lectionary.com

Lenten Season · Fourth Sunday of Lent · Year C

If Second Scrutiny of the Elect: John 9:1-41 or John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

Christ Healing the Blind, El Greco
Christ Healing the Blind, El Greco, c. 1570Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
An early Venetian-period work, set in a deep classical perspective with the healing happening at the front and an argument already breaking out behind.The blind receive their sight, the lame walk: this is the answer sent back to John in prison, and the painting is one item of the list.El GrecoA Cretan icon painter who trained in Venice and settled in Toledo, where he stretched his figures into something no other century has imitated successfully.Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe largest art museum in the Americas, founded in 1870 by a group of New Yorkers who wanted one and had no collection to start from.Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Overview & Insights

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)

The temple discourse is over, but Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem continues with no discernible break in the narrative. Having escaped death by stoning, Jesus “slipped away from the temple grounds” (8:59), and, as he went along (apparently just outside the sacred precincts), he noticed a man blind from birth (v. 1). Despite the smooth transition, it is clear that a new chapter, indeed a new division in the structure of the Gospel, is under way. Jesus’ disciples, out of the picture since the end of chapter 6, are with him again (v. 2), and once more Jesus will assume the role of miracle-worker. The healing of the man born blind gives rise to a series of investigations by the religious authorities (vv. 13–34) and finally to the blind man’s confession of faith (vv. 35–41) and a new discourse in which Jesus confronts the authorities for the last time with the word of God (chap. 10).

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: If Second Scrutiny of the Elect: John 9:1-41 or John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

Commentary

Background & Word Study

The Church Fathers

Sermons & Reflections

Podcast

Art & Music

Study Hub

Questions preachers ask

What does the healing of the man born blind reveal?

Jesus gives sight to a man born blind, and as the healed man grows in faith the seeing leaders grow blind, a Lenten Gospel of coming to the light.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.