JOHN 9:24–34
THE COURAGEOUS CONFESSION OF THE HEALED MAN
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – John 9:24–34
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
26 So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
28 They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses!
29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”
30 The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
32 It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
33 If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”
34 They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.
Historical and Jewish Context
The command “Give God the praise” was a legal formula used to compel truth, often implying that the accused was lying or sinful. The authorities assume Jesus is a sinner because He healed on the Sabbath. The healed man, untrained in formal theology, nonetheless reasons clearly from Jewish belief: God does not empower sinners to perform divine signs. His expulsion from the synagogue represents complete social and religious exclusion, underscoring the high cost of truth-telling and faith in Jesus during this period.
Catholic Theological Perspective
This passage reveals the power of personal encounter with Christ. Catholic theology affirms that authentic faith does not depend on education or status but on openness to grace. The man’s simple confession—“I was blind and now I see”—becomes a powerful testimony. His growth in faith contrasts sharply with the leaders’ hardened unbelief. Excommunication here foreshadows the suffering and marginalization faced by believers who choose Christ over institutional security.
Parallels in Scripture
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord as light and salvation.
Jeremiah 1:7 – God giving words to the humble.
Acts 4:13 – Bold witness without formal training.
1 Corinthians 1:27 – God choosing the weak.
Matthew 5:11 – Blessed are the persecuted.
Key Terms
Give God the praise – Legal demand for confession.
Blind / see – From ignorance to faith.
Disciple – One who follows and learns.
From God – Divine authority.
Threw him out – Cost of discipleship.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is proclaimed during Lent, especially for catechumens preparing for Baptism. The Church presents the healed man as a model of courageous witness and growing faith amid opposition.
Conclusion
John 9:24–34 portrays the triumph of truth over intimidation. The healed man moves from gratitude to bold confession, even at the cost of exclusion. His witness challenges believers to stand firm in faith despite opposition.
Reflection
Am I willing to speak truth when it costs me comfort or approval?
Do I trust personal encounter with Christ more than human authority?
How do I respond when my faith is challenged?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You opened the eyes of the blind and strengthened his voice to confess the truth. Grant me courage to witness to You with honesty and humility, even when it leads to rejection. Keep me faithful to You above all else. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
(24) So a second time the Pharisees called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give God the praise, we know that this man is a sinner”
The parents’ answer did not satisfy the Pharisees. The formerly blind was not present when they questioned the parents. So they called him. Since the Pharisees had animosity towards Jesus, they tried to force the healed man to change his testimony. They tried to convince him that Jesus was a sinner and that he had been misled. “Give God the praise” is a solemn formula enjoining upon the witness to testify truthfully lest he incur the wrath of God. When Joshua questioned Achan on his mistake, Joshua said, “‘My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and praise him by telling me what you have done; do not hide it from me.’ Achan answered Joshua, ‘I have indeed sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel’ ” (Josh 7:19-20). The Pharisees were expecting a similar admission from the cured beggar.
(25) He replied, “I do not know whether he is a sinner or not; I only know that I was blind and now I see”
The formerly blind man asserted that he had been blind and (thanks to Jesus) he could now see. So according to his simple logic, Jesus could not be a sinner because sinners cannot do such miracles. His personal experience made it impossible for him to agree with the Pharisees. Even at the risk of expulsion from the synagogue, he affirmed his faith in Jesus.
(26) They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
The Pharisees began cross-questioning the illiterate man. They intended to find somehow or the other, inconsistencies in his answers. They also wanted to fault Jesus on his ‘violations’ of the Sabbath code.
(27) He replied, “I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
The formerly blind man quickly understood the game. Instead of answering the Pharisees, he went on the offensive. He taunted his questioners. He correctly guessed that Jesus had disciples because he had heard them asking Jesus about the cause of his blindness.
(28) Then they started abusing him. “You are that fellow’s disciple, but we are disciples of Moses”
Seeing that their man was not getting cowed down, the Pharisees became aggressive. They denigrated Jesus with the label of “that fellow” implying that it was foolishness to become his disciple when there already was a very high role model in Moses, whose disciples they were. The irony was that a genuine disciple of Moses should naturally become a follower of Jesus because Moses had written and prophesied about Christ.
(29) “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man we do not know where he comes from”
Pharisees knew that God had spoken to Moses, especially on Mount Sinai. However, Moses had not seen God face to face in full glory. God told Moses, “You cannot see my face because no one can see me and live” (Ex 33:20). The Pharisees were spiritually blind and hence could not perceive that Jesus was from God, indeed he was God incarnate.
(30) The man replied, “It is amazing that you do not know where the man comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes!”
The formerly blind man could not reconcile the Pharisees’ lofty theological arguments with his down-to-earth experience of getting 20-20 vision. For him, the opening of his eyes was all the proof that he needed about who was the real master.
(31) “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone honours God and does his will, God listens to him”
The formerly blind beggar now spoke with rare insight. Faith had been kindled in him. Using the Pharisees’ arguments, he affirmed that Jesus could not be a sinner. God listened to Jesus to perform the miracle because Jesus was doing God’s will.
(32) “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person who was born blind. (33) If this man were not from God, he could do nothing”
The only instance of healing from blindness in the Old Testament was Tobit’s. However, he was not a case of being born blind. That made Jesus’ miracle to stand out and become a proof for his messiahship. His simple argument that no one could do such a miracle unless he was from God was a forceful counter to the Pharisaic objections. It was a fulfilment of what Jesus had declared in Luke 10:21, “Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and made them known to little children.’” This childlike and uneducated person knew more about God than the learned Pharisees.
(34) They answered him, “You were born a sinner and you teach us!” And they threw him out
The Pharisees could not stomach the man’s insolence. They still considered him accursed and therefore below their dignity to engage in a conversation with. So, they punished him by expelling him from the community.