JOHN 9:1-12 Lesson # 19
UNDER DIRECTIONS, ACTING OUT FAITH
I.? Introduction:
Q? Do you know folks who are spiritually blind?
Q? Why are they blind, what is the cause?? What makes people spiritually blind?
Q? What causes us to be spiritually blind?
Note:? We are going to read the famous passage about Jesus healing the man born blind.? It is a powerful miracle, and the story, like so many in the Gospels can cut two ways.? It speaks of two types of blind people:? needy laymen and Scripturally serious leaders.? How do we receive from God as people?? How can we receive our sight from God?? This is what we will focus on tonight.? Next week we will focus on how do we as bible believers, as church goers, as church leaders, as part of those who take Scripture seriously, how do we receive our sight?
II.? Healing the Man Born Blind:? John 9:1-10
>>>>? Have someone read John 9:1-2
Q? Why do the disciples ask this question?
An = The Jewish people believed in an ordered universe.? Such a tragedy seemed to them to necessitate a cause.? Obedience brought blessing, sin brought judgment.? Not being able to be normal, to be able to see, was considered a judgment from God.? Since the man was born blind then either the parents sinned or the man sinned (which seems impossible).
>>>>? Have someone read John 9:3
Q? How does Jesus answer the question?
An = Neither, but the man’s condition was there to display the working of God.? Providence does not just react, sometimes it is proactive.? God takes the situations in life and uses them:? >>> Have three people look up 2:11, 5:36 and 11:4.
Q? What does this answer mean?
An = Let us see if Jesus explains what He means….
>>>>? Have someone read John 9:4-5.
RQ? Does Jesus explain what He means or does He bring in another agenda or issue?
Q? What is this new agenda or issue?? What does He mean here, what is He speaking about?
An = As long as Christ is present, then His work can go on.? There is a time constraint though because Jesus will soon leave the world when He is crucified.? There is a limit to Jesus’ availability!
Q? What does that mean for us today?? How is Jesus’ availability limited in time that He is present for us?
Q? To those whom you serve and witness to (and serve as the “light” for them) is there coming a time when you will not be available?
Q? Can we waste the time we have to access Christ?
>>>>? Have someone read John 9:6-7.
Q? How did Jesus heal this blind man?
An = He first “made something” (i.e. mud with spittle).? Next He put this mixture on the man’s eyes (He touched the man).? Then He gave two verbal instructions.
Q? Of the actions that brought about the healing, which belonged to Jesus and which belonged to the blind man?
An = The first two are clearly Jesus’ actions, but though the last two are directed by Jesus they must be carried out by the man himself.
Q? Why did Jesus leave part of the healing process to be done by the man himself?
An = >>> Have everyone turn to II Kings 5.? Have someone read II Kings 5:1-10.?
Q? What are the similarities in the blind man story to the Naaman story?
An = Both men had physical needs that were addressed by the “physically ill” man being asked to “go wash” in a designated place.
Have someone read II Kings 5:11-14.
Q ?What does the act of washing mean for each of the two men?
An = It is their act of faith.? Note that faith usually entails a physical act!
RQ? Is the God of the Old Testament and New Testament the same God of today?
Q? What would this look like today?? Can you give me an example of a required physical act of faith for God to bless?
>>>>? Have someone read John 9:8-9.
Q? As the man is questioned, what is their first concern?
An = Is this really the one who was born blind.? The man assures them that he is indeed the one.
>>>>? Have someone read John 9-12.
???????????Q? What do they want to know next?
An = This is amazing, who did this?? The man knows Jesus’ name but not who Jesus was.
Q? How accurate is the man’s recounting of the miracle and the procedure involved?
An = He is quite accurate:? all four verbs are repeated:? made,anointed,go and wash.
Q? Why is “sent” to the pool of “Siloam or Sent” so important as the place to wash?? What is being stressed?
An = To receive the blessing and healing of God, we need to be under orders.? We need to follow directions.? All the way through the gospels, Jesus seems to give specific orders just as Naaman was given specific orders by Elisha.
Q? Why is following orders or directions so important to God?
An = Not because God is a legalist, we will see that He certainly is not in next week’s lesson.? Faith not only necessitates physical implementation of His directions, but submission as well.? If we are not willing to do things His way, then we stay in the driver’s seat.
Note:? As I pray tonight, ask the Lord to speak to you?? If there is something you want God to do for you then be willing to do two things:? act out physically your obedience and do so under His orders and not your own.
Remember Naaman, his pride almost took him out of the blessing of God.