What does John 9:4 mean by "the works of Him who sent Me"? Original Text “While it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4) Immediate Narrative Setting Jesus has just encountered a man blind from birth (John 9:1–3). In response to the disciples’ question about sin and blindness, He declares that the man’s condition exists “so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (v. 3). Verse 4 flows directly from that purpose statement: the forthcoming miracle of sight is part of a larger, divinely appointed portfolio of works that must be accomplished during the limited window of opportunity that Jesus metaphorically calls “day.” Key Vocabulary • Works (ἔργα): tangible, observable actions commissioned by the Father—miracles, teachings, acts of compassion, and ultimately the atoning death and resurrection (John 5:36; 17:4; 19:30). • Him who sent Me: a Johannine shorthand for the Father, underscoring divine origin and authority (cf. John 3:17; 5:23). • Day/Night: a temporal metaphor. “Day” is the period of earthly ministry when the incarnate Word is physically present and active; “night” anticipates the crucifixion, burial, and the growing hostility that will temporarily silence the public ministry (John 12:35). By extension, “night” also prefigures eschatological judgment when the chance to respond ends. Theological Dimensions 1. Christological Mission: Jesus acts as the sent One (Isaiah 61:1–2) whose works reveal the Father’s character (John 14:9–11). Every miracle is an enacted parable of salvation; opening physical eyes previews the spiritual illumination granted through faith (2 Corinthians 4:6). 2. Soteriological Focus: The culmination of “works” is the cross (“It is finished,” John 19:30). The resurrection ratifies those works (Romans 4:25), supplying the unassailable evidence for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). 3. Eschatological Urgency: The limited daylight parallels Genesis-style creation days (Genesis 1; Hebrews 4:3–4). Just as God completed creative “works” within a defined six-day frame (Exodus 20:11), so the incarnate Son completes redemptive works in the allotted earthly span (Galatians 4:4). 4. Pneumatological Continuity: After Jesus’ ascension, the Spirit empowers the church to continue the same works (John 14:12; Acts 1:8), ensuring the mission’s perpetuity until the final “night” of judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). Old Testament Roots The phrase “works of God” echoes creation (“By the seventh day God completed His work,” Genesis 2:2) and deliverance (Exodus 34:10). Prophets foretold a Servant who would open blind eyes (Isaiah 42:6–7). The healing in John 9 fulfills that trajectory, reinforcing Scripture’s unity. New Testament Parallels • John 4:34—“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” • John 5:17—“My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” These statements frame Jesus’ life as a relentless pursuit of the Father’s agenda, culminating in John 17:4, where He declares that He has “finished the work” given Him. Ethical and Missional Implications for Believers Because the reading “we must” includes followers, the verse functions as a vocational summons. Believers are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10) and are to conduct those works “while it is day,” leveraging the remaining time before Christ’s return (Matthew 24:14; 1 Peter 4:7–11). The pattern combines proclamation with demonstration—word paired with compassionate deeds—reflecting Jesus’ holistic ministry. Answer to the Question “The works of Him who sent Me” encompass every divinely authorized action—miraculous, moral, and redemptive—that Jesus performs to reveal the Father, climaxing in the cross and resurrection. The phrase charges all disciples to join in those works with urgency, knowing the present era of opportunity (“day”) will give way to a coming closure (“night”). |
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