John 9:12

Commentary on John 9:12

John 9:12 captures a crucial moment in the interrogation of the man who was born blind and miraculously healed by Jesus. After his astonished neighbors brought him to the Pharisees, the religious leaders began their questioning, seeking to understand the circumstances of this extraordinary event.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse occurs immediately after the man's brief but powerful testimony in John 9:11, where he recounts Jesus' method of healing—making clay, anointing his eyes, and instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The Pharisees' immediate concern, reflected in their question "Where is he?", was not to celebrate the miracle, but to identify the one who performed it. This was particularly urgent because the healing took place on the Sabbath, a day when their strict interpretations of the law prohibited such "work." Their inquiry was driven by suspicion and an intent to find fault with Jesus, rather than a genuine desire to understand the divine power at work.

Key Themes and Messages

• Limited Human Knowledge vs. Divine Action: The man's honest reply, "I know not," highlights his focus on the profound change in his own life, not on tracking Jesus' movements. Jesus often withdrew after performing miracles, perhaps to avoid premature public acclaim or to allow the spiritual impact to settle without immediate political entanglements (e.g., John 5:13). The man's immediate concern was his newfound sight, not the precise whereabouts of his Healer.
• The Nature of Authentic Testimony: Despite not knowing Jesus' location, the man's testimony about the *effect* of Jesus' action was clear and undeniable. His personal experience of healing was the foundation of his witness, a powerful truth that human ignorance of all details cannot diminish.
• Rising Opposition to Jesus: This question marks the beginning of a prolonged and hostile interrogation by the Pharisees, which eventually leads to the man's expulsion from the synagogue (see John 9:34). It underscores the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders who prioritized their traditions over genuine divine revelation.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "I know not" is ouk oida (οὐκ οἶδα). It's a simple, direct statement of lack of knowledge, emphasizing that the man genuinely did not know where Jesus had gone. There is no hidden meaning or evasiveness implied; it's an honest admission from someone who had just experienced a life-altering miracle and was likely still processing the enormity of it.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today. First, our personal encounter with Christ's transformative power is paramount. Like the man born blind, we may not have all the answers about God's ways or His precise whereabouts, but we can bear witness to what He has done in our lives. Our testimony is powerful because it stems from experience. Second, it reminds us that true faith often involves a focus on the miraculous work of God, even when the details of His methods or movements remain a mystery. Finally, it highlights the human tendency to question and scrutinize divine acts, often out of suspicion or a desire to maintain control, rather than to celebrate God's grace and healing power.