========================
John 9:1-41
========================
1As he went along, he saw a
man blind from birth.
2His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3“Neither this man nor his
parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might
be displayed in him.
4As long as it is day, we
must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when
no one can work.
5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6After 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.
8His neighbors and those who
had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit
and beg?”
9Some claimed that he was.
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.
11He 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.”
12“Where is this man?” they
asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
13They brought to the
Pharisees the man who had been blind.
14Now the day on which Jesus
had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.
15Therefore 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.”
16Some 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.
17Then they turned again to
the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18They 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?”
20“We know he is our son,”
the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.
21But 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.”
22His 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.
23That was why his parents
said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24A 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.”
25He replied, “Whether he is
a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
26Then they asked him, “What
did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27He 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?”
28Then they hurled insults at
him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!
29We know that God spoke to
Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30The man answered, “Now that
is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet
he opened my eyes.
31We know that God does not
listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
32Nobody has ever heard of
opening the eyes of a man born blind.
33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34To this they replied, “You
were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
35Jesus heard that they had
thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of
Man?”
36“Who is he, sir?” the man
asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37Jesus said, “You have now
seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38Then the man said, “Lord, I
believe,” and he worshiped him.
39Jesus said, “For judgment I
have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will
become blind.”
40Some Pharisees who were
with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41Jesus said, “If you were
blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your
guilt remains.
----------------------------------------
1)
According to
verse 1 what did Jesus see as he went along?
o Jesus saw a man blind from birth.
2)
What do we
anticipate that Jesus would do when he saw a man blind from birth?
o We anticipate that Jesus would open his eyes.
3)
In accordance
with verse 2 what happened before Jesus had the opportunity to open the man’s eyes?
o The disciples asked Jesus about the cause of the man
being born blind,
§
Whether the man.
§
Or his parents.
o Sinned.
4)
What was the
illogical element of the disciples’ question?
o They suggested that it was possible for the man to sin
before or at birth.
5)
What was the
prevailing belief about a person being born blind in the Jewish culture in Jesus’
days, given verses 2 and 34?
o A person being born blind indicates that the person is sinful at birth for whatever reason.
6)
What stigma was
the man born blind born into?
o The man was considered sinful at birth.
o Such that
o God punished him with blindness.
7)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 3 what was his reply to the disciples’ question about the
cause of the man being born blind in the context of God’s providence?
o The man being born blind had nothing to do with
§
His sin.
§
Or the sin of
his parents.
o Rather it was God’s providence that it happened.
o So that
o The works of God might be displayed in him.
8)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 3 what did he do to the prevailing belief about a
person being born blind?
o Jesus announced that it was falsehood.
9)
What does ‘we’ in
verse 4 refer to?
o ‘We’ in verse 4 refers to Jesus and his disciples.
10)
According to what
Jesus said in verses 3 and 4 who sent Jesus?
o God did.
11)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 4 what must he and his disciples do as
long as it was day?
o They must do the
works of God who sent Jesus.
12)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 4 what happens when night comes?
o No one can work.
13)
What is the work
of God that Jesus was referring to and what
are the two perspectives of doing the work of God, given John 6:28-29 and John 4:34-38?
o Per John 6:28-29 the work of God is believing in Jesus.
o Doing the works of God
can be from the perspective of
§
The party that believes
in Jesus, per John 6:28-29.
§
And the party
that help others believe in Jesus, per John 4:34-38.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 6:28-29 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
28Then they asked him, “What
must we do to do the works God requires?”
29Jesus answered, “The work
of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 4:34-38 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
34“My food,” said Jesus, “is
to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35Don’t you have a saying,
‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at
the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
36Even now the one who reaps
draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
37Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
38I sent you to reap what you
have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the
benefits of their labor.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
14)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 4 what does it mean that no one can work when night
comes, given Matthew 16:27 and John 3:18?
o No one can choose to
§
Believe in Jesus.
§
Or help others believe
in Jesus any more.
o When
o Per Matthew 16:27 Jesus comes with his angels in the
glory of his Father to judge the world based on the status of their belief in him
in accordance with John 3:18.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Matthew 16:27 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
(English Standard Version)
27For the Son of Man is going
to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each
person according to what he has done.
+++++++++++++++++++++
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 3:18 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
18Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
+++++++++++++++++++++
15)
Why is Jesus’ coming
to judge the world characterized as night coming, given that in John 3:18-21
people’s choosing to believe in Jesus is characterized as coming into the light?
o Jesus’ coming to judge the world is the time when no one
can choose to
§
Believe in him.
§
And come out of
darkness into the light any more.
o For those who have yet to believe in Jesus, his coming
to judge the world is the equivalent of night coming.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 3:18-21 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
18Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19This is the verdict: Light
has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.
20Everyone who does evil
hates the light, and will not come into the light for
fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21But whoever lives by the
truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have
done has been done in the sight of God.
+++++++++++++++++++++
16)
In accordance
with verses 3 and 4 how did Jesus redirect the attention of the disciples?
o Jesus redirected the attention of the disciples
§
From the presumed
sinfulness at birth of the man born blind.
§
To the urgency of
their doing the works of God at hand.
17)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 5 what is he while he
is in the world?
o Jesus is the light of the world.
o While
o He is in the world.
18)
What should
people make haste to do while Jesus is in the world and the light of the world,
given that when he comes again, no one can work?
o They should make haste to
§
Believe in Jesus.
§
And help others believe
in Jesus.
19)
In accordance
with verses 5 and 6 what immediate action did Jesus take after he said that he is
the light of the world while he is in the world?
o Jesus
§
Spit on the
ground.
§
Made some mud
with the saliva.
§
And put it on the
man’s eyes.
20)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 7 what did he tell the man born blind to do?
o Go.
o Wash in the Pool of Siloam.
21)
According to
verse 7 what does the word ‘Siloam’ mean?
o It means ‘Sent’.
22)
According to
verse 7 what did the man born blind do and what happened?
o He
§
Went.
§
And washed.
§
And came home
seeing.
23)
What is the
current count of the number of signs Jesus had performed in the current gospel
account?
o This is the sixth sign.
24)
How was the man born
blind able to see again?
o He was able to see again.
o When
o He
§
Went to Siloam.
§
And washed.
o In obedience to Jesus’ words.
25)
What did the man born
blind have in Jesus as seen in his going to Siloam and washing in obedience to Jesus’
words?
o He had faith in Jesus for his healing.
26)
In accordance
with verses 3 to 7 how did Jesus account for the man
being born blind?
o It was God’s providence.
o That
o Jesus would do the work of God in him by opening his eyes.
o That
o Others might see the work.
27)
Again what did Jesus do to the prevailing belief about a
person being born blind?
o Jesus overturned it by
§
First announcing
that it was falsehood.
§
And then
confirming its falsehood by opening the
eyes of the man born blind.
28)
What did Jesus’
action of putting mud made with saliva on
the eyes of the man born blind symbolize in the context of what had been forced
on him since birth?
o It symbolized the stigma of
§
Being sinful at
birth.
§
And being punished
by God with blindness for his sinfulness.
o Being forced on him since birth.
29)
Why did Jesus put
mud on the eyes of the man born blind and tell him to wash in Siloam for
healing, given that in John 2:23-25 Jesus could see whether people have faith
in him or not?
o Jesus
§
Knew that the man
born blind had faith for healing.
§
And was giving
him the opportunity to express it by obeying his words.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 2:23-25 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
23Now while he was in
24But Jesus would not entrust
himself to them, for he knew all people.
25He did not need any
testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
+++++++++++++++++++++
30)
What stigma was the
man born blind cleared of as symbolized by the mud made with saliva being washed
away and his seeing again?
o He was cleared of the stigma of
§
Being sinful at
birth.
§
And being punished
by God with blindness for his sinfulness.
31)
By what in Jesus
did the man born blind clear himself of the stigma when he washed away in Siloam
the mud made with saliva and why?
o By faith in Jesus.
o Because
o By faith in Jesus he
§
Washed in Siloam.
§
And then could see.
o In contradiction to the assumption and conclusion of the
stigma.
32)
What empowerment did
Jesus give the man born blind when he told him to wash away the mud made with saliva
so that he could see?
o Jesus gave him the empowerment over
§
The opening of his
own eyes.
§
And the removal
of the stigma that had been forced on him since birth.
33)
In accordance
with verses 3 to 7 how did Jesus confirm his own words that he was doing the
works of God in the context of the man born blind?
o Jesus confirmed it by the sign of opening the eyes of the
man born blind.
34)
In accordance
with verses 3 to 7 how did the man born blind do the works of God?
o He did the works of God by obeying Jesus‘
words for him to wash in Siloam as an expression of faith.
35)
Who sent Jesus to
do the works of God, given verses 3 and 4?
o God did.
36)
Who sent the man
born blind to do the works of God?
o Jesus did.
37)
What is the
contrast in terms of healing by faith in Jesus between the invalid at the pool
of
o The invalid at the pool
of
o While
o The man born blind was healed upon his expression of
faith in Jesus.
38)
What would the
man born blind have chosen to do if he did not
want to be healed?
o He would not have
§
Gone to Siloam.
§
And washed.
o Instead he would have
§
Gone home.
§
And washed at home.
39)
In accordance
with verse 7 how strongly did the man born
blind desire to have his eyes opened, given that Jesus did not promise him what his
act of obedience would bring?
o He strongly desired to have his eyes opened.
o Because
o He obeyed Jesus’ words for him to go to Siloam to wash without knowing what would happen, only
hoping for the best.
40)
According to
verse 8 what was the question people had concerning the identity of the man who could see?
o His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him
begging asked if he was not the same man
who used to sit and beg.
41)
According to
verse 9 what were people’s opinions concerning the identity of the man who could see?
o Some claimed that he was the man born blind.
o Others replied in the negative, saying that he only
looked like him.
42)
According to
verse 9 who did the man who could see say
that he was?
o He insisted that he was the man born blind.
43)
According to
verse 10 what did the people ask the
man born blind?
o They asked him
how his eyes were opened.
44)
According to
verse 11 how did the man born blind say
his eyes were opened?
o He said that the man
they called Jesus
§
Made some mud.
§
Put it on his eyes.
§
And told him to
Ø
Go to Siloam.
Ø
And wash.
o So he
§
Went.
§
And washed.
o And then he could see.
45)
According to
verse 12 what did the man born blind tell
the people when they asked him for Jesus’
whereabouts?
o He said he did not know.
46)
According to
verse 13 what did the people do with the man
born blind?
o They brought him to the Pharisees.
47)
According to
verse 14 on what day did Jesus make the
mud and open the man’s eyes?
o On a Sabbath.
48)
According to
verse 15 what did the man born blind tell
the Pharisees when they asked him how he
had received his sight?
o He said that Jesus put
mud on his eyes.
o And he
§
Washed.
§
And then could
see.
49)
What was the
reason the people brought the man born
blind to the Pharisees, given verses 10, 14
and 15, and the word ‘also’ in verse 15?
o The people asked the man born blind how his eyes were opened.
o And the Pharisees also asked him that question.
o Because
o It happened on a
Sabbath.
o Like the Pharisees the people considered the healing a
violation of the Sabbath.
o So they brought the man born blind to the Pharisees for adjudication.
50)
In accordance
with verse 16 what did some of the Pharisees make a necessary condition for
deciding whether a person was from God or not?
o Some of them made keeping the Sabbath a necessary
condition for deciding whether a person was from God or not.
51)
In accordance
with verse 16 what did the Pharisees call those who did not keep the Sabbath?
o They called them sinners.
52)
In accordance
with verse 16 what doubt did other Pharisees have in making keeping the Sabbath
a necessary condition for deciding whether a person was from God or not?
o Jesus did not keep the Sabbath.
o So Jesus was in their eyes a sinner.
o But how could Jesus as a sinner open the eyes of a man
born blind.
o If
o He was not from God?
53)
According to
verse 16 what was the division among the Pharisees in terms of their opinion of
Jesus?
o They could not agree on
§
Whether Jesus was
a sinner or not.
§
And whether Jesus
was from God or not.
54)
Who would be an
example of those among the Pharisees who considered Jesus to be from God for the
signs he was doing, given John 3:1-2?
o Nicodemus would be an example.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 3:1-2 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
1Now there was a Pharisee, a
man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2He came to Jesus at night
and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no
one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
55)
According to
verse 17 what did the Pharisees ask the
man born blind when they found themselves
divided over what to make of Jesus?
o They asked him what he had to say about Jesus.
o Since
o Jesus opened his
eyes.
56)
According to
verse 17 what was the response of the man
born blind to the Pharisees’ enquiry?
o He said that Jesus was a prophet.
57)
What might the
man born blind have intentionally avoided saying
when he said Jesus was a prophet and why, given verse 22?
o He might have intentionally avoided saying that Jesus is
the Christ to avoid being put out of the synagogue.
58)
According to
verse 18 what did the Pharisees remain unconvinced about?
o They still did not believe that the man
§
Had been blind.
§
And had received his sight.
59)
According to
verse 19 how did the Pharisees question the
man’s parents?
o They questioned the man’s parents
§
If he was their
son.
§
If he was born
blind.
§
And how he could see.
60)
According to
verse 20 what did the man’s parents confirm about him?
o They confirmed
§
That he was their
son.
§
And that he was born
blind.
61)
According to
verses 18 to 20 how were the Pharisees
eventually convinced that the man was born
blind?
o They were convinced.
o When
o The man’s parents confirmed that their son was born
blind
62)
According to
verse 21 what did the man’s parents deny concerning what happened to his eyes?
o They denied knowledge of
§
How he could then
see.
§
And who opened
his eyes.
63)
Would the man’s
parents know that Jesus put mud on his eyes
and told him to wash in Siloam and why?
o Yes, because he had told them.
64)
In accordance
with verse 21 whom did the man’s parents try to avoid mentioning in front of
the Pharisees?
o They tried to avoid mentioning Jesus.
65)
According to
verse 21 what did the man’s parents suggest that the Pharisees should do to find out what happened to
his eyes?
o They said
§
That their son was
of age.
§
That he would speak
for himself
§
And that the
Pharisees could ask him.
66)
According to
verses 22 and 23 why did the man’s parents say that their son was of age and
that the Pharisees could ask him?
o They said that.
o Because
o They were afraid of the Jewish leaders who had decided
that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the
synagogue.
67)
In accordance
with verses 22 and 23 what conclusion could the Pharisees reach regarding the effectiveness of their pressure tactics?
o It was effective.
68)
According to
verse 24 what did the Pharisees say to the
man born blind when they summoned him a second
time?
o They said to him
§
That they knew Jesus was a sinner.
§
And that he
should give glory to God by telling the truth.
69)
In accordance
with verse 24 what did the Pharisees tout as their knowledge of the truth?
o They were touting their knowledge.
o That
o Jesus was a sinner.
70)
In accordance
with verse 24 what were the Pharisees
trying to accomplish through the remark they made to the man born blind?
o They
§
Were implying that he was not telling the truth.
§
And were applying pressure on him for him to change his
story of Jesus opening his eyes.
o They were also intimidating him who was considered sinful
at birth by alluding to Jesus as a sinner.
71)
In accordance
with verses 17 and 24 how had the tactics of the Pharisees changed in soliciting a response from the man born blind concerning Jesus?
o It had changed
§
From letting the
man born blind speak what was on his mind.
§
To coercing a
response from him that would paint Jesus as a sinner.
72)
According to
verse 25 what was the reply of the man born
blind to the Pharisees?
o He replied
§
That whether Jesus
was a sinner or not, he did not know.
§
And that one
thing he did know:.
Ø
He had been blind.
Ø
But then he could
see.
73)
How did the
man born blind neutralize the Pharisees’
pressure tactics?
o He avoided commenting on their remark.
o That
o Jesus was a sinner.
o Instead he pointed out the astounding fact of the eyes
of a man born blind having been opened.
74)
What was the
man born blind telling the Pharisees to focus on?
o He was telling them to focus on Jesus opening the eyes
of a man born blind.
75)
How did the
man born blind answer the Pharisees’ allusion to
his being sinful at birth in his reply?
o His reply could be interpreted as
§
That whether he himself
was sinful at birth or not, he did not know.
§
And that one
thing he did know:.
Ø
He had been blind.
Ø
But then he could
see.
o He was implying that the Pharisees’ condemnation of
his being sinful at birth was wrong.
76)
What was the
man born blind leveraging in refusing to comment
on whether Jesus was a sinner or not, given verse 16?
o He was leveraging the division among the Pharisees
over how Jesus as a sinner could open the eyes of a man born blind.
77)
According to
verse 26 what did the Pharisees again ask
the man born blind?
o They asked him
§
What Jesus did to
him.
§
And how Jesus opened his eyes.
78)
According to
verse 27 what did the man born blind say to
the Pharisees in reply?
o He replied
§
That he had told them
already.
§
And that they did not listen.
o He asked if
they wanted to become Jesus’ disciples too.
o Since
o They wanted to hear it again.
79)
According to
verses 28 and 29 what did the Pharisees say
to the man born blind in response to his
taunting?
o They
§
Hurled insults at
him.
§
And said
Ø
That he was Jesus’ disciple.
Ø
And that they were disciples of Moses.
o They also said that they knew that God spoke to Moses.
o But as for Jesus, they did not even know where he came
from.
80)
In accordance
with verse 29 what did the Pharisees tout
as their knowledge of the truth?
o They were touting their knowledge.
o That
o God spoke to Moses.
81)
In accordance
with verse 29 what were the Pharisees denying
about Jesus in citing their lack of knowledge of where he came from and at the
same time citing their knowledge of God speaking to Moses, given verse 16?
o They were denying that Jesus was from God.
82)
According to
verses 30 to 33 how did the man born
blind give the Pharisees a piece of his
mind in reply?
o He said to them
§
That it was remarkable
that
Ø
They did not know
where Jesus came from.
Ø
Yet Jesus opened his
eyes.
§
That God did not
listen
Ø
To sinners.
Ø
But to the godly
person who did his will.
§
That nobody had ever
heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
§
And that Jesus could do nothing.
§
If
§
He were not from
God.
83)
What specifically
of the Pharisees’ knowledge about God was
the man born blind ripping at?
o He was ripping at their ignorance of how God operates.
84)
What did the man
born blind intend to convey to the Pharisees
when he said ’That is remarkable!’ in verse 30?
o He was taunting their sheer ignorance as incredible.
85)
In accordance
with verses 30 and 31 what did the man born blind imply concerning whether Jesus
was a sinner or not?
o He implied that Jesus was
§
Not a sinner.
§
But a godly man.
86)
In accordance
with verses 32 and 33what conclusion did the man born blind draw concerning where
Jesus came from?
o He concluded that Jesus must come from God.
87)
What were the
points of contention between the man born blind and the Pharisees?
o Was Jesus a sinner?
o Did Jesus come from God?
88)
What were the specific
points of the Pharisees’ ignorance of how
God operates that the man born blind pointed out?
o Jesus could not be a sinner.
o As
o They claimed.
o Since
o God did not listen to sinners.
o And he definitely listened to Jesus.
o Since
o Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind.
o Also Jesus could do nothing.
o If
o He were not from God.
o Because
o Nobody had ever heard of opening the eyes of a man
born blind.
89)
According to
verse 34 what did the Pharisees do to the man born blind?
o They threw him out, condemning him
§
As being steeped in sin at birth.
§
And for lecturing them.
90)
How do we characterize
the quality of the reply of the man born blind to the Pharisees?
o It was
§
Confident.
§
Eloquent.
§
And sound in
understanding.
91)
How did the
understanding in terms of depth of spiritual matters of the man born blind
compare to that of the Pharisees who questioned
him?
o He had deeper understanding than those Pharisees.
92)
Where did the man
born blind acquire his understanding of spiritual matters?
o He acquired his understanding from the teaching.
o That
o He received at the synagogue.
93)
Whom might the
man born blind have been influenced by, given John 3:1-2 and John 3:9-10?
o He might have been influenced by Nicodemus
§
Who was
§
And who taught at
the synagogue.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 3:1-2 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
1Now there was a Pharisee, a
man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2He came to Jesus at night
and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no
one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 3:9-10 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
9“How can this be?” Nicodemus
asked.
10“You are
+++++++++++++++++++++
94)
What can be said
about the influence of Nicodemus‘ teaching in the community, given the quality
of the understanding of the man born blind in terms of depth and his being at
the grass root?
o It was
§
Deep.
§
And wide.
o In the community.
95)
Was the spar between the man born blind and the Pharisees
merely personal and why?
o No, it reflected the conflict between Nicodemus and
other Pharisees.
o The man born blind served as Nicodemus‘ proxy in the
community.
o Where
o His influence was
§
Deep.
§
And wide.
96)
What was the intention
of the Jewish leaders against Jesus, given John 5:16-18, John 7:1 and John 7:25-26?
o They intended to kill Jesus.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 5:16-18 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
16So, because Jesus was doing
these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.
17In his defense Jesus said
to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am
working.”
18For this reason they tried
all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even
calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
+++++++++++++++++++++
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 7:1 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
1After this, Jesus went
around in
+++++++++++++++++++++
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 7:25-26 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
25At that point some of the
people of
26Here he is, speaking
publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really
concluded that he is the Messiah?
+++++++++++++++++++++
97)
What was the
point of contention between Nicodemus and other Pharisees, given John 7:50-52?
o Jesus being given a fair hearing before being condemned
in accordance with the requirement of the law.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 7:50-52 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
50Nicodemus, who had gone to
Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,
51“Does our law condemn a man
without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
52They replied, “Are you from
+++++++++++++++++++++
98)
What was the reason
the Jewish leaders appeared to be indecisive in their action against Jesus even
though they were trying to kill him, given verse 16 and John 7:50-52 quoted
earlier?
o They could not reach the consensus among themselves to
kill Jesus because of division over him.
o It had to do with God’s providence.
o That
o Jesus would not die before the appointed time.
99)
Did the man born
blind initially intend to risk being put
out of the synagogue and why, given verses 25 and 31 to 33?
o No, because he initially refrained from pointing out the
Pharisees’ ignorance of the inevitable
conclusion
§
That Jesus could
not possibly be a sinner.
§
And that Jesus must
come from God.
100) At what point did the man born blind not care anymore
about being put out of the synagogue,
given verses 26 and 27?
o It is when the Pharisees kept pestering him with the
same question of how Jesus opened his eyes.
101) What did the man born blind perceive that the Pharisees were trying to accomplish pestering him with
the same question of how Jesus opened his eyes, given verse 24?
o He knew that they were pressuring him into denying that
Jesus opened his eyes.
102) What was the message the man born blind was conveying
to the Pharisees with what he said in
verse 27?
o He was sticking to his original reply.
o That
o Jesus opened his eyes.
103) Why did the man born blind not care anymore about
being put out of the synagogue, given the
fact that Jesus opened his eyes?
o It is because he did not want to deny the fact that Jesus
opened his eyes.
104) When did the man born blind hear for the first time the
liberating idea that his blindness was not due to his being steeped in sin at birth, given verse 3?
o It is when he heard Jesus say
§
That his blindness
was not due to
Ø
His sin.
Ø
Or the sin
of his parents.
§
But that it was
for the works of God to be displayed in him.
105) When was the man born blind fully convinced that his blindness
was not due to his being steeped in sin
at birth?
o It is when Jesus followed up the liberating remark by
doing the works of God of opening his eyes on the Sabbath.
106) How did the man born blind tell the Pharisees with
such conviction in verse 33 that Jesus must come from God, given verses 3 and 4?
o It is because Jesus said that God sent him.
107) What did Jesus reveal to the man born blind concerning
the errors of the Pharisees by opening his eyes on the Sabbath?
o By opening his eyes on the Sabbath Jesus exposed
§
Their error
concerning the Sabbath.
§
And their error
in condemning him as being steeped in sin at birth.
108) What kind of a sign did the man born blind experience
in light of the magnitude of its impact on his life?
o It was a life-changing sign.
109) Why was the man born blind so firm and resolute about not
denying that Jesus opened his eyes, given the impact of what Jesus had done for
him physically and emotionally?
o It is because Jesus
§
Not only healed
him physically, taking away his lifelong blindness.
§
But also healed
him emotionally, taking away his lifelong guilt and shame.
110) What was the reason the man born blind did not care
much about being put out of the synagogue
anymore, given verse 34?
o He
§
Was considered steeped
in sin at birth.
§
And was therefore
treated poorly at the synagogue.
o And he personally experienced the true meaning of the
Sabbath that could not be found in the synagogue.
111) Why were the Pharisees
not awe-struck by the fact that a man who was born blind had been healed?
o They were more upset than they were awe-struck.
o Because
o The healing was to them a violation of the Sabbath.
112) Did the Pharisees
not know that God is behind such a healing sign?
o They did.
113) Why were the Pharisees
upset about something that God is ultimately responsible for but that was to them a violation of the Sabbath?
o It is because they loved
§
Their religion.
§
More than the God
in their religion.
114) In accordance with verse 35 at what point did Jesus
intentionally seek the man born blind out?
o Jesus intentionally sought the man born blind out.
o When
o He heard that the Pharisees
had thrown him out.
115) According to what Jesus said in verse 35 what was his
question for the man born blind when he found
him?
o Jesus asked him if he believed in the Son of Man.
116) How did the man born blind recognize that the man who was
speaking to him was the one who opened his eyes?
o He recognized Jesus by his voice.
117) According to verse 36 what was the response of the
man born blind to Jesus?
o He asked Jesus to
tell him who the Son of Man was.
o So that
o He might believe
in him.
118) According to what Jesus said in verse 37 who did he say
was the Son of Man?
o Jesus told him
§
That he had right then seen the Son of Man.
§
And that the Son
of Man was speaking with him.
119) According to verse 38 what was the response of the man
born blind to Jesus’ identification of himself as the Son of Man?
o He
§
Told Jesus he
believed.
§
And worshiped
him.
120) How did the man born
blind confirm his belief in Jesus?
o He confirmed it by worshipping Jesus.
121) What is the chain of witnesses who had testified about
Jesus so far?
o God had testified to John the Baptist about Jesus.
o John the Baptist
had testified to two of his disciples about Jesus, one of them being Andrew and
the other John.
o Andrew had testified to his brother Peter about Jesus.
o John had testified to his brother James about Jesus.
o Andrew had testified to his hometown friend Philip
about Jesus.
o Philip had testified to his friend Nathanael about Jesus.
o Jesus had testified about himself to the Samaritan
woman who was a stranger.
o The Samaritan woman had testified about Jesus to other
Samaritans in town as an estranged cultural insider.
o Jesus had testified about himself to the royal official.
o The royal official had testified about Jesus to his
whole household.
o Jesus had testified about himself to the man born blind.
122) What was the view of the man born blind of Jesus when he worshiped him?
o He acknowledged that Jesus is God.
123) Why did the man born blind worship Jesus as God when Jesus
acknowledged that he is the Son of Man, given Daniel 7:13-14?
o The title ‘Son of Man’ is a title of divinity in the
Jews’ interpretation of scriptures.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Daniel 7:13-14 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
13In my vision at night I
looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds
of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14He was given authority,
glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped
him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his
kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
+++++++++++++++++++++
124) What did the man born blind worshipping Jesus as God
when Jesus acknowledged that he is the Son of Man tell us about the man’s
understanding of the Jews’ interpretation of scriptures?
o He had good understanding.
125) Why did the man born blind worship Jesus as God when others
who were healed by Jesus did not?
o He wanted Jesus to be his God in rejection of the
Pharisees’ false god.
o Besides he had been thrown out of the synagogue.
126) How multifaceted was the belief of the man
born blind in Jesus, given verses 17,
30 to 33 and
38?
o First he acknowledged that Jesus is a prophet upon personally
experiencing a life-changing sign.
o Then he implicitly acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ
before the Pharisees regardless of
pressure from them against it.
o And then he believed and worshipped Jesus as God upon Jesus’
testimony about himself.
127) When did the disciples start acknowledging and worshiping
Jesus as God, given John 20:24-28 and Luke 24:50-52?
o They started acknowledging and worshiping Jesus as God.
o After
o He died and rose from the dead.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 20:24-28 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
24Now Thomas (also known as
Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25So the other disciples told
him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks
in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his
side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples
were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were
locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
27Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my
side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28Thomas said to him, “My
Lord and my God!”
+++++++++++++++++++++
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Luke 24:50-52 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
50When he had led them out to
the vicinity of
51While he was blessing them,
he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52Then they worshiped him and
returned to
+++++++++++++++++++++
128) Why did Jesus wait until the Pharisees had thrown the man born blind out before seeking
him out and revealing his identity to him?
o It is because the man born blind had previously sought
to appease the Pharisees for the sake of staying
in the synagogue.
o It is only after he had been thrown out of the
synagogue.
o That
o He would wholeheartedly believe in Jesus without
reservation.
129) In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 3 what was
the work of God that was displayed in the
man born blind and that is viewed from the two perspectives?
o Jesus’ helping the man born blind believe in him.
o And the man’s believing in Jesus.
130) What did Jesus do to do the work of God in the man
born blind?
o Jesus opened his eyes.
o So that
o He had the opportunity to believe in Jesus.
131) What did the man born
blind do to do the work of God?
o He believed in Jesus.
o When
o His eyes were opened.
132) Was it worthwhile for the man born blind to suffer blindness from birth in order that
the works of God might be displayed in
his life and why?
o No, it was not worthwhile.
o If
o The man
§
Only lived this
life.
§
And then vanished.
o Yes, it was worthwhile.
o Because
o By worshipping Jesus as God after his healing he
§
Has eternal life.
§
And will not
perish in his own sins.
133) According to what Jesus said in verse 39 what was the
outcome of his coming into the world for judgment?
o It was so that
§
The blind will
see.
§
And those who see
will become blind.
134) What did Jesus mean by ‘the blind will see’?
o The physically blind will
§
See the spiritual
reality of Jesus.
§
And believe.
o As
o The man born
blind did.
135) What did Jesus mean by ‘those who see will become
blind’?
o The sighted will
§
Become blind to the
spiritual reality of Jesus.
§
And not believe.
o As
o The Pharisees
did not.
136) What does Jesus’ coming into the world reveal
concerning the blind and those who see?
o It reveals the reality
§
That the physically
blind will
Ø
See the spiritual
reality of Jesus.
Ø
And believe.
§
And that the sighted
will
Ø
Become blind to the
spiritual reality of Jesus.
Ø
And not believe.
137) What is Jesus’ judgment of the world based on, given John
3:17-18?
o It is based on belief in Jesus or not.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 3:17-18 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
17For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
+++++++++++++++++++++
138) When will Jesus’ judgment of the blind and those who
see take place, given Matthew 16:27?
o It will take place.
o When
o Jesus comes again.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Matthew 16:27 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
27For the Son of Man is going
to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each
person according to what they have done.
+++++++++++++++++++++
139) According to verse 40 what was the reaction of some Pharisees
who were with Jesus and who heard his remark?
o They questioned Jesus if he meant to say that they were
blind too.
140) What blindness did those Pharisees refer to?
o They referred to physical blindness.
141) According to what Jesus said in verse 41 what was his response
to the questioning of those Pharisees?
o They would not be guilty of sin.
o If
o They were physically blind.
o But their guilt remained.
o Since
o They claimed they could see.
142) How do we interpret what Jesus said in verse 41?
o Those Pharisees who questioned Jesus could not see the
signs he performed.
o If
o They were blind.
o But they had indeed seen the signs Jesus performed.
o Since
o They claimed they could see.
o So their guilt of unbelief remained.
143) What was the status of belief in Jesus of the man born blind after he had personally
experienced a life-changing sign?
o He believed in Jesus.
144) What was the status of belief in Jesus among the Pharisees, given verse 16?
o Some Pharisees dismissed Jesus for not keeping the
Sabbath regardless of the signs.
o That
o He had performed.
o Others did not dismiss him because of the signs.
145) What is the contrast in terms of belief in Jesus between
the invalid at the pool of
o The invalid at the pool
of
o While
o The man born blind did.
146) What is the contrast between the invalid at the pool
of
o The invalid at the pool
of
o The man born blind was healed.
o Only when
o He expressed his faith in Jesus by obeying Jesus’ words
for him to wash in Siloam.
147) Why was the invalid
at the pool of
o Jesus
§
Knew that the
invalid at the pool of
§
And healed the
invalid unconditionally in order to plumb the
depth of the invalid’s greater unbelief of
informing the Jewish leaders on him.
o On the other hand Jesus
§
Knew that the man
born blind had faith.
§
And gave him the
opportunity to express it.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 5:10-15 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
10and so the Jewish leaders
said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to
carry your mat.”
11But he replied, “The man
who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12So they asked him, “Who is
this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13The man who was healed had
no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14Later Jesus found him at
the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something
worse may happen to you.”
15The man went away and told
the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
+++++++++++++++++++++
148) Was the invalid at
the pool of
o In this life, may be, may be
not.
o Something worse might have happened to him for his sin
of informing the Jewish leaders on Jesus.
o But he will definitely be judged more severely for his
greater unbelief.
o When
o Jesus comes to judge the world.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 5:14-15 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
14Later Jesus found him at
the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something
worse may happen to you.”
15The man went away and told
the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
+++++++++++++++++++++
========================
John 9:1-41
========================