The Bridge Church
Jesus Encounters - The Blind Man
April 21, 2024
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Was Blind, But Now I See - John 9
We are born with spiritual blindness
Blind man was in bondage to his physical ailment (vs. 1-5)
God will use everything for His glory (vs. 3-5)
Christ heals the blind man of his physical ailment (vs. 7-12)
Spiritual bondage of religious leaders (vs. 13-34)
Christ liberates the blind man from God’s justice (vs. 35-39)
Christ turns the Pharisees over to God’s justice (vs. 40-41)
The one question that does matter -
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The only answer that will suffice -
“I believe, Lord”
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The only answer that will suffice -
“I believe, Lord”
- We are all in bondage to sin
- There are no earthly methods which can ever appease God’s wrath
- God sent his Son Jesus to take our place on the cross and satisfy God’s wrath on our behalf
- Through faith in him, we can have freedom now and forever
- There are no earthly methods which can ever appease God’s wrath
- God sent his Son Jesus to take our place on the cross and satisfy God’s wrath on our behalf
- Through faith in him, we can have freedom now and forever
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. Have you ever asked, or had someone near you ask, “Why do bad things happen in this world,” or, “Why do good people suffer”? How have you, or would you, answer these questions?
2. What does it mean to live in spiritual darkness?
3. Read John 9:1-2. What is the significance of the disciples’ question about sin and suffering?
4. Read John 9:3. How does Jesus’s answer to the disciples challenge common assumptions about the causes of suffering?
5. Read John 9:4-5 and John 1:4-9. What does light do? When does the day end and the night come for Christians?
6. Read John 9:6-7and Genesis 2:7. Why do you think Jesus used the mud and saliva instead of simply saying “you are healed”? Did he need to do that to heal the man?
7. What is the significance of the name of the pool, Siloam?
8. What does the healing of the blind man reveal about Jesus’s power over physical afflictions?
9. Read John 9:8-12. Is the reaction of his neighbors surprising to you? Why or why not? Why did some doubt his identity?
10. Read John 9:13-17. How do the Pharisees’ responses to the miracle reflect their own spiritual blindness?
11. Read John 9:18-23. What can we learn from the blind man’s parents’ response to the Pharisees’ questioning? Why were his parents so concerned about not being able to go to the synagogue? What cultural differences do we find between then and now?
12. Read John 9:24-34. Why do they ridicule him and throw him out? How does the blind man’s expulsion from the synagogue reflect the cost of discipleship?
13. How does the healed man’s confession of faith inspire you on your own faith journey?
14. Read John 9:35-39. Why didn’t the blind man instantly worship Jesus the instance he saw him? Did the blind man fully understand what was happening when he first encounters Jesus?
15. How does this passage illuminate the concept of spiritual sight in the context of faith and doubt?
16. Read John 9:40-41. Why are the Pharisees unable to see the darkness in their own lives? What did Jesus’s response reveal about spiritual understanding and ignorance?
17. What are some things you learned about Jesus through this encounter? What are some things you learned about yourself? From what “blindness” has God healed you?
Live It Out:
1. Ask God to work in your limitations. Through faith in Jesus, we have freedom now and forever, despite what challenges might occur in our life. Reread John 9:3. God uses everything for His glory. Through what shortcomings in your life will you ask God to glorify Himself today? Have an honest conversation with God. Share your fears and your doubts with Him. Pray to be released from your challenges, but even more, pray that He is glorified despite your circumstances.
2. Praise God for the healing in your life. The blind man was transformed from a passive recipient of a miracle to an active defender of faith. Jesus displays his divine power over sickness and disease to demonstrate that He is the Son of God who came to set us free. Those who are healed of spiritual blindness are called to show compassion to those who are still in darkness, allowing Christ’s light to shine through them. Who in your life is currently in spiritual darkness? What story can you share with them to show them how God has done a work in your life?
1. Have you ever asked, or had someone near you ask, “Why do bad things happen in this world,” or, “Why do good people suffer”? How have you, or would you, answer these questions?
2. What does it mean to live in spiritual darkness?
3. Read John 9:1-2. What is the significance of the disciples’ question about sin and suffering?
4. Read John 9:3. How does Jesus’s answer to the disciples challenge common assumptions about the causes of suffering?
5. Read John 9:4-5 and John 1:4-9. What does light do? When does the day end and the night come for Christians?
6. Read John 9:6-7and Genesis 2:7. Why do you think Jesus used the mud and saliva instead of simply saying “you are healed”? Did he need to do that to heal the man?
7. What is the significance of the name of the pool, Siloam?
8. What does the healing of the blind man reveal about Jesus’s power over physical afflictions?
9. Read John 9:8-12. Is the reaction of his neighbors surprising to you? Why or why not? Why did some doubt his identity?
10. Read John 9:13-17. How do the Pharisees’ responses to the miracle reflect their own spiritual blindness?
11. Read John 9:18-23. What can we learn from the blind man’s parents’ response to the Pharisees’ questioning? Why were his parents so concerned about not being able to go to the synagogue? What cultural differences do we find between then and now?
12. Read John 9:24-34. Why do they ridicule him and throw him out? How does the blind man’s expulsion from the synagogue reflect the cost of discipleship?
13. How does the healed man’s confession of faith inspire you on your own faith journey?
14. Read John 9:35-39. Why didn’t the blind man instantly worship Jesus the instance he saw him? Did the blind man fully understand what was happening when he first encounters Jesus?
15. How does this passage illuminate the concept of spiritual sight in the context of faith and doubt?
16. Read John 9:40-41. Why are the Pharisees unable to see the darkness in their own lives? What did Jesus’s response reveal about spiritual understanding and ignorance?
17. What are some things you learned about Jesus through this encounter? What are some things you learned about yourself? From what “blindness” has God healed you?
Live It Out:
1. Ask God to work in your limitations. Through faith in Jesus, we have freedom now and forever, despite what challenges might occur in our life. Reread John 9:3. God uses everything for His glory. Through what shortcomings in your life will you ask God to glorify Himself today? Have an honest conversation with God. Share your fears and your doubts with Him. Pray to be released from your challenges, but even more, pray that He is glorified despite your circumstances.
2. Praise God for the healing in your life. The blind man was transformed from a passive recipient of a miracle to an active defender of faith. Jesus displays his divine power over sickness and disease to demonstrate that He is the Son of God who came to set us free. Those who are healed of spiritual blindness are called to show compassion to those who are still in darkness, allowing Christ’s light to shine through them. Who in your life is currently in spiritual darkness? What story can you share with them to show them how God has done a work in your life?
Reading Plan:
Monday: John 9:1-12
Tuesday: John 9:13-17
Wednesday: John 9:18-23
Thursday: John 9:24-34
Friday: John 9:35-41
Saturday: John 1:4-9, Matthew 5:13-16
Monday: John 9:1-12
Tuesday: John 9:13-17
Wednesday: John 9:18-23
Thursday: John 9:24-34
Friday: John 9:35-41
Saturday: John 1:4-9, Matthew 5:13-16