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John 9:1-41

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Comparative texts about Sacred Days and Seasons (inc Sabbath) from DSS, Mishnah, Babylonian Talmud, etc. Primary comparative texts of Rabbinic Wisdom (inc Sabbath and Passover restrictions) from Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University.
  • "The World's Light," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • XXXVI.10-47; XXXVII.1-3; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • II.XVII.9, V.XIII.1, V.XV.2, 3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter XXII, Chapter XXIII, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • V.IV, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
  • I.5, I.24, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • VII.XXXIX, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • Epistle LXIII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 253)
  • Epistle LXIX -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 255)
  • Epistle LXVII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 257)
  • Part 38, On the Incarnation of the Word, Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 318.
  • From Augustine's Tractates on John: Tractate XLIV (Chapter 9).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Religion is assaulted most by the pretence of religion: but the more it is pressed down, the more it rises up."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "So had God opened the eyes of his understanding, as well as his bodily eyes."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "We are not justified in asserting that the sufferer is a sinner."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Healing of a Man Born Blind, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
  • Lent 4, John 9:1-41, a telling and video performance criticism, Tracy Radosevic, NBSINT, 2011. (At YouTube)
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Commentary, John 9:1-41 (Lent 4A), Meda Stamper, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "As the fruit of Jesus' vine, we are on display and stand for something Other."
  • dirt 'n spit 'n life, Fr. Rick Moley, a garden path, 2011.
    • "Let's not look on people like they're poor slobs, and wonder at how blessed we are. Let's reach out - into the dirt - if we have to. Let's dirty our hands. And let's bring the Life that Jesus brings."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "It has been suggested that the origins of denominations occurred when the healed blind men met each other."
  • Exegesis and Sermon Suggestions, "Sight and Insight," John R.Brokhoff, SermonSuite, 2011.
    • "With a whole chapter for a preaching text, many themes are possible coming from individual texts that may not be related to the overall theme of the chapter. Some of these may or may not be connected with the miracle of giving sight to a man born blind."
  • "Now I See," David Lose, WorkingPreacher, 2011.
    • "Some passages are simply too rich to be only heard. They need to be experienced. Such is the case with this week's story of the man born blind in John 9."
  • "Creative Sin," Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "The Pharisees, in John, see God work as restrictive. Jesus sees God’s work as permissive."
  • Who Sinned That This Child Was Born Uninsurable? Gunnar Cerda, Sojourners, 2009.
  • "Does God Have a Beard?," Neil Chappell, aweirdthing, 2011.
  • "If I’ve learnt in this life that there are two types of questions, then I’ve also discovered that there are two types of question-askers. There are those who want to ask questions, and there are those who want to discover answers."
  • "Jesus, the Blind Man, and Spiritual Vision," Reflections on John 9:1-41, Alyce McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2011.
  • "Our text, John 9:1-41, is Jesus' sixth sign in the Gospel of John. It shows us what the Prologue has already told us: that he is the One sent from God to be the light of the world."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, John 9:1-41, David Ewart, 2011.
    • "Jeremiah 5:21 would be a good text to introduce this story: 'Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear.' Jesus can cure the blind. Getting us to see past our own self-interest - to see the glory of God in the lowest and the least - now THAT would be a real miracle."
  • "Seeing for the First Time," Carl Gregg, Patheos, 2011.
    • "Nancy Eiesland, Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion at Emory University in Atlanta, is one of a number of theologians that have spent a lot of time in recent years studying our text for today as well as related texts.  They are working on what has been called a 'liberation theology of disability.'"
  • Commentary, John 9:1-41, Karoline Lewis, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Lent 4," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Obsession with observance is a characteristic of religion which makes it very dangerous, as many forms of fundamentalism have shown, not least the recent most violent. Such rigidity at the expense of people is not, however, limited to certain widely acknowledged types, but can flourish on both the left wing and the right, among the biblicists and among those serving other ideologies."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Jesus and the Man Born Blind," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
    • "The Pharisees had their blind spots and we too have personal blind spots."
  • Dylan's Lectionary Blog, Lent 4. Biblical Scholar Sarah Dylan Breuer looks at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary of the Episcopal Church, 2005.
    • "We cannot be light to the world until we can see that light in the eyes of beggars in our town and in our global village, welcoming that light as Christ's presence among us and receiving each bearer as a neighbor, a brother or sister with a face and a name."
  • "Things Done in the Dark," Paul Bellan-Boyer, I heard of a city called Heaven.
    • "Yes, we already know quite enough about darkness. The problem is when we walk in darkness, when we?re accustomed to it, we need the light to show us the way out."
  • "Third Sunday in Lent: John 9:1-41," New Sight, New Life: Lenten Gospels, Gracia Grindal, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1996.
  • "Discipleship in John: Four Profiles," Mark F. Whitters, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Volume XVIII, Number 4, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1998.
    • "Reviewing Jesus' encounter with four potential disciples in John's Gospel can help us understand our own discipleship -- potential and real."
  • "The Gift of True Sight," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "Have you ever played a game with a blindfold? Or, have you ever been on a trust walk, where you are blindfolded and led by another person?"
  • "That God Might Be Glorified," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "The Light of the World (John 9)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Our Lord came not only to deal with the symptom of suffering, but its root, which is sin."
  • Commentary by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "The blind man received sight physically; this led him to see spiritually as well. But the Pharisees, who claimed to possess spiritual sight, are spiritually blinded."
  • Lectionary Commentary and Preaching Paths (Lent A4), by Jirair Tashjian, at The Christian Resource Institute.
    • "There is no suggestion here that we believe uncritically anything that comes along. On the other hand, humility in the presence of God?s mysterious ways is a proper attitude to have."
  • "Behold My Servant," David L. Roth, in Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed).
    • "John 9, then, is about this light. It is about Jesus?light sent from the Father. It is about Jesus whose life is the light of men. And I suppose John 9 is about darkness too. At least in so far as the failure of the darkness is concerned. The failure of the darkness to comprehend (or "overpower") the light."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Jesus as Healer," John J. Pilch, (other resources at) "Health," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
    • "As a folk healer, Jesus restored meaning to people?s lives...Are we engaged in life-giving or death-dealing deeds? Are we restoring meaning to life, or robbing it of the meaning intended by the Creator?"
  • "Healing the Blind and the Sighted: Biblical Images Particularly John 9 and 21st Century Implications," Katherine Schneider, PhD, Queen: A Journal of Rhetoric and Power.(.pdf)
    • "The images of the blind in the New Testament have stigmatized and made ill the very people that the stories discussed curing. This paper considers, from a blind woman psychologist's perspective, ways to revision these images to heal both the blind individual and the faith community."
  • "The Eighth Day," David B. Capes, (other resources at) "Sabbath," Christian Reflection, 2006.
    • "When they celebrated Sunday as 'the eighth day,' early Christian signaled that God's new creation had begun in the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
  • "Miracles, In Other Words: Social Science Perspectives on Healings," Jerome H. Neyrey, University of Notre Dame, 1995.
    • "...we should attend to the institution in which the healing takes place, either kinship or politics. What roles does the family have in an illness? How are they socially and economically affected? What role do they play in the seeking of a cure? What costs do they pay or debts to they incur? What if the healing occurs in the political realm, even if this is a healing shrine such as the temple of Asclepius at Epidaurus? Healings, moreover, might have important political implications, for "prophets" arose, echoing themes of liberation and freedom. The political significance of the account of the healing by the Jewish Eleazar before the emperor Vespasian and his retinue should not be discounted (Josephus. Ant. 8.45-48)."
  • "Magic, Miracles, and The Gospel," L. Michael White. PBS From Jesus to Christ.
    • "Probably in some ways, and more than any other issue within the development of early Christianity and the gospels tradition, miracles present one of the problematic areas."
  • "The Disabled God," Burton Cooper, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Theology Today 1992.
    • "I have learned some things from listening to Christians with disabilities, and I am persuaded that by thinking of God as disabled-metaphorically, of course-we can deepen our understanding of the nature of God's creative and redemptive love."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Cooper, Burton, "The Disabled God," Theology Today, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Craddock, Fred B., "Coping in Jesus' Absence," The Christian Century, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Farmer, David Albert, "John 9," Interpretation, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Grigsby, Bruce, "Washing in the Pool of Siloam -- A Thematic Anticipation of the Johannine Cross," Novum Testamentum, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Grindal, Gracia, "New Sight, New Life: Lenten Gospels," Word & World, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • "Homiletical Helps," Concordia Journal, 2011. (Section on this text begins on page 70)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • "Homiletical Helps on LW Series A," Concordia Journal, 2005. (Section on this text begins on page 66)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Howard, James M., "The Significance of Minor Characters in the Gospel of John," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006. (see section beginning on page 73)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lischer, Richard, "Acknowledgment," The Christian Century, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Painter, John, "John 9 and the Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ringe, Sharon H., "'Holy, as the Lord Your God Commanded You," Sabbath in the New Testament," Interpretation, 2005. (See also entire issue of Interpretation devoted to Sabbath, 2005.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ross-Gotta, Loretta F., "The Man Born Blind," Theology Today, 1982. (Poetry)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Staley, Jeffrey L., "Stumbling in the Dark, Reaching for the Light: Reading Character in John 5 and 9," Semeia, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Streets, Frederick J., "Light," The Christian Century, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Taylor, Barbara Brown, "Willing to Believe," The Christian Century, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Thatcher, Tom, "The Sabbath Trick: Unstable Irony in the Fourth Gospel," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Whitters, Mark F., "Discipleship in John: Four Profiles," Word & World, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wynn, Kerry H., "Johannine Healings and the Otherness of Disability," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Blindness of the Heart," the Rev.Dr.Wiley Stephens, Day 1, 2011.
  • "Jesus the Magician," Bishop William H. Willimon, Day 1, 2010.
    
  • "There Was a Man Born Blind," the Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, Day 1, 2008.
  • "Poirot or Corot: On Asking the Right Questions," J. Barrie Shepherd, 2003. Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
  • "Seeing Is Believing," the Rev. J. Barrie Shepherd, 2004. Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
  • "Blindness," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist":
    • Lent 4, 2011
    • Lent 4, 2008
    • Lent 4, 2005
    • Lent 4, 2002
    • Lent 4, 2000
    • Lent 4, 1999
    • Lent 4, 1996
• With Children:
  • What You See, Anna Shirey, Anna's Hosannas, Children's Lesson for Lent 4A, 2011.
  • "Jesus Heals the Sick," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "To God Be the Glory," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Jesus Heals a Blind Man on the Sabbath," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Jesus Heals the Blind Man," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • Crossword on John 9 & 10, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
  • Jesus Heals a Blind Man Wordsearch, Jesus Performs a Miracle word jumble, sermons4kids.com.
  • John 9:25, memory verse activity, MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories.
• Drama:
  • "Man Born Blind," Reader's Theater, Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, 2012.
  • "The Man Born Blind," Andy Lund, dramatix.
  • "Separation of Church and State," Jon Segroves and Tangelia Cannon, dramatix.
  • "The Light of the World," John McNeil, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, John 9:7, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • John 9:1-41, Lectionary Clipart, Hermanoleon Clipart.
  • Clip Art Images: John 9:1-41, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • John 9:1-41, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • John 9:1-41, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Lent 4, John 9:1-41, a telling and video performance criticism, Tracy Radosevic, NBSINT, 2011. (At YouTube)
• Hymns and Music:
  • A Man Who Could Not See Text:  Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Tune: LEONI 6.6.8.4 (“The God of Abraham Praise”)  A new hymn based on John 9:1-41 that was written for The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for Lent 2011 and available with the music.
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 9:4, 25, 31. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • "Do Good Works," TEXT: Mark Ryman (2005) based on John 9:1-41. TUNE: "Dix." New Hymns for the Lectionary.
  • The Billabong, by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia: scroll down for hymn suggestions.
  • Hymn selections, (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Now Praise the Hidden God of Love
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Christ Healing the Blind
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Healing
  • Seeing/Seeing in New Ways
  • Alternate Realities
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of John

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• NARRATIVE LECTIONARY RESOURCES
• DAILY LECTIONARY RESOURCES
• FESTIVALS/SPECIAL DAYS (includes Creation)
• FOR USE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE
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• FOR USE IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER

• Year C
• Maundy Thurs Apr 14
• Good Friday Apr 15
• Easter Day Apr 17
• Easter 2 Apr 24
• Easter 3 May 1
• Easter 4 May 8
• Easter 5 May 15
• Easter 6 May 22
• Ascension May 26
• Easter 7 May 29
• Pentecost June 5
  

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