(Some of the clauses I have given subheadings to help explain the structure. In the whole of this account Jesus only speaks to the man in C and C’,  the Pharisees ask the man how he received his sight in F and F’, they give their opinion(s) of Christ in H and H’. The central section emphasises the contrast between the man and his parents and the ‘blindness’ of the Jews. They don’t believe Christ when he reveals his identity, they don’t believe the man is who he says he is either. They have to seek confirmation from the man’s parents. The irony here is that Jesus’ identity is discovered by knowing who his Father is.)

 

A  (1-3)  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

B  (4-5)  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

C  JESUS AND THE MAN – THE MAN RECEIVES NATURAL SIGHT

(6-7)  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

 

D  THE MAN TEACHES THE PEOPLE – HE IS A WITNESS OF JESUS’ MIRACLE

(8-11)  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

 

E  (12)  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

 

F  THE PHARISEES QUESTION THE MAN

(13-15a)  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.

 

G  (15b)  He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

 

H  THE PHARISEES’ OPINION OF JESUS

(16)  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

 

I  THE MAN’S ANSWER

(17)  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

 

J  (18-19)  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

 

I’  THE PARENTS’ ANSWER

(20-23)  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

 

H’  THE PHARISEES’ OPINION OF JESUS

(24)  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

 

G’  (25)  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

 

F’  THE PHARISEES QUESTION THE MAN

(26-27)  Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 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?

 

E’  (28-29)  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

 

D’  THE MAN TEACHES THE PHARISEES – HE IS A WITNESS THAT JESUS’ POWER IS FROM GOD

(30-34)  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

 

C’  JESUS AND THE MAN – THE MAN RECEIVES SPIRITUAL SIGHT

(35-38)  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

 

B’  (39)  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

 

A’  (40-41)  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

A.(11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

B.(12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not,

C. seeth the wolf coming,

D. and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:

C’. and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

B’.(13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

A’.(14) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

A. 16 And other sheep I have,

B. which are not of this fold:

C. them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;

B’. and there shall be one fold,

A’. and one shepherd.

A. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me,

B. because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

C. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.

B’. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

A’. This commandment have I received of my Father.

A. (1)  Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. (2) And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. (3) And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery;

B. and when they had set her in the midst,(4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. (5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

C.(6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.

D. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

E.(7) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

D’.(8) And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

C’.(9) And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:

B’. and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

A’.(10) When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

A and A’ contrast these Jews’ spiritual father with their natural father.

A  (44a)  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.

B  (44b)  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

C  (45-47)  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

D  (48-50)  Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

E  (51)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

D’  (52-53)  Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

C’  (54)  Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

B’  (55)  Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

A’  (56-59)  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

A  (27)  They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

B  (28)  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself;

C  (28b-29)  but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

D  (30-32)  As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

E  (33a)  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man:

F  (33b)  how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

G  (34-35)  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

F’  (36)  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

E’  (37a)  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed;

D’  (37b)  but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

C’  (38-41a)  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father.

B’  (41b-42)  Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

A’  (43)  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Note:  I suggest that the conversation/interrogation the Jews have with Jesus that extends from verse 12 to the end of the chapter is made up of three structures. Each one is chiastic. Here is the first:

A  (12)  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

B  (13)  The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.  14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.  16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true:  for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

C 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.  20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

D  21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.  22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

E  (23)  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

D’  (24)  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

C’  (25)  Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

B’  (26)  I have many things to say and to judge of you:   but he that sent me is true;

A’    and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

Note: Here is another suggestion for this section in John 6. The parallelism matches up Jesus’ two ‘Verily Verily…’ statements (A and A’) and the peoples’ two questions (B and B’) making Jesus’ explanation of the work of God (C) the central point.

A  25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? (26-27)  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

B  (28)  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

C  (29)  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

B’  (30-31)  They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

A’  (32-34)  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

A.(31) Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

B.(32) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;

C. but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

B’.(33) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

A.(34) Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. (35) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

1A.(4)  And he must needs go through Samaria. (5) Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (6) Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

1B.(7) There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:

1C. Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (8) (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

1D.(9) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him,

1E. How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

1D’.(10) Jesus answered and said unto her,

1C’. If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

1B’.(11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep:  from whence then hast thou that living water?

1A.(12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

2A.(13) Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

2B.(14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;

2B’. but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

2A’.(15) The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

A.(12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

B.(14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

C. (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

D. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

C’. that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

B’.(17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

A’. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.