blind [not physically, but blind to Jesus’ identity as the Son of Man].” According to 3:17 judgment in the sense of damnation (as indicated by a contrast with salvation) was not the purpose of God’s sending his Son into the world. According to 5:27–29 and now 9:39 judgment in the sense of determining the respective fates of believers and unbelievers was the purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world with authority given to him as the Son of Man. The blind man exemplifies believers. The Jews who threw