The Gospel of John: Chapter 9
Josh Turner
Part of Encountering Jesus
July 30, 2023

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The Gospel of John: Chapter 9

John 9 - Click Here to View the Full Chapter on YouVersion

THEME 1 - the Rigidity/Rule Following of the Pharisees vs the Compassion of Jesus

  • When we are experiencing hardship, God might very well be intending to use it for His glory!

Theme 2 - Fear of man vs Faith in Jesus (vv. 20-23)

“ 20 His parents replied, ‘We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.’ 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, ‘He is old enough. Ask him.’” —John 9:20-23

  • It’s okay to admit our fears. But it’s not okay to admit those fears and then do nothing to change.

  • God doesn’t ask us to know everything, He just asks us to be faithful.

“ 35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man…” —John 9:35a

  • Our faithfulness to Jesus will always display His faithfulness to us.

Theme 3: Physical Blindness vs Spiritual Blindness

“ 39 Then Jesus told him, ‘I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.’ 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 41 ‘If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,’ Jesus replied. ‘But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.’” —John 9:39-41

“ 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul?” —Mark 8:36-37 and Matthew 16:26

  • The true miracle was Jesus curing the man’s spiritual blindness, more than his physical blindness.

Three questions to consider:

(1.) Do I lean more towards the rule-following of the Pharisees than the compassion of Jesus?

(2.) Am I at all fearful of what others will think of me if they know I follow Jesus, or do I ever neglect to share the Gospel for fear I might not know enough?

(3.) Has the Holy Spirit revealed to me today my spiritual blindness?