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Sunday School Special : Lesson 92

Text: John 9:13-23
26 December 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 26 December 2021

Text: John 9:13-23

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: “A man who was blind from birth” III

INTRODUCTION

1. The “Neighbours” 

a) The word “Neighbours” is used to describe the people who brought the former blind man to the Pharisees
b) Who these people are, we cannot be certain

2. Possible identity

a) They were called “neighbours” (John 9:8)
b) But they were not “great neighbours” in any sense of the word
i) They did not rejoice with him
ii) They queried him
iii) They were not friendly 

BRINGING THE FORMER BLIND MAN TO THE PHARISEES

1. They brought him to the Pharisees (John 9:13)

a) Why?
b) To what end?

2. The Pharisees took over 

a) The Miracle had taken place on a Sabbath (John 9:14a)
b) They questioned the former blind man thoroughly

3. “The Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight” John 9:15a

a) They had asked him before
b) They asked him again
c) This was an attempt to intimidate the former blind man

4. The Reply of the former blind man

“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see” John 9:15b

5. This reply was shorter than the previous one he uttered

He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” John 9:11

a) Some things were missing
i) The name of the Lord Jesus
ii) Anointing
iii) Siloam
b) Only basic ideas were retained
i) He put clay on my eyes
ii) I washed
iii) I see 

DIVISION AMONG THE PHARISEES

1. There was disagreement among the Pharisees

2. Some commented

a) “This Man is not from God” John 9:16a
b) “Because He does not keep the Sabbath” John 9:16b

3. Others said

a) In Objection
b) “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” John 9:16c

4 Division

“And there was division among them” John 9:16d

QUERYING THE FORMER BLIND MAN FURTHER

1. His opinion sought

 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” John 9:17a

a) They queried the blind man… again!
b) What was his opinion about the Lord Jesus?

2. His candid and straightforward response

a) He said, “He is a prophet.” John 9:17b
b) He did not know much about the Lord Jesus
i) “A man called Jesus” John 9:11a
ii) “He is a prophet” John 9:17b

3. This line of questioning was not in the favour of the Pharisees!

QUERYING THE PARENTS OF THE FORMER BLIND MAN

1. They did not accept the opinion of former blind man

a) They would then be seen as learning from him
b) This would rub badly against their grain of pride

2. Their line of defence!

“But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight” John 9:18a

a) They did not believe that the man had been blind at all
b) They did not believe that he had miraculously regained his sight
c) Unbelievable:
i) Foolishness
ii) Stubbornness
iii) Audacity

3. They queried his parents instead

“They called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” John 9:18b-19

a) The parents were called in
b) They were queried:
i) “Is this your son, who you say was born blind?”
ii) “How then does he now see?”

4. The reply of the fearful parents

20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” John 9:20-23

a) They acknowledged that he was their son
b) And that he was born blind (John 9:20)
i) They could not say otherwise
ii) They could not deny the obvious
iii) Even if the Pharisees did!
c) The means of healing
i) They did not dare to comment
ii) If anyone suggested that the Lord Jesus was “Christ” he would be excommunicated (“put out of the synagogue”) (John 9:22)
d) They fell back on their son
i) “He is of age”
ii) “Ask him” John 9:23

CONCLUSION

1. The human heart

a) It can be stubborn
b) It can be filled with all kinds of wrong things:
i) Hatred
ii) Prejudice
iii) Wickedness

2. Reactions:

a) Denial
b) Rejection
c) Bullying 

3. The Example of the Former Blind Man

a) Straightforward
b) Sincere
c) Steadfast
d) Strong