John Chapter 9 â Obstacles That Keep Us From Believing
John Chapter 9 – Obstacles That Keep Us From Believing John 9 (NIV) Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 1
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 3
6
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. 8
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 11
12
“Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said. The Pharisees Investigate the Healing 13
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” 17
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18
They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 20
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 24
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 25
26
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 27
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 28
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 30
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 34
Spiritual Blindness Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 35
36
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 39
40
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 41
Footnotes: a. John 9:39 Some early manuscripts do not have Then the man said … 39 Jesus said. Let's revisit some of the main principles of our study. The purpose of John's Gospel has already been well established and can be best summarized with this key verse… He has taught us what it means to believe, who to believe in, how to believe, and why we should believe. He showed us that believing has the power to change our lives, that we must put our complete faith and trust in Jesus, that through believing we will have eternal life, that our Belief will be challenged and that it should continue to grow. He has challenged us more than once with what seems to be a question personally directed to each of us, "Will you believe?" He has helped us see through some of the cloudiness of belief and reminded us that belief is a gift from God and something we desperately need, but that it also requires action on our part. He described the differences between fans who say they believe, foes who refuse to believe and followers who truly believe. He has argued the credibility of Jesus claims with the trilemma that Jesus must either be a liar, a lunatic or Lord. And he has taught us to be thankful for the grace that gives us the power and desire to live out our faith in Jesus Christ by helping us understand that John's use of the word believe (pisteuo), which is I the present participle active, means to believe and continue to believe. In fact this idea is further supported in today's lesson which will focus on the truths of chapter 9 - truths that could be represented by the title, "Obstacles That Keep Us From Believing"
As we watch John Chapter 9 in the Visual Bible, see if you can identify some of the obstacles that keep us from believing and continuing to believe. The Visual Bible: 1:16:08 – 1:24:20
Spiritual Blindness As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 1
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 3
6
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. 8
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 11
John uses physical blindness and a man who is born blind to reveal our spiritual blindness. Our inability to see the things of God, something we are all born with, until God, through his grace removes this blindness giving us the power to believe what before we could not understand Some of my favorite examples of God removing spiritual blindness are… Paul's scales Acts 9:17-19 (NIV) 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
The prodigals understanding of his sinfulness and his father’s compassion Luke 15:17-20 (NIV) 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
Willful Blindness 13
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” 17
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18
They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 24
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 25
26
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 27
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 28
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person 30
who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 34
Jesus said,] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 39
40
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 41
a blatant refusal to open our eyes We are afraid of what we will see We think that by removing all the mirrors we won't be confronted with our ugliness
Blame 2
His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 3
We can get so fixated on blame that we fail to receive the blessing of forgiveness that comes through believing. Luke 6:37 (NIV) 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
Bullying 22
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 28
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 34
There will always be those who will attempt to stop our beliefs Matthew 10:28 (NIV) 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Perceived Loss of Personal Benefits “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 20
Perhaps the most subtle of the obstacles is that of our own personal desire to not have give up anything I. Order to believe
Breadth of Knowledge & Understanding of Jesus Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 35
36
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
I want to know more, the more I know the more I can believe Our believe can grow 2 Peter 1:5-11 (NIV) 5
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Milk to meat
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 3
6
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. 8
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 11
12
“Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said. The Pharisees Investigate the Healing 13
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” 17
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18
They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 20
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 24
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 25
26
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 27
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 28
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 30
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 34
Spiritual Blindness Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 35
36
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 39
40
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 41
Footnotes: a. John 9:39 Some early manuscripts do not have Then the man said … 39 Jesus said. Let's revisit some of the main principles of our study. The purpose of John's Gospel has already been well established and can be best summarized with this key verse… He has taught us what it means to believe, who to believe in, how to believe, and why we should believe. He showed us that believing has the power to change our lives, that we must put our complete faith and trust in Jesus, that through believing we will have eternal life, that our Belief will be challenged and that it should continue to grow. He has challenged us more than once with what seems to be a question personally directed to each of us, "Will you believe?" He has helped us see through some of the cloudiness of belief and reminded us that belief is a gift from God and something we desperately need, but that it also requires action on our part. He described the differences between fans who say they believe, foes who refuse to believe and followers who truly believe. He has argued the credibility of Jesus claims with the trilemma that Jesus must either be a liar, a lunatic or Lord. And he has taught us to be thankful for the grace that gives us the power and desire to live out our faith in Jesus Christ by helping us understand that John's use of the word believe (pisteuo), which is I the present participle active, means to believe and continue to believe. In fact this idea is further supported in today's lesson which will focus on the truths of chapter 9 - truths that could be represented by the title, "Obstacles That Keep Us From Believing"
As we watch John Chapter 9 in the Visual Bible, see if you can identify some of the obstacles that keep us from believing and continuing to believe. The Visual Bible: 1:16:08 – 1:24:20
Spiritual Blindness As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 1
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 3
6
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. 8
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 11
John uses physical blindness and a man who is born blind to reveal our spiritual blindness. Our inability to see the things of God, something we are all born with, until God, through his grace removes this blindness giving us the power to believe what before we could not understand Some of my favorite examples of God removing spiritual blindness are… Paul's scales Acts 9:17-19 (NIV) 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
The prodigals understanding of his sinfulness and his father’s compassion Luke 15:17-20 (NIV) 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
Willful Blindness 13
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” 17
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18
They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 24
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 25
26
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 27
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 28
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person 30
who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 34
Jesus said,] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 39
40
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 41
a blatant refusal to open our eyes We are afraid of what we will see We think that by removing all the mirrors we won't be confronted with our ugliness
Blame 2
His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 3
We can get so fixated on blame that we fail to receive the blessing of forgiveness that comes through believing. Luke 6:37 (NIV) 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
Bullying 22
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 28
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 34
There will always be those who will attempt to stop our beliefs Matthew 10:28 (NIV) 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Perceived Loss of Personal Benefits “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 20
Perhaps the most subtle of the obstacles is that of our own personal desire to not have give up anything I. Order to believe
Breadth of Knowledge & Understanding of Jesus Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 35
36
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
I want to know more, the more I know the more I can believe Our believe can grow 2 Peter 1:5-11 (NIV) 5
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Milk to meat
