Outline on John 9:1–16

1. Jesus Encounters a Blind Man – John 9:1-2

KJV ¹ And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. ² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? CEV ¹ As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. ² Jesus' disciples asked, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?”

As Jesus walks with His disciples, they see a man blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus if the man’s blindness is due to his own sin or his parents'.

2. Jesus Explains the Purpose of the Blindness – John 9:3-5

KJV ³ Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. ⁴ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. CEV ³ “No, it wasn't!” Jesus answered. “But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do what the one who sent me wants me to do. When night comes, no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.”

Jesus answers that the man's blindness is neither due to his sin nor his parents', but to display the works of God. He mentions that as long as it is day, He must do the works of Him who sent Him, and while He is in the world, He is the light of the world.

3. Healing the Blind Man – John 9:6-7

KJV ⁶ When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, ⁷ And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. CEV ⁶ After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man's eyes. ⁷ Then he said, “Go wash off the mud in Siloam Pool.” The man went and washed in Siloam, which means “One Who Is Sent.” When he had washed off the mud, he could see.

Jesus makes mud with His saliva, applies it to the man’s eyes, and tells him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys and returns seeing.

4. The Neighbors’ Reaction – John 9:8-12

KJV ⁸ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? ⁹ Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. ¹⁰ Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? ¹¹ He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. ¹² Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. CEV ⁸ The man's neighbors and the people who had seen him begging wondered if he really could be the same man. ⁹ Some of them said he was the same beggar, while others said he only looked like him. But he told them, “I am that man.” ¹⁰ “Then how can you see?” they asked. ¹¹ He answered, “Someone named Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. He told me to go and wash it off in Siloam Pool. When I did, I could see.” ¹² “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don't know,” he answered.

The neighbors and those who had seen the man begging are astonished and debate whether he is the same man. The healed man insists he is the one who was blind, and he explains how Jesus made him see.

5. Pharisees Investigate the Healing – John 9:13-16

KJV ¹³ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. ¹⁴ And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. ¹⁶ Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. CEV ^13-14 The day when Jesus made the mud and healed the man was a Sabbath. So the people took the man to the Pharisees. ¹⁵ They asked him how he was able to see, and he answered, “Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. Then after I washed it off, I could see.” ¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus doesn't come from God. If he did, he would not break the law of the Sabbath.” Others asked, “How could someone who is a sinner work such a miracle?”Since the Pharisees could not agree among themselves,

The neighbors bring the formerly blind man to the Pharisees. Since the healing occurred on the Sabbath, some Pharisees say Jesus is not from God for not keeping the Sabbath, while others argue that a sinner could not perform such signs. They are divided.