While it is daytime
This phrase emphasizes the urgency and limited time available for Jesus' earthly ministry. In biblical symbolism, "daytime" often represents a period of opportunity and divine presence. Jesus, the Light of the World, is present, and His works must be accomplished while He is with His disciples. The concept of "day" as a time for work is rooted in Jewish culture, where daylight hours were traditionally used for labor.

we must do the works of Him who sent Me
The use of "we" indicates a collective responsibility shared by Jesus and His followers. The "works" refer to the divine mission and miracles that testify to Jesus' identity and authority. The phrase "Him who sent Me" underscores Jesus' divine commission from the Father, aligning with passages like John 5:36, where Jesus speaks of the works given to Him by the Father as a testimony to His divine mission. This highlights the unity and purpose between Jesus and God the Father.

Night is coming
"Night" symbolizes a time when Jesus will no longer be physically present to perform His works, pointing to His impending crucifixion and death. In a broader sense, it can also refer to spiritual darkness and the absence of opportunity to witness and work for the Kingdom. This imagery is consistent with other biblical references to night as a time of danger or absence of God's presence, such as in John 11:10.

when no one can work
This phrase indicates a period when the opportunity to perform the works of God will be hindered or impossible. It serves as a warning to the disciples and believers to seize the moment and fulfill their mission while they have the chance. The urgency is echoed in other scriptures, such as Ephesians 5:16, which encourages believers to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. This reflects the transient nature of life and the importance of acting in accordance with God's will while it is possible.

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, emphasizing the urgency of His mission and the works He must accomplish.

2. Disciples
Implied participants in the "we" who are called to join in the works of God.

3. The Blind Man
The immediate context involves Jesus healing a man born blind, illustrating the works of God being manifested.

4. Jerusalem
The setting of this event, where Jesus performs many of His miracles and teachings.

5. The Pharisees
Religious leaders who often challenge Jesus, providing a backdrop of opposition to His works.Urgency of Mission
Jesus emphasizes the limited time available to accomplish God's work. Believers are called to recognize the urgency of their mission in the world.

Partnership in Ministry
The use of "we" indicates that Jesus invites His followers to join Him in His work. Christians are co-laborers with Christ.

Discernment of Time
Understanding the "day" as a metaphor for the present opportunity to serve God, believers must discern the times and act accordingly.

Eternal Perspective
The coming "night" serves as a reminder of the finite nature of earthly life and the importance of focusing on eternal matters.

Manifestation of God's Works
Just as Jesus healed the blind man, believers are called to manifest God's works through acts of compassion and service.(4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day.--The better reading is probably that which has we, instead of "I," and perhaps also that which has us, instead of "me"; but this latter change is not so well supported by MS. authority. The clause would read then, We must work the works of Him that sent Me (or us) while it is day. He identifies the disciples with Himself in the redemptive work of His mission. There is before them a striking instance of the power of evil. He and they are there to manifest the power of good. They must gird themselves to the task. If we are right in placing the whole section from John 7:37 to John 10:21 on the same great day of the Feast (comp. Note on John 9:14), then this work must have come near the close of the day. The sun sinking to the west may have reminded them that the day was passing away, and that the night was approaching. He was reminded of the day of life, and the night of death. He will not be long in the world (John 9:5). That night will be the close of His human work, and the shadows of evening are already falling upon Him.

The night cometh, when no man can work.--He does not except even Himself from the proverbial law. The day of opportunity passes, never to return. His own great work of doing the work of Him that sent Him, could only be done when that day was present. It has, of course, been ever done in the work of His church under the guidance of His Spirit; but the work of His own human activity on earth ceased when the night came. Comp. John 11:9 for this thought of the hours of the day. . . .

Verse 4. - We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day. The emendation of the text certainly throws much beauty into the statement. Christ identifies himself with his disciples. They are pledged by accepting his call, and he has been himself charged by his own sublime mission to work while it is called day. The sun was going down over the holy city on that sabbath day, and Jesus will not wait, nor lose the opportunity of doing the merciful will of the Father. He did not say, "Him that sent us" (as Tischendorf reads), for "As the Father had sent him, so he sent them." But he adds, The night cometh, when no man can work. The materialistic interpretation of Paulus, "Christ must have daylight for a delicate operation," is too puerile to deserve refutation. The suggestion of the Greek Fathers (Chrysostom, Theophylact, etc.), who here drew a distinction between the work of this world and the work of the future world, between work done before and after his Passion, representing the work of his earthly ministry as done in the day, and that of the Spirit as work done in the night, is singularly unfortunate. Our Lord is merely adopting the phrase as a customary image for life and death. Death puts an end to all human activity on earth, even to Christ's own, as a human Friend and Teacher. Numerous attempts have been made to suppose some emphatic contrast between the lifetime of Christ and the period that should follow his Passion. They all fail, because Christ's own activity resumes another form by his resurrection and the gift of his Spirit. The night of death, accompanied by the cessation of active labor, is the general idea. The day's work must be done in the day. The probation involved in the bare fact of its limitation, and in this case its rapidly approaching consummation, is the main thought, without pressing the imagery too far. By saying, "We must work," etc., he gave a lesson and an example for all time. The 'Pirke Aboth,' "The Sayings of the Fathers," record the words of R. Tryphon, "The day is short, and the task is great, and the workmen are sluggish, and the reward is much, and the Master of the house is urgent."

Parallel Commentaries ...


While
ἕως (heōs)
Conjunction
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

it is
ἐστίν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

daytime,
ἡμέρα (hēmera)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

we
ἡμᾶς (hēmas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

must
δεῖ (dei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1163: Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary.

do
ἐργάζεσθαι (ergazesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 2038: To work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

works
ἔργα (erga)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

of Him who
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sent
πέμψαντός (pempsantos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3992: To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.

Me.
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

Night
νὺξ (nyx)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3571: The night, night-time. A primary word; 'night'.

is coming,
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

when
ὅτε (hote)
Adverb
Strong's 3753: When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.

no one
οὐδεὶς (oudeis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

can
δύναται (dynatai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

work.
ἐργάζεσθαι (ergazesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 2038: To work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor.


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NT Gospels: John 9:4 I must work the works of him (Jhn Jo Jn)