “Người ấy ở đâu?” Anh ta trả lời: “Tôi không biết!”

13 Họ dẫn người vốn bị mù đến với các người Pha-ri-si. 14 Hôm Đức Giê-su hòa bùn chữa cho người này sáng mắt là ngày Sa-bát. 15 Người Pha-ri-si lại chất vấn: “Sao ngươi thấy được?” Anh ta trả lời: “Ông ấy bôi bùn lên mắt tôi, tôi đi rửa thì thấy được!”

16 Một vài người trong nhóm Pha-ri-si liền nói: “Người này không thể nào đến từ Đức Chúa Trời vì đã không kiêng giữ ngày Sa-bát.” Nhưng một số người khác lại lý luận: “Làm sao một người có tội có thể làm dấu lạ như vậy được?” Thế là họ chia phe chống nhau.

17 Vậy nên những người Pha-ri-si vặn hỏi người mù một lần nữa: “Theo ngươi thì người đã chữa lành mắt ngươi là ai?” Anh ta đáp: “Ấy là một vị tiên tri.”

18 Nhưng các người Do Thái không chịu tin rằng anh ta vốn mù mà nay lại thấy được, cho đến khi họ đòi cha mẹ người vừa được sáng mắt đến. 19 Họ tra hỏi: “Đây có phải là con của ông bà đã bị mù từ khi sinh ra không? Làm sao bây giờ nó thấy được?”

20 Cha mẹ anh ta thưa: “Chúng tôi nhận đây chính là con chúng tôi mù từ lúc mới sinh, 21 nhưng làm sao nó thấy được thì chúng tôi không biết, hay ai mở mắt nó, chúng tôi cũng không hay. Các ông cứ hỏi nó, nó lớn rồi, việc nó để nó khai!” 22 Cha mẹ anh ta nói như vậy, vì sợ người Do Thái; bởi người Do Thái đã quyết định khai trừ khỏi hội đường người nào xưng Đức Giê-su là Chúa Cứu Thế. 23 Cho nên cha mẹ anh ta mới nói: “Nó lớn rồi, cứ hỏi nó.”

24 Họ lại đòi người vốn bị mù ra một lần nữa và bảo: “Có Trời chứng giám,[a] chúng ta biết người ấy là một tội nhân!”

25 Anh ta thưa lại: “Người ấy có là tội nhân hay không, tôi không biết. Tôi chỉ biết một điều, trước tôi mù mà nay thấy được!”

26 Họ hỏi tiếp: “Người ấy đã làm gì cho ngươi? Làm thế nào mắt ngươi sáng được?”

27 Anh ta thưa: “Tôi đã nói rồi mà các ông không chịu nghe. Sao các ông còn muốn nghe nữa? Chẳng lẽ chính các ông cũng muốn thành môn đệ của người sao?”

28 Họ mắng anh ta: “Mầy mới là môn đệ của hắn, còn chúng ta là môn đệ của Môi-se! 29 Chúng ta biết Đức Chúa Trời đã phán với Môi-se, còn tên này chúng ta không biết gốc gác từ đâu.”

30 Anh ta nói: “Chuyện lạ thật! Người đã làm cho mắt tôi sáng mà các ông lại không biết gốc gác từ đâu. 31 Chúng ta đều biết Đức Chúa Trời chẳng nghe người có tội mà chỉ đoái nghe những người kính sợ Đức Chúa Trời và làm theo ý Ngài. 32 Xưa nay, đời nào có chuyện một người mở mắt cho kẻ mù bẩm sinh. 33 Nếu người này không phải đến từ Đức Chúa Trời thì làm sao làm nổi chuyện này?”

34 Họ đáp: “Mầy sinh ra tội lỗi đầy mình mà còn đòi dạy khôn chúng ta sao?” Rồi họ đuổi anh đi.

35 Đức Giê-su nghe họ đuổi anh ấy đi, nên tìm anh hỏi: “Ngươi có tin Con Người không?”

36 Anh ta đáp: “Thưa Ngài, Con Người là ai để tôi tin?”

37 Đức Giê-su bảo: “Ngươi đã thấy Con Người tận mắt và Người đang nói với ngươi đây chính là Đấng ấy!”

38 Người ấy nói: “Lạy Chúa, tôi tin!” rồi sấp mình lạy Ngài.

39 Đức Giê-su phán: “Vì sự phán xét Ta đã đến thế gian này: Người không thấy thì được thấy, còn kẽ thấy thì hóa mù!”

40 Mấy người Pha-ri-si có mặt ở đó nghe vậy liền hỏi: “Ông bảo chúng tôi mù cả sao?”

41 Đức Giê-su đáp: “Nếu các ông mù thì chẳng có tội gì, nhưng vì các ông cho mình là sáng nên tội các ông vẫn còn!”

Footnotes

  1. 9:24 Ctd: Vinh quang quy về Đức Chúa Trời. Một lối thề thốt của người Do Thái

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.