Does John 9:1 imply reincarnation?

Question

This is where Jesus heals the blind man, and his disciples ask "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (NIV)

Since he was born blind, does the possibility of blindness because of his sin even exist without the concept of reincarnation?

Another example which raises this question is when the people ask Jesus if he is Elijah (John 1:21). Is that question even meaningful without the concept of reincarnation?

Jesus' responses do not negate the implication of the questions, so leave that line of (psuedo) reasoning alone.

Answer 1

In John 1:21 the people asked John was he Elijah.
--- they first thought he was the Christ. They knew he was a holy man they reasoned he'd be The Prophet(Isaiah), Elijah or Christ--- it was known that certain people had been transfigured --- and could possibly return---Jewish prophesy said that Elijah would return --- so they could have assumed that was possible for others to do as well.
.

Answer 2

No, it does not

Consider this event in Jesus’ life: “As [Jesus] was passing along he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, so that he was born blind?’”

The reply Jesus gave was most enlightening: “Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be made manifest in his case.
Jesus’ words showed that neither the man nor his parents were responsible for his congenital blindness. So Jesus gave no support to the idea that the man was being punished for sins committed in a previous life. True, Jesus knew that all humans inherit sin. But they inherit the sin of Adam, not sins they committed before they were born. Because of Adam’s sin, all humans are born physically imperfect, subject to sickness and death. ( Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12; 9:11)

Notice, too, that Jesus did not say that God had deliberately caused the man to be born blind so that Jesus could come along and heal him some day. What a cruel, cynical act that would have been! Would that have brought praise to God? No. Rather, the miraculous cure of the blind man served to ‘make manifest the works of God.’ Like the many other cures Jesus performed, it reflected God’s sincere love for suffering mankind and confirmed the trustworthiness of His promise to bring an end to all human sickness and suffering in His due time. Isaiah 33:24.

Answer 3

Yes I believe it does. And Jesus' answer being no it is so that God's work will be manifested in him, I believe points to the person chose to be born into this world blind, not that it was a punishment for sin. He chose to be born that way so that he could learn lessons in life from that handicap and therefore benefit from greater spiritual enlightenment. The point that most of these people seem to be missing is that the APOSTLES BELIEVED that the man could have been born blind due to his own sin. which clearly indicates that THEY BELIEVED IN REINCARNATION.

And in answer to momof3, I believe that one of the prophesies for the messiah coming was that Elijah would come back before him. So the apostles were asking has this prophecy been fulfilled and Jesus was telling him yes that Elijah had come back that he was John the baptist.

For the ones that will come on here and say that Elijah did not die so how could he be reincarnated, well his spirit could still be reincarnated into a different body and it surely seems that that was what Jesus was telling them.

Answer 4

How do you come up with these things?
Asking if his parents or he sinned is asking why he was born blind. Did his parents do something to deserve having a child that was blind. It also said neither sinned to cause him blindness.
And the Elijah thing was because they were trying to figure out who Jesus was because he was a prophet just like Elijah was. Elijah did works from God as well, and they wondered if that was who Jesus was.
Stop reading into things the way you do- either believe or don't but stop trying to make something more then it is. Please.

Answer 5

The popular belief is that someone sinned and they were being punnished for it with infirmities. But notice what Jesus said to them in both instances

3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

No where in the Bible is reincarnation implied or said - why wouldn't it be recorded if it is such a big thing then?

Answer 6

If anything, John 9:1 and John 1:21 make a clear case AGAINST reincarnation.

That's because the answer to these questions is, respectively, "neither" and "no."

Both answers nip any talk of reincarnation in the bud.

Answer 7

That's an interesting question, thanks.

The following bible versus indicated there is no reincarnation:

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." Hebrews 9:27

[One of the criminals on a cross near Jesus said...] "'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" Luke 24:42-43

Answer 8

maybe the Jews had som idea of reincarnation but Jesus never endorst it and niether does the bible we are all individuals with one life to try and learn from

Answer 9

I paste below the answer I gave to another question on reincarnation. The Bible is full of truths that have been branded heresies by the Modern Church. Reincarnation is just one such truth. By the way, Jesus was Elisha in his previous life. John the Baptist was Elijah.

The purpose of human life is to become Sons of God. We keep reincarnating until we become a Son of God. Once we become a Son of God we need not reincarnate but can choose to do so of our own free will.

It is incorrect to think Jesus is the only God or Son of God. It is within the power of every Soul to become perfectly Divine. Jesus himself wants all of us to become Sons of God. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God" [ John 1:12 ]

Once we become a Son of God we do not need to return to Earth. We do not need to reincarnate. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out." [ Revelation 3:12 ]

Interestingly, in his previous incarnation, Jesus was Eliseus (Elisha). Eliseus had already become a Son of God but he chose to be born again as Jesus in order to help the masses in a bigger way. Elias (Elijah) chose to be born again as well. He is John the Baptist.

Here is the analysis: The number 'twelve' is significant since Jesus had 12 disciples. "So he (Elijah) departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth; and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him." [ I Kings 19:19 ]

John the Baptist and Jesus remembered each other from their previous lives even as they were in their mother's wombs. "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said...."Lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy." [ Luke 1:41-44 ]

Jesus himself tells us that Elijah is now John the Baptist. " 'But I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not....' Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist" [ Matthew 17:12-13 ]

John the Baptist did not want to draw too much attention to himself by openly admitting that he was Elijah. John the Baptist wanted the people to focus only on Jesus. Hence, he tells the people that he is not Elijah. He is not lying. Technically he is not Elijah anymore as he is now John the Baptist. "And they asked him, 'What then? Art thou Elijah?' And he saith, 'I am not.' [ John I:21 ]

Early Christians totally accepted reincarnation and they learned it first hand directly from Jesus. It was only at the Second Council of Constantinople in 553 AD that it was decided to announce reincarnation as a heresy. It was felt that people would not want to immediately receive God and follow His laws if they had more than one life to make their decision. Hence, reincarnation was declared a heresy.

The mere declaration of something as being a heresy does not make it so. Reincarnation is fact and Jesus would agree.

Answer 10

Sure, why not? It's just as plausible as many of the other biblical interpretations I've read on here.