Marvels: Healing the Man Born Blind
Welcome to our series Marvels: Miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of John. This week Jessica and Pete discuss the healing of the man born blind in John 9.
To begin your study, read the first part of this passage, found in John 9:1-12.
At the beginning of this story, the disciples ask Jesus a question about the man born blind: “Was he blind because of his sin, or his parents’ sin?”. Have you ever come into contact with the belief that infirmities or disasters occur to people because of their sin? What are your thoughts on this idea?
What do you make of Jesus’s method of healing here?
In his sermon, Pete set up this passage by saying that this miracle could be seen as a contrast between Public Perception and Personal Revelation. In this story, public perception revolves around doubt—specifically, doubt that Jesus is who he is revealing Himself to be, because he healed the man on the Sabbath.
Read about the investigation of the Pharisees in verses 13-34.
Discuss how you see the contrast between the Pharisee’s perception of Jesus and the revelation of Jesus through this miracle playing out in this section.
Have you ever been tempted to dismiss the work of God in somebody else’s life because of their sin and imperfection? Have you ever been tempted to dismiss the work of God in your own life because of your sin and imperfection? Discuss.
Have you ever had trouble trusting that Jesus is who He says he is? How does Jesus’s healing of the man born blind reinforce your trust in Him?
Finally, read verses 35-39.
How does Jesus interact with the man born blind after he is thrown out by the Pharisees? What does this show you about God?
(*Video available after Sunday services)
