Seeing is Believing

John 9:1-41

Pastor Joel Sutton, May 5, 2013

The Real Jesus, Do you Believe?

Jesus: "I am the light of the world." 8:12

Six Conversations:

• Blind man and his neighbors vv. 8-12
• Blind man and the Pharisees. vv. 13-17
• Pharisees and the parents. vv. 18-23
• Blind man and the Pharisees. vv. 24 - 34
• Jesus and the blind man. vv. 35-38
• Jesus and the Pharisees. vv. 39-41

Two Stories:

____________________ - "Religious" 

____________________ - "Sinner" 

Take Home Idea: The way of seeing is the way of the blind. And the way to blindness is by claiming to see.

Discussion Questions

Opening:

As a kid, who was your favorite detective? Sherlock Holmes? The Hardy Boys? Nancy Drew? Inspector Clouseau? Other?

Look at the Take Home idea. Explain it in your own words.

Dig:

Read 9:1-7. Why do you think Jesus' disciples decided to ask this question at this point - at the end of the Festival?

What does Jesus' answer reveal about how he views man's pain? How are sin and suffering related?

What observations can you make about how the blind man responds?

Read the 6 conversations (9:8-41).

What does each conversation reveal about the blind man's ability to see more clearly who Jesus is?

What does each conversation reveal about the Pharisees movement towards blindness?

How do these conversations illustrate what Jesus says in vs. 39? Who are those who are able to "see"? Who are those who are "blind"?

What is it that prevented the Pharisees from seeing? What is it that enabled the "blind man" to see?

Reflect:

How would you score your own spiritual sight? 20/20? 20/800? A few blind spots? Why? What could correct this?

Close by sharing your answers and then praying together.