John 9:27

“27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?”

In this verse, we find the context of a miraculous healing performed by Jesus. He had encountered a man who was born blind, and Jesus restored his sight. This event led to a series of interactions between the Pharisees, the religious leaders of that time, and the man who was healed.

Background:The chapter begins with Jesus and His disciples coming across a man who was blind from birth. The disciples asked Jesus whether the man’s blindness was due to his own sin or that of his parents. Jesus clarified that neither the man nor his parents were responsible for his blindness but that the works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:3).

The Healing:Jesus then proceeded to heal the blind man by spitting on the ground, making clay with the saliva, and anointing the man’s eyes with the clay. He instructed the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. Upon doing so, the man’s sight was restored, and he could see for the first time in his life (John 9:6-7).

Interactions with the Pharisees:The miraculous healing caused astonishment and confusion among the people. They brought the formerly blind man to the Pharisees, who sought to understand the source of this remarkable event. The Pharisees questioned the man about how he received his sight, and he recounted the details of Jesus’ healing.

The Response of the Man:In John 9:27, we see the man responding to the Pharisees’ continued questioning. His response carries a hint of sarcasm and frustration. He told them, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?”

The Meaning:The man who was healed had already provided a straightforward account of his healing, but the Pharisees remained unconvinced. His response reflects his exasperation with their persistence. By asking if they wanted to become disciples of Jesus as well, he might have been implying that they were being unreasonable and should be open to considering Jesus’ actions as evidence of His divine nature.

This verse highlights the contrast between the open-mindedness of the man who was healed and the closed-mindedness of the Pharisees. The man’s response not only reveals his frustration but also challenges the Pharisees to reexamine their own biases and prejudices against Jesus.