This verse is from the story of the man born blind in John chapter 9. After Jesus heals the man, the Pharisees (who are skeptical and hostile towards Jesus) question him relentlessly. The man stands firm in his testimony that he was blind and now he can see, thanks to Jesus.
The verse you're asking about comes after Jesus finds the man again. Let's look at the context:
Jesus: "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" (John 9:35)
The Man: "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" (John 9:36)
Meaning and Interpretation:
The man's question, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" reveals several things:
1. Desire to Believe: He expresses a willingness and desire to believe. He doesn't dismiss the idea or reject the question outright. He's open to faith.
2. Respect and Deference: He addresses Jesus as "Lord," which indicates a level of respect and perhaps a growing sense of Jesus' authority or special status. This is significant because earlier he only knew Jesus as "the man who is called Jesus" (John 9:11). The healing has impacted his perception.
3. Lack of Knowledge: He doesn't know who the "Son of Man" is. This title was a messianic title used by Jesus, but the man wouldn't necessarily be familiar with its full significance.
4. Implicit Trust: He's implicitly trusting that Jesus will provide him with the information he needs to believe. He asks the question believing that Jesus can answer it.
5. Innocence and Sincerity: The man's question comes across as sincere and guileless. He simply wants to know so he can believe. He's not trying to trick or challenge Jesus.
In short, the verse shows a man who has received a miraculous healing, is respectful towards the one who healed him, and is now open and eager to learn who this "Son of Man" is so that he can believe in him. He's on the cusp of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. This is powerful because the Pharisees, who should have recognized Jesus based on the Scriptures, are blinded by their own pride and preconceived notions. The man who was physically blind can now see spiritually.
The next verse (John 9:37) is crucial to understanding the full impact, as Jesus then identifies himself as the Son of Man. This leads to the man worshipping Jesus.
This verse is from the story of the man born blind in John chapter 9. After Jesus heals the man, the Pharisees (who are skeptical and hostile towards Jesus) question him relentlessly. The man stands firm in his testimony that he was blind and now he can see, thanks to Jesus.
The verse you're asking about comes after Jesus finds the man again. Let's look at the context:
Jesus: "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" (John 9:35)
The Man: "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" (John 9:36)
Meaning and Interpretation:
The man's question, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" reveals several things:
1. Desire to Believe: He expresses a willingness and desire to believe. He doesn't dismiss the idea or reject the question outright. He's open to faith.
2. Respect and Deference: He addresses Jesus as "Lord," which indicates a level of respect and perhaps a growing sense of Jesus' authority or special status. This is significant because earlier he only knew Jesus as "the man who is called Jesus" (John 9:11). The healing has impacted his perception.
3. Lack of Knowledge: He doesn't know who the "Son of Man" is. This title was a messianic title used by Jesus, but the man wouldn't necessarily be familiar with its full significance.
4. Implicit Trust: He's implicitly trusting that Jesus will provide him with the information he needs to believe. He asks the question believing that Jesus can answer it.
5. Innocence and Sincerity: The man's question comes across as sincere and guileless. He simply wants to know so he can believe. He's not trying to trick or challenge Jesus.
In short, the verse shows a man who has received a miraculous healing, is respectful towards the one who healed him, and is now open and eager to learn who this "Son of Man" is so that he can believe in him. He's on the cusp of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. This is powerful because the Pharisees, who should have recognized Jesus based on the Scriptures, are blinded by their own pride and preconceived notions. The man who was physically blind can now see spiritually.
The next verse (John 9:37) is crucial to understanding the full impact, as Jesus then identifies himself as the Son of Man. This leads to the man worshipping Jesus.
