Tag: Born Blind

Compassion, Living in the Image of God

Testimony of Man Born Blind—Part 2 Bolder and Articulate

Living in the Image of God M02S15

A man born blind received sight from Jesus and was motivated by appreciation to tell his story. Initially, he knew only the facts of his healing but did not understand what they meant regarding Jesus. He understood better as he discussed his experience more with others. In several interactions with the Pharisees, they pressured him to change his account to discredit or deny the healing but he was determined to protect the facts. He repeated the story more boldly and with greater clarity each time. The story led him incrementally to discover his mission of explaining to others that Jesus is the Messiah.

Testimony of Man Born Blind 2of2 8:03

This bible study concludes our discussion of the testimony of a man born blind that received sight through an encounter with Jesus. As we discuss previously under Testimony of Man Born Blind—Part 1 Motivated by Appreciation, his appreciation for receiving sight motivated him to tell his story. He told his neighbors and other relations, sharing with them a factual account of his healing, but he did not yet know Jesus that healed him.

His neighbors took him to the Pharisees and he repeated his story to them several times. The Pharisees tried to persuade him to change his account to discredit or deny the healing. However, he insisted on the facts. Furthermore, he told the story more boldly each time and with greater clarity regarding Jesus (John 9:13–34).

First, the Pharisees tried to use the fact that the healing occurred on a Sabbath but couldn’t agree among themselves. Second, they questioned his parents, expecting to establish the man was not the blind person they knew. However, his parents confirmed it was him but did not try to explain how he gained sight. Third, the Pharisees tried unsuccessfully to persuade the man that Jesus was a sinner. Finally, they questioned him again and used his answer as a pretext to expel him from synagogue.

He met Jesus again thereafter, understood him more clearly, and became better prepared to continue with his mission of explaining to others that Jesus is the Messiah. Thus, within a period of no more than a few days, the man progressed from being an insignificant member of society to standing toe-to-toe against the Teachers of the Law, proclaiming to them and others that Jesus is the Messiah. All because of his appreciation for receiving sight and motivation to tell others about his experience.

Continue reading “Testimony of Man Born Blind—Part 2 Bolder and Articulate” →
Compassion, Living in the Image of God

Testimony of Man Born Blind—Part 1 Motivated by Appreciation

Living in the Image of God M02S14

A man born blind and given sight by Jesus was motivated by appreciation to tell his story. He told his neighbors and other relations: that Jesus gave him sight, by soiling his eyes and directing him to wash in a pool. He knew the facts but was yet to understand what they meant regarding Jesus. He will understand better subsequently, as his story developed into a mission to tell others about Jesus. Thus, he was propelled by appreciation onto a gospel mission.

Testimony of Man Born Blind 1of2 7:53

We discuss the testimony of a man born blind based on bible accounts of his interactions with others after he received sight through an encounter with Jesus (John 9:1–34). In appreciation for receiving sight, he was motivated to tell his story. As we discuss in a previous study under Human Relationship with God Regarding Work, telling his story became a Gospel mission that he discovered incrementally as he interacted with others.

First, he testified to his neighbors and other relations. Subsequently, his neighbors took him to the Pharisees, also known as the Teachers of the Law, and he gave testimonies in several interactions with them. His audience grew as he testified to different groups. Also, he showed better understanding of his message as he interacted more with others regarding his healing.

The man was blind from birth but received sight during this encounter with Jesus. Several events that occurred following the healing led him incrementally to a mission to proclaim Jesus is the Messiah. His appreciation for receiving sight motivated him to tell his story and propelled him to the mission. He told the story several times: more boldly and with greater clarity each time.

We will present the study in two parts. In the current session, we discuss Christ explanation of God’s purpose for the man’s blindness and the man receiving sight and testifying about the healing to his neighbors and other relations.

Continue reading “Testimony of Man Born Blind—Part 1 Motivated by Appreciation” →
Following God's Schedule

Working with God in Increments

Work and Miracle Accomplish Goal

God’s schedule often consists of a sequence of tasks, revealed incrementally but not in advance. Completion of a task opens opportunities and conditions for the next task, irrespective of perceived success or failure. God provides input to accomplish a task but expects human effort to combine with his input. We discuss Christ teaching in interactions with a man born blind to understand Following God’s Schedule by working with him incrementally. Also, we discuss Peter’s escape from Herod to illustrate working diligently toward receiving and utilizing God’s intervention.

Teaching human relationship with God regarding work
Teaching human relationship with God regarding work TheGlobalGospel.org FreeBibleImages.org

In continuing with our study series on Following God’s Schedule, we note that God often will provide his schedule as a sequence of tasks, revealed in increments but not in advance. As we discuss in a previous study under Human Relationship with God Regarding Work, completion of a task opens opportunities and conditions for the next task. Irrespective of perceived success or failure, the outcome of a task always leads to opportunities for a new task. Recognize and commit to the new task to advance in following God’s schedule. We discuss Christ teaching in interactions with a man born blind to illustrate God’s schedule revealed in sequential task increments.

Interactions with man born blind
Interactions with man born blind
TheGlobalGospel.org FreeBibleImages.org

Furthermore, each task includes a direct contribution from God and a contribution to be accomplished by human effort. God’s contribution could be closely tied with, and at times indistinguishable from, human effort and could occur before, during, or after the human contribution. We discuss Peter’s escape from Herod to illustrate God combining divine contributions with human effort to accomplish a goal.

Also, the end of a task at times indicates several options for a new task. Some of the options represent an attempt by the enemy to divert a person from following God’s schedule, whereas the other options provide opportunities to continue on God’s path. David faced a similar situation following his departure from Saul. He needed to protect himself from Saul but at the same time continue to build his reputation as a potential future leader of Israel. He identified his immediate and long-term needs and made choices based on satisfying the needs. We discuss events following David’s departure from Saul to understand his choices and staying on God’s schedule toward becoming king of Israel.

David’s choices during the period illustrate Searching for Next Step in Following God’s Schedule. The current study focuses on Christ teaching through interactions with a man born blind and the example based on Peter’s escape from Herod, to understand God’s schedule as a sequence of tasks to be accomplished incrementally through combined divine intervention and human effort. The next study will focus on understanding David’s choices following his departure from Saul, which illustrate Searching for Next Step to remain on the sequence of tasks representing God’s path or schedule to fulfillment of his promise.

Continue reading “Working with God in Increments” →