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.
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”