Spiritual blindness (John 9:35-41)

In this passage, Jesus hears that the man born blind, whom he healed earlier, has been cast out of the synagogue after being interrogated by the Pharisees. Jesus steps in to teach the last part of the whole narrative event.

When Jesus seeks him out he asks him, if he believes in the Son of Man (Σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; [Sy pisteueis eis ton Huion tou anthrōpou?]). The man responds, asking who the Son of Man is so that he can believe in him (Καὶ τίς ἐστιν, κύριε, ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς αὐτόν; [Kai tis estin, kurie, hina pisteusō eis auton?]). Jesus reveals himself as the Son of Man, and the man immediately responds in faith, saying, "Lord, I believe," (Πιστεύω, κύριε [Pisteuō, kurie]) and worships Jesus (προσκυνέω [prosekunēo]).

Jesus then makes a profound statement about judgment: “For judgment, I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (Εἰς κρίμα ἐγὼ εἰς τὸν κόσμον τοῦτον ἦλθον, ἵνα οἱ μὴ βλέποντες βλέπωσιν, καὶ οἱ βλέποντες τυφλοὶ γένωνται [Eis krima egō eis ton kosmon touton ēlthon, hina hoi mē blepontes bleposin, kai hoi blepontes typhloi genōntai]). Some Pharisees overhear this and ask if they are also blind. Jesus responds by saying that if they were truly blind, they would be without sin, but because they claim to see, their guilt remains.

The passage addresses the themes of spiritual sight versus blindness and belief versus unbelief. Jesus’ role as the "Son of Man" (Υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου [Huion tou anthrōpou]) is central, as it affirms his divine authority and his mission to bring both judgment and salvation. Those who recognize their own spiritual blindness are open to receiving true sight from Jesus, while those who believe they already see (like the Pharisees) are condemned because their spiritual arrogance prevents them from recognizing the truth.

The passage challenges readers to consider their own spiritual state—whether they are like the blind man, who is humble and open to faith, or like the Pharisees, who are blind in their self-righteousness. Jesus’ declaration that he has come for judgment introduces the paradox that only those who acknowledge their blindness can truly see, while those who claim sight remain in their sin.