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 has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

When he had thus spoken, Jesus 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.) The man went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

The neighbors 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 the man who had been blind, "How were your eyes opened?"

He answered and said, "A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said unto me, ‘go to the pool of Siloam, and wash’: and I went and washed, and I received sight."

Then said they unto him, "Where is Jesus?"

He said, "I know not."

The neighbors brought to the Pharisees him that had been 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. The man said unto them, "Jesus put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and do see."

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, "This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day."

Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was a division among them.

They said unto the blind man again, "What say you of him, that he has opened your eyes?"

The man that was blind said, "He is a prophet."

But the Jews did not believe concerning the man, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents. And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

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 sees, we know not; or who has opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself." (These words spoke his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that Jesus was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said the man’s parents, "He is of age; ask him.")

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."

The man 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."

Then said they to him again, "What did he to you? How opened he your eyes?"

The man answered them, "I have told you already, and you did not hear: why would you hear it again? Will you also be his disciples?"

Then they reproved him, and said, "You are his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from where he is."

The man answered and said unto them, "Why this is a marvelous thing, that you know not from where he is, and yet he has opened my eyes. Now we know that God hears not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and does his will, him he hears. 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."

The Pharisees answered and said unto him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" And they expelled him from the synagogue.

Jesus heard that the Pharisees had thrown him out; and when he had found the man, he said unto him, "Do you believe on the Son of God?"

The man answered and said, "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?"

And Jesus said unto him, "You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with you."

And the man said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshipped him.

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."

And some of the Pharisees, which were with, Jesus heard these words, and said unto him, "Are we blind also?"

Jesus said unto them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin: but now you say, ‘We see’; therefore your sin remains."

"Truly, truly, I say unto you, he that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

"And when he leads out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them.

Then said Jesus unto them again, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

"The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches the sheep, and scatters them.

"The hired hand flees, because he is a hired hand, and cares not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

"Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, "He has a devil, and is mad; why hear you him?"

Others said, "These are not the words of him that has a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?"

…When Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed…and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; and great crowds followed him; and he healed them there.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. But the Samaritans did not receive him, because…he would go to Jerusalem.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?"

But Jesus turned, and rebuked them, and said, "You know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

After these things the Lord appointed…seventy…and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, where he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send out laborers into his harvest.

"Go your ways: behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and greet no man by the way. And into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house,’ and if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

"And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are there, and say unto them, ‘The kingdom of God is come near unto you.’

"But into whatever city you enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ‘Even the very dust of your city, which clings on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be you sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come near unto you.’ But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

"Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be thrust down to hell.

"He that hears you hears me; and he that despises you despises me; and he that despises me despises him that sent me."

And it came to pass, as Jesus went to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."

And when he saw them, he said unto them, "Go show yourselves unto the priests." And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks: and the man was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." And he said unto the man, "Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole."

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through your name."

And Jesus said unto them, "I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Look, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

REFERENCES

John 9:1-41; John 10:1-21; Matthew 19:1-2; Luke 9:51-56; Luke 10:1-16; Luke 17:11-19; Luke 10: 17-20.

CHAPTER 77