What is the meaning of John 9:18? The Jews still did not believe “The Jews still did not believe…” (John 9:18) • Their skepticism echoes earlier resistance to Jesus’ testimony (John 5:38-40; 12:37). • Unbelief is not merely intellectual; it is spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4). • Repeated signs had been given—water to wine (John 2:11), feeding the multitude (John 6:14)—yet hardened hearts chose doubt over faith (Mark 6:52). • The narrative reminds us that evidence alone cannot force belief; a yielded heart is required (Hebrews 3:12-13). that the man had been blind “…that the man had been blind…” • Scripture states plainly that he was “blind from birth” (John 9:1); this was no temporary ailment. • Other lifelong conditions attest to God’s power to restore what humanity cannot (Acts 3:2; Luke 13:11-13). • His blindness set the stage for Jesus to fulfill messianic prophecies: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened” (Isaiah 35:5). • The physical reality of his handicap underscores the literal nature of the miracle. and had received his sight “…and had received his sight…” • Jesus’ command, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam,” resulted in immediate vision (John 9:7). • Psalm 146:8 affirms, “The LORD opens the eyes of the blind,” showing continuity between Old Testament promise and New Testament fulfillment. • Jesus pointed to such works as proof of His divine mission (Luke 7:22). • The man’s restored sight is both a physical fact and a spiritual signpost pointing to Jesus as “the light of the world” (John 8:12). until they summoned his parents “…until they summoned his parents.” • The religious leaders launched an informal inquest, similar to later interrogations of the apostles (Acts 4:18-21). • Fear of excommunication loomed large (John 9:22), showing the cost of confessing Christ openly. • By calling the parents, the leaders hoped to discredit the miracle; yet their inquiry only confirmed it (John 9:20-21). • This moment reveals how stubborn unbelief seeks additional witnesses not for truth but for grounds to dismiss truth (John 12:42-43). summary John 9:18 portrays determined unbelief in the face of undeniable evidence. The leaders doubted the man’s congenital blindness, the authenticity of his healing, and even summoned his parents—yet every step only reinforced the miracle. Their hardness contrasts with the man’s growing faith, highlighting that encountering Jesus demands a heart response. The verse invites readers to move from skepticism to trust, recognizing Jesus as the promised Messiah who literally opens blind eyes—physically and spiritually. |
    |