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Having declared that He was the light of the world, Jesus now demonstrates in a physical way what that reality means for us. He heals a man who was born blind, and gives him the gift of sight. In a very real sense, that man went from darkness to light. His life changed in ways that we can only imagine. He declared what all of us declare:  I once was blind, but now I see!

Scriptures:
John 9

Digging Deeper

1. Consider the themes of night and day, blindness and sight (not just physical, but spiritual) and the truth that Jesus is the light of the world. Explore the light/dark word picture in the following passages:  Genesis 1; Exodus 10; Psalm 18:28; Isaiah 9:1-2; Isaiah 42:6-7;Luke 3:44-46; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; How does that add to your understanding of Jesus as the light of the world?
2. What did Jesus claim to be in John 8:12 and 9:5?  What are we called to be? (Isaiah 42:6-7; John 12:6; Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 5:8-14; 2 Corinthians 6:12-14). How was Jesus the light of the world - in what ways?  How can we be the lights of the world?
3. Are you called to be a light in what you do or what you say?  (Trick question!)  Which is easier for you?  Can we simply pick one and not the other?  (See Matthew 5:14-16 and consider: if all we do are good deeds, but we never say anything about Jesus, how will others give the glory for our good deeds to God?). Which do you need to try and do more of (goods deeds or declaring the gospel)?  Are you willing to ...

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Who Are You?

Jesus continues the dialogue that we explored last week, discussing who He is. However the discussion becomes much more confrontational as He begins to demonstrate that you are either with Him, all in, or you are against Him. There is no middle ground. The question of the morning was posed to Jesus, but He turns it around on all of us: Who are you?

(John 8:12-59 NIV) "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

13 The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid." 14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me." 19 Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," ...

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‘Pitiful’ Plans Contain God’s Promises
When problems invade our lives, they often paralyzed us.  The pains often associated with the heavy issues of life often land us in a deep, foreboding pit.  The people who hope for our destruction expect to implode our lives and pressure us into trusting ourselves to work our way through the darkness alone, completely on our own.  God has another plan…and He is willing and ready to let us in on His plan.
Genesis 37
  2 This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
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Hurting People, Healing Savior

 

Over the last two weeks we have explored conversations that Jesus had with two very different people – but the message to each was the same:  I am the Savior of the world, believe in me. This morning we see this same message demonstrated through the healing power of Christ. Jesus is not simply a Savior we talk about; He is a Savior who changes our lives forever.

 

(John 4:42 NIV)  "They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.""

 

(John 4:46-54 NIV)  "Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." 49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son ...

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Why Do You Follow Jesus?

 

This morning we meet a man who comes to Jesus with questions. The answers he receives are at the same time both simple and confusing. But in the dialogue with Jesus Nicodemus finds that while there are compelling reasons to follow Jesus there is only one life changing reason.

 

(John 2:23-25 NIV)  "Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man."

 

(John 3:1-21 NIV)  "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God ...

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