The text subtly highlights that Jesus saw this man. This isn't just a casual glance; it's a deliberate, purposeful act of noticing someone overlooked by society, setting the stage for God's transformative work. It emphasizes Jesus' deep awareness and compassion for those invisible to the world.
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus left the temple after confronting hostile crowds, he encountered a man who had been blind since birth. This encounter immediately sparks a theological debate among his disciples, who question whether the man's condition was due to his own sin or that of his parents, revealing a common belief that suffering was always a direct punishment for sin. Jesus uses this moment to shift their perspective, explaining that the man's condition was an opportunity for God's power to be revealed.
Imagine walking through a busy street, and your gaze just casually drifts. Suddenly, you lock eyes with someone. What you see, and what you do with what you see, can change everything. Jesus did just that.
The verse begins with Jesus "passing by." This suggests a routine moment, a movement from one place to another. Yet, in that very ordinary transit, Jesus' eyes land on a man "blind from his birth." This isn't just a casual glance; it's a divine perception that penetrates the ordinary.
A Divine Gaze
This encounter reminds us that God's vision for us often goes beyond our immediate circumstances. He sees the whole picture, including the potential for His glory to shine through our deepest struggles.
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Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s one of life’s most persistent and painful questions. The disciples wrestled with it, and so do we.
The disciples' immediate question, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' reveals a common ancient (and often modern!) perspective: suffering is always a direct punishment for sin.
Beyond Simple Retribution
Understand the original words
rhabbi · Hebrew/Greek Noun
A title of respect meaning "my great one" or "my master," used to address a teacher of the Jewish law. In the Gospels, it is frequently used to address Jesus, acknowledging His authority as a teacher.
hamartano · Greek Verb
Refers to missing the mark of God's holiness or transgressing His revealed will. Biblically, sin is an alienation from God that affects all of humanity and requires divine atonement.
ergon · Greek Noun
In this context, refers to the divine actions or manifestations of God's power and character in the world. It often signifies God's redemptive activity, miracles, or the accomplishment of His sovereign purposes.
The healing of the man born blind didn't happen in a vacuum. It occurred on a Sabbath, directly following a hostile encounter at the Temple, highlighting Jesus' deliberate act of compassion amidst religious conflict and setting the stage for a profound theological debate.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem
During His public ministry, Jesus often taught and performed miracles in and around Jerusalem, including during significant festivals. This healing likely occurred during one of these periods.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Leaves the Temple
Following a confrontation where His enemies attempted to stone Him, Jesus departs from the Temple precincts. This event immediately precedes the encounter with the blind man.
c. AD 27-30
Healing of the Man Born Blind
Jesus heals a man who had been blind since birth, performing a significant miracle that challenges religious authorities.
c. AD 27-30
Confrontation with Pharisees
The Pharisees interrogate the healed man and his parents, leading to a debate about Jesus' identity and the Sabbath laws, ultimately resulting in the man's excommunication.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus Restores the Man
Jesus finds the excommunicated man and reveals Himself more fully, leading to the man's belief and worship.
c. AD 30-33
Growing Opposition to Jesus
The opposition from religious leaders intensifies throughout Jesus' ministry, culminating in His crucifixion. The conflict over the healing of the blind man contributes to this growing animosity.
This passage directly prophesies the opening of the eyes of the blind as a sign of God's coming redemption, echoing the physical and spiritual sight Jesus brings.
Luke 4:18Jesus quotes Isaiah's prophecy, declaring His mission to bring sight to the blind, which is precisely what He does in this encounter, demonstrating the purpose of His coming.
John 1:9This verse describes Jesus as the true light that gives light to everyone. The healing of the man born blind visually represents this concept, showing how Jesus brings spiritual illumination to those in darkness.
Acts 3:2This passage describes a man crippled from birth begging at the temple gate, similar to the blind man in John 9. It highlights the common presence of debilitating conditions and the expectation of divine intervention.
1 John 1:5This verse states that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. The encounter with the blind man vividly illustrates the contrast between the darkness of his condition and the light Jesus offers.
expositorsJohn 9:1: "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth."
Chapter 20SIGHT GIVEN TO THE BLIND. “And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, who did sin, 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…
calvinJohn 9:1-5: "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth."
- And Jesus, passing by, saw a man blind from his birth. 2. And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3. Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but that the works of God may be displayed in him. 4. I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. 5. While I am in the world, I…
The text subtly highlights that Jesus saw this man. This isn't just a casual glance; it's a deliberate, purposeful act of noticing someone overlooked by society, setting the stage for God's transformative work. It emphasizes Jesus' deep awareness and compassion for those invisible to the world.
As Jesus left the temple after confronting hostile crowds, he encountered a man who had been blind since birth. This encounter immediately sparks a theological debate among his disciples, who question whether the man's condition was due to his own sin or that of his parents, revealing a common belief that suffering was always a direct punishment for sin. Jesus uses this moment to shift their perspective, explaining that the man's condition was an opportunity for God's power to be revealed.
As Jesus left the temple after confronting hostile crowds, he encountered a man who had been blind since birth. This encounter immediately sparks a theological debate among his disciples, who question whether the man's condition was due to his own sin or that of his parents, revealing a common belief that suffering was always a direct punishment for sin. Jesus uses this moment to shift their perspective, explaining that the man's condition was an opportunity for God's power to be revealed.
"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God…" — The text subtly highlights that Jesus saw this man. This isn't just a casual glance; it's a deliberate, purposeful act of noticing someone overlooked by society, setting the stage for God's transfo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
