The Man Born Blind
Appearances | "Man Born Blind Narrative" 9:1-41
also mentioned in reference in 11:37 |
Titles Given | "Man Blind From Birth" (by the author in 9:1)
"Man who Used to Sit and Beg" (by the neighbors in 9:8) "Man who Had Formerly Been Blind" (by the author in 9:13) "Blind Man" (by the author in 9:17; by some of the Jews in 11:37) "Man who Had Received His Sight" (by the author in 9:18) "Man Who Had Been Blind (by the author in 9:24) "Man" (by the author in 9:30) |
Gender | Male |
Age | Exact age unknown.
Age of a man who is "of age" (9:21, 23) |
Marital Status | unknown |
Occupation | not provided by the author
"Beggar" (by the neighbors in 9:8) |
Place of Residence | unknown |
Relatives | Unnamed Parents (9:18) |
Group Affiliation | Jesus' Disciple? (9:28) |
Concerning the questioning regarding his new found sight, the man becomes more and more defensive in his answers. In the first set of inquiries, he merely volunteers information as to the process of his reception of sight (9:9-12). In the last interrogation with "the Jews", man gets into a theological discussion regarding God's granting petitions to sinners (9:30-33).
In the first line of inquiries, the neighbors ask themselves as to the identity the man who had formerly been blind and the source of his new found sight (9:8-12). In this, the man appears and is adamant that he did recently gain sight and offers information as to the process of how he received sight and the identity of the man who is responsible for it (9:9, 11). He then reveals that the man who granted him his sight was indeed "the man called Jesus" (9:11).
When he is brought up to the Pharisees, the question of doing this act on the day of the sabbath is raised (9:14). In this scene, the man explains the process by which he is healed echoing what he had already said to his neighbors (9:15, 11). In addition to this, the Pharisees also ask the man about his opinion of the man who gave him sight. He declares Jesus as a prophet (9:17)
The Jews then call upon the man who had formerly been blind (9:24). As before, the man explains the process of gaining sight , but in this round of inquiries, he appears more vexed (9:27). In this hard line of questioning, the man defends Jesus when the authorities claim Jesus as a sinner (9:24). Here, the man enters into a theological discussion with the authorities claiming that Jesus must be from God (9:34). In addition to this, the man also shifts his voice from the first person singular in all the verses before 9:31, to the first person singular in 9:31 claiming that "We know that God does not listen to sinners…." The explanation refers to the historical setting in which this Gospel is written. In that context, this statement makes sense for it can be seen that the man, here in this set of inquires, is representing the Johannine community or even a community in which Jesus represents the new view of Judaism.
In his conversation with Jesus, the man appears mellow and receptive
of instructions. When asked as to his believing in the Son of Man, the
man answers by asking for the identity of this Son of Man (9:35-36). He
also professes that he believes in Jesus and he also worships him.
Other Characters' Reactions to the Man Born Blind
Jesus
Jesus reveals that the man is blind "so that God's works might be revealed
in him" (9:3). Through this, the blind man is set up as the receptor
of the sign of the work. Jesus opens the man's eyes and commands
him to wash, but Jesus does not interact with him until 9:35.
Jesus finds the man driven out by the Jews in 9:35. Jesus asks the man if he believes "in the son of man" (9:35). The man asks as to the identity of the "son of man" so that he may believe (9:36). Jesus reveals himself to be the "Son of Man" the blind man is searching.
After Jesus is worshiped by the man, Jesus makes a statement concerning the paradox of sight. "I came to this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind" (9:39). It is not clear who Jesus is directing this statement--to the man, the Pharisees, or the readers. The man's last action is worshiping Jesus in 9:38.
The Neighbors
The neighbors see the Man Born Blind as one they had previously noticed
as a beggar (9:8). They then ask about the source of his sight and the
beggar provides testimony of his healing--Jesus (9:11-12). At this, the
interaction of the man and his neighbors abruptly ends. It can be said
that his neighbors were satisfied with the answers and did not question
him any longer.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees ask three questions regarding the man's sight, the Sabbath,
and the blind man's opinion of Jesus:
1. How did the man receive his sight? (9:15)
2. "How can a man who is a sinner (against the Sabbath) perform such signs
(9:16)
3. What does the man "say about" Jesus (9:17)
The text does not say that the man is free from the inquiries or that
the Pharisees were satisfied with the answers. Just like the session
with the neighbors, their interaction abruptly ends.
The Jews
In the first line of inquiries by the Jews, the main reason to bring
up the parents is to bring validity in their belief that the man to question
was not blind or had received sight. "The Jews did not believe that he
had been blind and had received his sight" (9:18). The Jews first
ask the man as to the process in which he received his sight (9:26). In
this, the Jews call the man a disciple of Jesus as opposed to being a disciple
of Moses (9:28). In the end of this session, they drive the man out labeling
him being "born entirely in sins" (9:24).
The Parents
The parents of the blind man appear only in 9:18-23 in which they are
being interrogated by the authorities. Through the introduction and the
testimony of the parents that the man in question was indeed born without
sight, the evangelist points out that there was indeed a sign--the man
did have an ailment which Jesus remedies. Because of the parents, the evangelist
also informs the reader as to the man's familial status--that he does have
parents and that he is indeed male and is a son (9:19). The parents also
state that the man in question is of legal age and can speak on his own
behalf (9:21).
After the sign is performed, the man becomes an active proclaimer of the sign (9:11). Because of this, he was the subject of inquiries of the neighbors, the Pharisees, and the Jews. His proclamations have a tone of assertiveness--adamant that he was a blind man who is given sight by Jesus--a man whose prayers are heard by God (9:32).
The man makes a progression in believing that Jesus is the "son of man".
He first testifies that Jesus is "a man", then proclaims him to be "a prophet",
then calls Jesus "a man...from God", and finally worships the "son of man"
(9:11, 15, 33, 35-38).
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This Website was created and is maintained
by Felix Just, S.J.
This page was last updated on 09/27/01