John 9:21 - but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”
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What does "John 9:21" mean?
This verse from John 9:21 comes from the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. The Pharisees are questioning the man and his parents, trying to determine if a miracle truly occurred and whether Jesus is a righteous figure.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"but how he now sees, we don’t know;": The parents are stating that they don't know the mechanism by which their son's sight was restored. They can attest to the fact that he was blind and now he can see, but they have no explanation for how it happened.
"or who opened his eyes, we don’t know.": Similarly, they claim ignorance about who performed the healing. They're hedging, likely out of fear of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known for their strict interpretations of the law and their opposition to Jesus. If the parents admitted Jesus had healed their son, they could face expulsion from the synagogue and social ostracization.
"He is of age.": This is a crucial point. In that culture, legal responsibility came with age. The parents are saying their son is old enough to speak for himself, to be held accountable for his own testimony. They are shifting the responsibility of the interrogation onto him.
"Ask him. He will speak for himself.": This reinforces the previous point. They are deliberately deflecting the Pharisees' questions and suggesting that the Pharisees directly ask the son about his experience. They are essentially saying, "We're not going to incriminate ourselves or get involved in your argument with this man. He can tell you what happened."
In essence, the parents are playing it safe. They acknowledge their son's miraculous healing but avoid explicitly endorsing Jesus as the one who performed it, hoping to avoid any negative consequences from the Pharisees. They are using the cultural norm of adulthood and individual responsibility as a shield.
This verse highlights the tension and fear surrounding Jesus during his ministry. It shows how people were caught between witnessing potentially divine acts and the potential repercussions of openly supporting him.
John 9:21 - but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”
What does "John 9:21" mean?
This verse from John 9:21 comes from the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. The Pharisees are questioning the man and his parents, trying to determine if a miracle truly occurred and whether Jesus is a righteous figure.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"but how he now sees, we don’t know;": The parents are stating that they don't know the mechanism by which their son's sight was restored. They can attest to the fact that he was blind and now he can see, but they have no explanation for how it happened.
"or who opened his eyes, we don’t know.": Similarly, they claim ignorance about who performed the healing. They're hedging, likely out of fear of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known for their strict interpretations of the law and their opposition to Jesus. If the parents admitted Jesus had healed their son, they could face expulsion from the synagogue and social ostracization.
"He is of age.": This is a crucial point. In that culture, legal responsibility came with age. The parents are saying their son is old enough to speak for himself, to be held accountable for his own testimony. They are shifting the responsibility of the interrogation onto him.
"Ask him. He will speak for himself.": This reinforces the previous point. They are deliberately deflecting the Pharisees' questions and suggesting that the Pharisees directly ask the son about his experience. They are essentially saying, "We're not going to incriminate ourselves or get involved in your argument with this man. He can tell you what happened."
In essence, the parents are playing it safe. They acknowledge their son's miraculous healing but avoid explicitly endorsing Jesus as the one who performed it, hoping to avoid any negative consequences from the Pharisees. They are using the cultural norm of adulthood and individual responsibility as a shield.
This verse highlights the tension and fear surrounding Jesus during his ministry. It shows how people were caught between witnessing potentially divine acts and the potential repercussions of openly supporting him.