Religious Studies 305
The book of John in the New Testament speaks so much of Jesus’ love for the sick, the poor, the blind, the doubting Pharisees but also speaks of his deity as God doing the works of Him who sent Him.
But how did Jesus speak to the people? What language did he use? Jesus was always around people. Contrary to the manner of how the Roman Pharisees spoke to the people, Jesus spoke of concern, love and understanding for humanity. A Bible scholar wrote that Jesus spoke in Aramaic. Since Jesus grew up in Nazareth, he also spoke in Greek. Nazareth was a place influenced by the Hellenistic culture. Nazareth was like those city in Palestine, speaking both Greek and Armaic ( Porter 110). Commentaries on the Gospel of John Chapter 09:35-41
Jesus’ life was very colorful and has attracted the attention of many Bible scholars. I will present to you comments on the book of John 9:35-41. This is a story of a blind man from birth who was healed by Jesus.
Commentary by Matthew Henry. Jesus was passing by and saw the condition of a man who was blind since birth. His disciples, eager to listen to his comment inquired, ”Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that the child was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. On this passage, Henry comments that when Jesus saw the blind man he felt for him. Jesus could must been thinking that this man’s life was sad as he could not see and neither has he seen the world nor his parents. He was a helpless beggar. His neighbors saw him as a blind man. Many recognized him because he was a beggar. The imperfection in his body was being used by God to show forth His power to heal and to show that God uses the imperfect to show His perfection. Jesus was concern of this man and knew how he felt. God saw the afflicted and deliverance was done to uplift this blind man. Henry further stated,“ that the attributes of God might be made manifest: his justice in making sinful man liable to such grievous calamities; his ordinary power and goodness in supporting a poor man under such a grievous and tedious affliction, especially that his extraordinary power and goodness might be manifested in curing him.” Henry further argues that it was God’s business in the world to enlighten (verse 5).
The healed blind man was questioned by the Pharisees since it was a Sabbath. It was the practice of the Jews not to work on a Sabbath. In verse 17, the Pharisees asked, “What have you to say about him?” The man replied, “He is a prophet (v17b).” In those days the prophets were regarded with the highest respect since kings and pharaohs seek their advice. He was full of respect for the man whom he did not know but has healed him. In verse 36, he asked Jesus. “Who is he, sir?” “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” He did not forget the marvelous incident; he wanted to know Jesus and believe him with so much respect. In verse 38, “Lord, I believe,” was what he replied to Jesus and he worshiped him.
Commentary by Thomas L. Brodie. Brodie would like to comment about John 9:35-41 based on Spirituality and not on its rhetoric or literary content. He describes the gospel of John regarding these verses as a dramatic approach of by the blind man. First, when Jesus he thought of Jesus as just an ordinary man. But Jesus anointed him and his blindness healed. After being healed, he regarded Jesus a prophet. Brodie further stated, “Later, after his parents had shied away from confessing Jesus to be the Christ (christos, v 22), he went on to see Jesus as from God
(v 33) and, finally, as the Son of humanity (v 37). The picture is one of steady progression (Brodie 343 ). Brodie in page 344, presented chapter nine with regard to the “drama” as he perceived the writer John showed it this way:
- Verses 1 – 7 The creation like receiving of sight;
- Verses 8-12 People wonder about the startling phenomenon;
- Verses 13-17 Pharisees’ interrogation; the man gains insight;
- Verses 18-23 The parents talk and say little;
- Verses 24-34 Second interrogation; the man’s greater insight;
- Verses 35-41 The climax of insight and blindness.
Commentary by St. Augustine: St. Augustine talks about the enlightenment of this blind man as manifested in words and deed. It is the symbolic blindness of the human race due to sin committed by the first man whom we now have inherited wickedness as well as death. It is a message of hope. Man has toiled so much but like the farmer, he plants and waters from without, but it belongs to God to give growth. St. Augustine further echoed Jesus’ words,” my doctrine is not my own but his who sent me.” Let him who says, I have not yet understood, hear advice (St. Augustine 176). What was done to the blind man? A very unusual happening for the cure. Jesus put his saliva on the mud and the “word was made flesh”. The blind man got healed. St. Augustine calls this manner of Jesus’ healing as the baptism of the blind man because he received enlightenment (St. Augustine 176). When the disciples questioned Jesus if the parents have sinned that their son was born blind, Jesus replied, “neither has this man sinned,” he says, “nor his parents, but it was to let God’s works show forth in him.” St. Augustine gave a comment on this and he said, “I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day.” Remind yourself how he gives total glory to that one from whom he is because that one has a Son who is from him but he does not himself have one from whom he is. But why, O Lord, did you say, “while it is day?”Jesus is the symbol of Day. “I am the light of the world (v 5).” St. Augustine made a follow up on this teaching, “night of some sort exists when Christ is not there, and for this reason no one will be able to work.” He further explained this teaching as the night for the ungodly; this will be the night to those it is said at the end, “Go into everlasting fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Augustine 179).
Commentary by Charles John Ellicott. Elliott comments that Jesus is the light. The blind boy was healed and was able to see literally the world, saw his parents for the first time which gave him hope. He would be able to work and do other things and not beg. The light mentioned here was optimism in life. The objections of the Pharisees, and the witness of the suffer were very obvious. The Pharisees questioned the legality of Jesus healing the blind on a Sabbath. Elliott comments on the boys parent attitude.”They may have been influenced also, by the agreement of the Jews to excommunicate any who should confess Christ (John 9:22). By the term, “to the Pharisees,” we are not to understand the Sanhedrin, which did not meet on the Sabbath, and which is not spoken of by St. John as simply “the Pharisees,” but a body of the leading Pharisees who were the most bitter foes of Christ, and who seem at this time to have formed practically a permanent committee of the Sanhedrin, always ready to take counsel or action against Jesus.“Contrary to his parents’ reaction. The boy gave reverence to Jesus when he said,” Lord , I believe And he worshipped him.
All of the above commentators have a common ground. They all agreed that Jesus made a miracle and which made the boy see. The miracle progressed and presented that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ. He himself said so when the boy asked him. All four of my commentators agree that Jesus was trying to do the will of him, who sent Him. Jesus introduced himself to the boy as God.
In my opinion, Jesus is the light. The light that he gave us means wisdom knowing what is right from wrong. Jesus did not allow his disciples to think that the boy and his parents sinned, to cause his blindness. I would like to point out a very nice character of the boy. He did not only showed reverence by addressing Jesus “sir” but he was interested to know who Jesus was and showed gratefulness and reverence by worshipping Jesus after knowing him. We have been blessed countless times in our lives. We pray for God’s healing when a member of the family or love ones have been very ill. Have we tried to go back and acknowledge God after we were healed? We always complain and make excuses. If we count our blessings, it will outweigh our problems. When confronted, do we tell the truth and not fear for our life? The parents of the boy is a clear example of our modern day attitudes, denying the truth and not stand for righteousness. The lesson I learned from the whole chapter of John 9:01-41 is being grateful and trusting in the Lord. Miracles can still happen no matter what the dramas in life we face. Reading more, I learned to recognize and respect Jesus.
Works Cited
Augustine, St. Tractates on the Gospel of John. Trans. John W. Rettig. Vol. 3. Washington, DC: Catholic U of America, 1988. Questia. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Brodie, Thomas L. The Gospel According to John: A Literary and Theological Commentary. New York: Oxford UP, 1997. Questia. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Elliot, Charles John. Commentary on John 9:35-41. Elliott’s Commentary for English Readers.
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/view.cgi?bk=42&ch=9. 1905.
Web. 04 December 2014
Porter, Stanley E., ed. Handbook to Exegesis of the New Testament. Boston: Brill, 2002. Questia. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
st-takla.org. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible - New Testament.
Alexandria Egypt. Web. 04 Dec.2014 < http://st-takla.org/Contact-us.html >
