How does John 9:20 demonstrate the parents' acknowledgment of their son's identity? Setting the Scene John 9 recounts Jesus healing a man blind from birth. The astonished neighbors drag the once-blind man before the Pharisees, who in turn summon his parents to verify the miracle. Verse 20 captures the parents’ crucial response. Scripture Focus John 9:20: “His parents answered, ‘We know that he is our son and that he was born blind.’” The Parents’ Explicit Testimony • They affirm biological connection: “he is our son.” • They affirm historical fact: “he was born blind.” • Their statement rules out any possibility of mistaken identity or fabricated blindness. Why This Matters • Establishes legal witness—In Jewish law, two or three witnesses confirm truth (Deuteronomy 19:15). Father and mother together provide the needed testimony. • Undercuts Pharisaic skepticism—By acknowledging their son’s lifelong blindness, they verify the genuineness of Jesus’ miracle. • Highlights divine power—Only someone acting with God’s authority could reverse a congenital condition (Exodus 4:11). • Protects scriptural integrity—The narrative depends on authentic testimony; the parents’ words anchor the historical reliability of the event. Parallels Elsewhere in Scripture • Luke 7:22—Jesus points to visible proofs: “the blind receive sight.” Tangible evidence validates His mission. • Acts 4:14—Even hostile leaders cannot deny an evident miracle: “seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say.” • Isaiah 35:5—Prophecy anticipates Messiah opening blind eyes; the parents’ admission confirms fulfillment. Takeaway Truths • God provides trustworthy witnesses so every generation can have confidence in the biblical record (2 Peter 1:16). • A simple, honest confession—“Yes, this is our son; yes, he was blind”—can silence doubt and glorify Christ. • Parents, by affirming truth despite pressure, model fidelity to facts over fear of human authorities. John 9:20 therefore stands as a clear acknowledgment of identity and condition, anchoring the miracle in verifiable reality and pointing unambiguously to the power and authenticity of Jesus. |
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