Now I See
Rev. Blake Altman, Lead Pastor

God intends to change you by His Word. How is He at work in you to do that?  Read the following passage and consider these questions. 

READ

John 9:1-12 (ESV)

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

QUESTIONS (40 minutes)

1.  What is the significance that Jesus heals a man blind "from birth" (v. 1)?

2. Describe why the disciples might think it's the fault of the man's parents that he is blind from birth (v. 2).

3. Read Ezekiel 18:1-3 (below). How does this passage help us understand John 9?

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel,

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge’?

3 As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

4. This miracle is unique in that Jesus uses mud (v. 6) to heal the man. Why would Jesus do this?

5. Why would Jesus command the man to wash in the pool of Siloam? Why wouldn't he simply heal the man without this extra step?

6. Describe a weakness or infirmity of yours that God has given you so "that the works of God might be displayed in [you]" (v. 3).

PRAYER (15 minutes) 

Take prayer requests. Pray together that our eyes may be opened daily by the Light of the world.