What is the meaning of John 9:20? His parents answered • The parents step into the spotlight only because the Pharisees refuse to accept the plain evidence of the miracle (John 9:18). • Their reply is direct and factual, avoiding debate or speculation. In doing so they model Proverbs 15:23: “A man takes joy in a fitting reply.” • Though pressured by authorities who have already threatened expulsion from the synagogue (John 9:22), they still speak the truth they personally know. Compare the similar tension in John 12:42, where many “believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him.” • Their measured answer underscores the reliability of eyewitness testimony, a theme John returns to often (John 19:35; 1 John 1:1-3). We know he is our son • This first certainty is anchored in intimate relationship. Parents are the primary witnesses to their child’s identity; no one can credibly dispute their word here. • Personal knowledge carries weight. The same principle appears in John 8:14 where Jesus says, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going.” • Their statement pushes back against any rumor that the healed man is an imposter. The Pharisees must reckon with genuine facts, not manufactured doubt. • The real-life connection between parent and child anticipates the believer’s assurance in Romans 8:16: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” and we know he was born blind • The second certainty addresses the man’s condition from birth, emphasizing the magnitude of the miracle. They are not talking about a temporary ailment but a lifelong disability (John 9:1). • Acts 3:2 records a parallel example—“a man lame from birth”—highlighting how God often uses undeniable, lifelong conditions to display His power unmistakably. • Recognizing congenital blindness also echoes the spiritual reality that every person is born incapable of seeing God’s kingdom apart from His intervention (John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4). • By stating the former blindness plainly, the parents remove any escape hatch for skeptics: either accept the miracle or reject clear evidence, echoing the challenge Elijah posed in 1 Kings 18:21. summary John 9:20 presents two simple, uncontested facts—parentage and congenital blindness—confirmed by the very people most qualified to testify. Their brief, truthful answer builds an unshakable foundation for the miracle’s authenticity, leaving the Pharisees to confront the works of God or harden their hearts. The verse reminds us that honest testimony, even when offered under pressure, powerfully affirms God’s deeds and points listeners to the undeniable reality of Jesus’ saving power. |
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