John 9:35–41:
Jesus Reveals Himself to the Man and Confronts Spiritual Blindness

The Correct Interpretation of John 9:35–41

After the man who received his sight is expelled (John 9:13–34), Jesus finds him again. Throughout the chapter, his understanding of Jesus has been growing: first he spoke of “A man called Jesus”, then he said that He was “a prophet”, and finally maintained that He must be from God. Now Jesus Himself will reveal who He is. The encounter will culminate in the man believing in Him and worshipping Him, while Jesus shows the contrast between those who receive the Light and those who, while claiming to see, remain in their sin.

(v. 35)
«Jesus heard that they had expelled him, and finding him He said to him, “Do you believe into the Son of God?”»

Jesus hears that they have expelled the man and goes to find him.

After all the questioning about who Jesus is, Jesus Himself now takes the initiative and brings the man to the decisive question:

“Do you believe into the Son of God?”

The focus is no longer simply on how his eyes were opened, but on who the One who opened them is.

This question prepares the climax of the process that has been developing throughout the chapter.

(v. 36)
«He answered and said, “And who is He, Lord, that I may believe into Him?”»

The man still does not know that Jesus is the Son of God, but he shows a willingness to receive the revelation:

“And who is He, Lord, that I may believe into Him?”

His response confirms that his understanding is still incomplete. He has recognized that Jesus is a prophet and that He is from God, but he still needs to know fully who He is.

The development of the chapter thus shows a progressive understanding rather than a complete understanding from the beginning.

(v. 37)
«So Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and He is the One who is speaking with you.”»

Jesus identifies Himself directly: “He is the One who is speaking with you.”

But there is also special force in His opening words: “You have both seen Him.”

The man who had been born blind can now see the One who gave him sight.

(v. 38)
«So he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshipped Him.»

The man’s response is immediate:

“Lord, I believe!”

and then he worships Jesus.

The process that began with “A man called Jesus” (John 9:11) reaches its climax here. The man no longer merely recognizes that Jesus performed an extraordinary work or that He is from God; now he believes in Him as the Son of God and responds by worshipping Him.

The fact that Jesus receives this worship reinforces the extraordinary identity John has been revealing concerning Him.

(v. 39)
«And Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who ‘see’ may become blind.”»

Jesus says:

“I came into this world for judgment.”

This does not contradict John 3:17, where it is stated that God did not send the Son into the world to condemn it, nor John 8:15, where Jesus said “I am not judging anyone” within that context.

The primary purpose of His coming is not the immediate execution of final condemnation; nevertheless, the presence of Jesus produces judgment by revealing how each person responds to the Light.

This is exactly what has happened throughout the chapter.

The man who began physically blind has received sight and has come to recognize Jesus. In contrast, those who consider themselves able to see and judge correctly have progressively rejected the work before them.

That is why Jesus declares:

“so that those who do not see may see, and those who ‘see’ may become blind.”

The Light reveals each person’s true condition. Those who recognize their need can receive sight; those who consider themselves able to see while rejecting Jesus reveal their own blindness.

(v. 40)
«And some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words and said to Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”»

Some Pharisees who were there understand that Jesus’ words also apply to them.

So they ask:

“We aren’t blind too, are we?”

The question shows that they reject the possibility of being among those who do not see. They consider themselves capable of correctly discerning the things of God.

Jesus will respond precisely to that claim.

(v. 41)
«Jesus said to them: “If you were ‘blind’ you would not have sin. But now you say, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.»

Jesus is not simply saying, “If you recognized that you were blind, you would not have sin.”

That slightly changes His words.

He says:

“If you were ‘blind’ you would not have sin.”

The contrast is between a genuine lack of sight and the claim to possess it while rejecting the Light before them.

These Pharisees say: “We see.”

In other words, they consider themselves capable of correctly discerning who is from God and who is a sinner. Yet they have had Jesus’ work before them, investigated what happened, received the testimony of the man and his parents, and still continue rejecting the One who performed the sign.

That is why Jesus concludes: “your sin remains.”

Their responsibility is connected precisely with the Light before them that they refuse to receive. They are not simply people who lack information; they claim to see while rejecting what God has placed before them.

This connects closely with the theme of the Light introduced in John 8:12 and repeated in John 9:5.

Implications

• Jesus leads the man toward knowing His true identity: physical healing was not the end of the encounter.
• The man’s understanding of Jesus progresses until he recognizes Him as the Son of God: the chapter shows a continuing development in his response.
• Jesus receives the man’s worship: his response corresponds with the identity Jesus has just revealed to him.
• Jesus’ coming produces judgment by revealing people’s true condition: the response to the Light reveals who sees and who remains blind.
• Claiming to have sight does not guarantee true understanding: the Pharisees say, “We see,” yet reject the evidence before them.
• Rejecting the Light one has received means that one’s sin remains: the Pharisees’ responsibility is heightened precisely because they claim to know while rejecting Jesus.

Applications

• Seek to know who Jesus is, not merely what He can do: the man began with the experience of healing, but the account culminates with his coming to know and worship the Son of God.
• Respond to Jesus’ revelation: when Christ reveals who He is, the man responds, “Lord, I believe!”
• Do not trust in your own ability to see: recognizing Jesus rightly requires receiving the Light He reveals.
• Do not reject what God has clearly placed before you: the Pharisees investigated the sign and still continued resisting its meaning.
• Worship Jesus for who He is: the man responds to the revelation of the Son of God by believing in Him and worshipping Him.

Summary

In John 9:35–41, Jesus finds the man who received his sight after he is expelled and asks whether he believes into the Son of God. When the man asks who He is, Jesus reveals Himself directly: “You have both seen Him and He is the One who is speaking with you.” The man responds, “Lord, I believe!” and worships Him, bringing the growth of his understanding of Jesus to its climax. Jesus then explains that His coming produces judgment: those who do not see may receive sight, while those who claim to see reveal their blindness by rejecting the Light. Some Pharisees ask whether they too are blind, and Jesus answers that precisely because they say “We see” while rejecting what is before them, their sin remains. Thus the man who began the chapter physically blind ends by seeing who Jesus is, while those who claimed to see are exposed in their true blindness.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank You that in Jesus Christ You have revealed Your Son and that He is the Light by which the truth can be recognized.

Help us humbly receive what Jesus reveals about Himself and respond as that man did, believing in Him and worshipping Him.

Keep us from trusting in our own understanding while rejecting the Light You have placed before us.

Give us eyes to recognize the truth and hearts willing to receive Your Son for who He truly is.

We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.