“Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
The full verse · John 9:35 · KJV
they had ; when he had , he unto , the of ?
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, who had opened the eyes of the man born blind (John 9:6-7), who went looking for him after he was cast out (John 9:35)
The Scene
The Pharisees have just thrown out the man Jesus healed of lifelong blindness, and Jesus hears of it and finds him (John 9:34-35).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus asked after hearing that the man had been cast out for defending Him (John 9:34-35). Up to now the man knew Jesus only as "a man that is called Jesus" and "a prophet" (John 9:11, 17). Barnes says "He believed according to the light he had, and he now showed that he was prepared to believe all that Jesus said." In this verse, Barnes adds, "Son of God" means the Messiah. Gill calls it "a most proper and pertinent question" for a man in his situation.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe man answered with a question of his own: "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?" (John 9:36). Jesus told him, "Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee" (John 9:37). The man said, "Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him" (John 9:38). The man who had been cast out by the synagogue was now received by Jesus.
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsBeing "cast out" was serious. The Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus as Christ "should be put out of the synagogue" (John 9:22), and Barnes explains that they excommunicated him. That cut him off from the worship life of his community.
Greek manuscripts differ on the title here. The Textus Receptus, the Greek text behind the KJV, reads "Son of God," while modern critical editions read "Son of Man," which is why the ESV says "Son of Man." Both point to Jesus as the promised One.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question shows that Jesus seeks out the ones others push away. The religious leaders "cast him out"; Jesus "found him" (John 9:34-35). Gill sees in this finding an "emblem of Christ's seeking after his chosen ones." Matthew Henry observes, "Christ owns those who own him and his truth and ways."
The story also moves from physical sight to spiritual sight. The man first received his eyes (John 9:7), then came to see who Jesus is (John 9:37-38). John wrote his Gospel for this very purpose: "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20:31).
Look Closer
What had just happened to the man when Jesus found him?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You went looking for a man who had been pushed out; where are You looking for me, and what do You want me to see about who You are?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The man believed "according to the light he had." What do you already know about Jesus, and are you willing to follow where that leads?
- Tell about a time someone sought you out when you felt shut out. What did that show you about Jesus?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
If you have been shut out or misunderstood because of your faith, Jesus has not lost track of you. He heard what happened to this man and came to find him.
Faith grows step by step. This man began with "a man that is called Jesus" and ended worshipping Him (John 9:11, 38). You do not need to have every answer before you trust Him. Believe the light you have, and keep asking Him to show you more.
Jesus' question is still a personal one. It is not enough to know about Him; He asks whether you believe on Him.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources