John 9:37

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

John 9:37 (KJV)

Context

This verse comes at the climax of the story of a man who was blind from birth. Jesus healed him, and the religious leaders interrogated the man, eventually casting him out. Jesus then found him and asked, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” The man replied, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” (John 9:36). In verse 37, Jesus answers with a direct self-revelation: the very one the man has been seeking is now speaking to him.

Meaning

Jesus’ words point to immediate, tangible evidence. The man had not seen Jesus with his physical eyes when he was healed, because he was blind at that moment and Jesus had already departed. Yet he had perceived Jesus’ power working in him. Now Jesus says, “Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.” The Greek perfect tense for “thou hast seen” indicates a present state resulting from a past action: the man’s spiritual perception of Jesus’ power is now confirmed by his physical sight of Jesus and by hearing His voice. Jesus does not merely say “I am he”; He graciously identifies Himself in a way that connects the man’s past experience of healing with the present moment of encounter.

Biblical connections

This self-revelation resembles Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman: “I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:26). In both cases, Jesus reveals Himself to someone humble and lowly, not to the religious elite. The verse also sets up the contrast in John 9:39-41: the blind man now sees both physically and spiritually, while the Pharisees, who claim to see, remain in sin. The man’s response in John 9:38 is worship, which is due to God alone, affirming Jesus’ divine identity.

Application

This verse encourages us to seek and encounter Jesus personally. The man’s physical blindness served as a metaphor for spiritual blindness, but Jesus opened both his physical and spiritual eyes. Knowing Jesus is not merely hearing about Him or acknowledging Him as a historical figure; it requires a personal encounter with the living Savior. When we respond in faith, Jesus confirms our belief and gives us assurance and identity in Him. He is the one who opens our spiritual eyes and transforms our understanding, just as He did for the man born blind.

Reflection

Jesus still reveals Himself to those who seek Him, especially to the outcast and the humble. The man’s worship in response to Jesus’ self-revelation is a model for our own response. May we, like him, recognize Jesus as the Son of God and worship Him, experiencing the transformation, healing, and assurance that come from knowing Him intimately.