Who’s really the blinded ones in John 9?

  

Review: the basis of Jesus’ activity in This part of John’s gospel.

What are the differences between the message in chapter 8 and 9?

• In chapter 8: Light exposes darkness
  
• In chapter 9: Light informs darkness

Among other thoughts…, in chapter 8, Jesus is called Demoniac (36), in chapter 9, He is called Lord!

A Theme: Man cannot frustrate the plan of God nor his power.  On the contrary, all of the miracles illustrate the fact that we are helpless. 

What the disciples think about suffering. The ancient (and not so ancient), view of suffering.

What God does in suffering?

1. A corrective we need in our lives! The spanking that makes us better
2. The constructive work of cutting away the warts
3. That Grace may be revealed! Clearly evident in Job’s life and Lazarus. 

The work of God is time sensitive. We must do the work while it is light! Richard Baxter, wrote, 

I preach as though I ne’er might preach again, and as a dying to dying men.”

What we discover !

The blind man did not beg for his sight. His condition was was hopeless, but he was in the right place in the right time.

The man’s path toward stronger beliefs-

1. When first asked, he (Jesus) is a man…
2. Then later a prophet…
3. Later a teacher (27),
4. Lastly a man from God (38).

Just some thoughts… We’ll fill in some of blanks later this evening!

MJC