Why are we told to work while it is day (John 9:4)?

Answer

The Gospel of John recounts a remarkable incident where Jesus heals a man who was born blind. In John’s narrative, Jesus states, “We must carry out the tasks of the One who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work” «I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. », (John 9:4).

During their journey, Jesus and His disciples encounter a blind man at a specific location. Jesus observes that the man had been blind since birth «And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. », (John 9:1). The disciples inquire about the cause of the man’s blindness—whether it was due to his sin before birth or his parents’ sin «And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? », (John 9:2). They assumed that the man’s blindness was a consequence of sin and sought to know whose sin led to his condition. Jesus clarifies that neither the man nor his parents’ sin caused the blindness; rather, it was so that God’s works could be revealed «Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. », (John 9:3). While providing this explanation, Jesus emphasizes the importance of carrying out the tasks of the One who sent Him while it is still daytime, as the night will come when no one can work «I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. », (John 9:4). In this context, it becomes apparent why we are instructed to work while it is day. Jesus explains that while He is in the world, He is the Light of the world “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”, (John 9:5).

The man in John 9 had lived in darkness all his life, being blind, but then Jesus came, bringing sight and light to this man’s life. In the same way, the world was in darkness until Jesus arrived, and “in Him was life, and that life was the light of men” “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”, (John 1:4). John adds that Jesus “was the true Light, which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”, (John 1:9, NASB95). It appears that Jesus, by restoring sight to this individual, was illustrating how He provides light to all humanity. Simultaneously, He tells His listeners that we should work while it is day “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”, (John 9:4).

Jesus is not prescribing just any kind of work; instead, He says, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work” “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”, (John 9:4). He challenges His listeners to engage in the work of His Father while it is day—as long as Jesus is present, it is day—the Light of the world is tHere. He adds that there is a time coming when the work can’t be done because it will be night. It seems that Jesus is referring to the time coming when He would no longer be on earth, and then He would not be (personally) bringing the light to all—He was making the most of the opportunity He had to do the works that demonstrated who He was and who His Father was. In this case, that meant miraculously healing this man who was born blind. The man’s blindness had been entirely for that moment, so that God’s glory could be displayed. At that moment, Jesus was able to show His power over nature and to demonstrate that He is the Light who enlightens every person. So Jesus Himself was “working while it was day.”

The disciples were also learning that they needed to make the most of the opportunity—that they had the Light of the world with them. They needed to pay attention to Him, to learn from Him, so they could know Him and faithfully represent Him later. While we can’t “work while it is day” in the same way because Jesus is not personally here on earth (He is at the right hand of the Father awaiting His return one day), we still have been enlightened by Him—He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). Like the disciples, we should look to Him, and like the disciples were encouraged to do—and like Jesus did—we should also make the most of the opportunity. Each opportunity is provided by God for His glory, so we need to consider how we can work while it is still day.