Joh 9:1-41 chiastic structure:
1a) Joh 9:1, Natural blindness: As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth ;
1b) Joh 9:2-5, Jesus: This man did not sin [a judgment]/ as long as I am in the world, I am its light;
1a) Joh 9:2, Disciples: Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind;
1b) Joh 9:3a, Jesus: Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God;
central axis) Joh 9:3b, Should be revealed in him;
2b) Joh 9:4, I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day/night when no one can work;
2a) Joh 9:5, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world;
1c) Joh 9:6-7, The man born blind receives his natural sight;
1d) Joh 9:8-11, The man’s witness to the people;
central axis) Joh 9:12, Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know;”
2d) Joh 9:13-34, The man’s witness to the Pharisees;
1a) Joh 9:13-14, They brought him to the Pharisees/ it was a Sabbath when Jesus opened his eyes;
1b) Joh 9:15a, The Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight;
1c) Joh 9:15b, He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see;”
1d) Joh 9:16, They disputed among them: This Man is not from God;
1e) Joh 9:17, The Pharisees: What do you say about Him? The man answered: He is a prophet;
central axis) Joh 9:18-21, The testimony of his parents;
2e) Joh 9:22-23, If anyone confessed that He was Christ;
1a) Joh 9:22a, His parents said these things;
1b) Joh 9:22b, Because they feared the Jews;
central axis) Joh 9:22c, For the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ;
2b) Joh 9:22d, He would be put out of the synagogue;
2a) Joh 9:23, Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him;”
2d) Joh 9:24, The Pharisees: We know that this Man is a sinner;
2c) Joh 9:25, He said: I do not know that. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see;
2b) Joh 9:26-34a, The Pharisees asked him again how Jesus opened his eyes;
1a) Joh 9:26-27, The Pharisees: How did He open your eyes/ he answered: I told you + you did not listen;
1b) Joh 9:28-30a, The Pharisees: We do not know where He is from/ the man: that is a marvel;
1c) Joh 9:30b, The man: Yet He has opened my eyes;
1d) Joh 9:31a, The man: Now we know that God does not hear sinners;
2d) Joh 9:31b, The man: But if anyone is a worshiper of God + does His will, He hears him;
2c) Joh 9:32, The man: It is unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind;
2b) Joh 9:33, The man: If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing;
2a) Joh 9:34a, The Pharisees: You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?
2a) Joh 9:34b, And they cast him out;
2c) Joh 9:35-38, The man born blind receives his spiritual sight;
1a) Joh 9:35, When Jesus found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
1b) Joh 9:36, He said: “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
2b) Joh 9:37, Jesus said: “You have seen Him/ it is He who is talking with you;”
2a) Joh 9:38, He said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him;
2b) Joh 9:39a, Jesus: For judgment I have come into this world;
2a) Joh 9:39b-41, Spiritual blindness.
We all are in need of healing from blindness. The advantage the man who was born blind had over the Pharisees, was that he knew his need. ♥
Leave a Reply