Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 19 December 2021

Text: John 9:1-11

Subject: Evangelism

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

INTRODUCTION

1. The healing acts the Lord Jesus performed 

a) They were varied

i) He turned water into wine by merely giving instructions  (John 2)

ii) He healed the son of a nobleman without seeing the boy  (John 4)

iii) He spoke to a man who was infirmed for thirty-eight years (John 5

iv) He multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish with a prayer of thanks (John 6)

b) The intended lesson:

i) It is not “method” that produces results

ii) It is the Power of God in the Lord Jesus

2. The use of spittle:

a) The Lord Jesus used spittle and clay on the eyes of the man (John 9:6)

b) The use of spittle was noted in the Gospel of Mark

i) Spittle was used when the Lord healed a deaf-mute (Mark 7:31-37)

ii) Spittle was also used on a blind man (Mark 8:22-26)

A SPECIAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

1. The language of the Sighted

a) The eyes are used 

i) By the speaker

ii) By the listener

b) Beyond words

i) The eyes see

ii) A special way of communication

2. A special means of communicating with the Blind Man

a) Language of the hands

i) A touch of love

ii) Words of gentleness  (Not recorded in the Gospel of John)

iii) Things that nobody else had done for decades!

b) A special message: Spittle and clay 

i) “He spat on the ground”

ii) “And made clay with the saliva”

iii) “And He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay” John 9:6

3. A simple word of instruction

a) “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” John 9:7a

b) “Siloam” means “Sent” John 9:7b

4. Obedience to the Word of the Lord Jesus

a) “So he went” John 9:7c

b) “And washed” John 9:7d

c) “And came back seeing” John 9:7e

TO THE SURPRISE OF EVERYONE

1. The neighbours (John 9:8a)

2. Those who had seen that he was blind (John 9:8b)

3. Their puzzled inquiry

“Is not this he who sat and begged?” John 9:8c

4. Commentators

a) Some said

“This is he” John 9:9a

b) Others said

“He is like him” John 9:9b

5. The former Blind Man said

“I am he” John 9:9c

THE QUERY OF THE NEIGHBOURS ANSWERED WITH A SIMPLE TESTIMONY

1. A direct question

“How were your eyes opened?” John 9:10

2. A straightforward answer

a) “A Man called Jesus” John 9:11a

i) The Lord Jesus must have identified Himself to the Blind Man

ii) This was not stated earlier

b) “Made clay and anointed my eyes” John 9:11b

i) Not stated earlier

ii) Explanation was given to the Blind Man

c) “And said to me”

i) “Go to the pool of Siloam” John 9:11c

ii) “And wash” John 9:11d

d) “So I went and washed” John 9:11e

e) “And I received sight” John 9:11f

3. A further query

“Where is He now?” John 9:12a

a) There is no rejoicing with the former Blind Man

b) There is no congratulatory word

c) There seems to be an air of unfriendliness

4. An honest answer

“I do not know” John 9:12b

a) The former Blind Man does not need to answer such questions

b) How would he know the movements of the Lord Jesus?

LESSONS FOR US TO PONDER OVER

1. Sharing our Testimony

a) Every believer has a Testimony to share

i) Some dramatic

ii) Others may be ordinary

b) We must learn how to share our Testimony well

2. Essential Features

a) Identifying our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ

b) The previous state of our life

i) Blindness

ii) For a lifetime

c) The Present state of our life

i) I washed

ii) I received my sight

3. The Testimony of John Newton

John Newton, 1779

Verse 1
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Verse 2
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Verse 3
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

Verse 4
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Verse 5
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

Verse 6
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Verse 7
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.