Lesson 34

Lesson Text: John 9:24-34

So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.  We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
 

The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!  Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.  Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.

If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. (John 9:24-34) 

Try this little experiment:

Ask your mother to blindfold you. Make sure you cannot see anything.  Now do the following tasks while wearing the blindfold (make sure someone is watching you so you do not run into anything and get hurt. You might want to get a stick and try to feel for objects in your path like a blind person does):

Find a pair of socks in your drawer.

Put on your socks and shoes.

Get a glass of water.

Find the chair you usually sit in at the dining room table and sit in it. 

Comb your hair.

Brush your teeth.

1. Now tell what it felt like to not be able to see what you were doing.  Can you imagine being blind all the time since you were born?

The Pharisees did not know what to do with the blind man who had been healed of his blindness by Jesus.  Finally they called the man to come to them again and this time they told him to give God, not Jesus, the credit for healing him. The man refused to change his story.  This made the Pharisees angry, especially when he asked them if they wanted to become Jesus’ disciples. 

Did you know that the Pharisees were blind?  Yes, it is true!  Their blindness was not physical blindness.  It was spiritual blindness.  Jesus observed that they were spiritually blind. He said: “... They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”   Can you picture someone who is blind trying to lead the way for another blind person?  Jesus pointed out that if a blind person tried to lead another blind person they would both fall into a ditch!

Family Discussion:

Discuss what it means to be spiritually blind. Which is worse, physical blindness or spiritual blindness? Use the following verses to help with your discussion:
Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matthew 23:24)

Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. (Matthew 23:26)

Choose the correct answer:

2. The Pharisees told the blind man to give God (his money; his address; the glory).

3. The Pharisees said that Jesus was (A prophet; a sinner; a Pharisee).

4. The blind man asked the Pharisees if they wanted to become (a disciple of Christ; fishers of men; Moses’ disciples).

5. The Pharisees said that they knew that God had spoken to (Moses; Jesus; John).

6. The man said that if Jesus were not from God He could do (all manner of tricks; sorcery; nothing).

7. The Pharisees cast (their pearls before swine; the man out; their nets on the other side).

Unscramble the words and tell how they are used in the lesson:

Then find them in the puzzle below.

8. Dearlya

9. Netlsi

10. Pisdecisl

11. Vedirle

12. Smoes

13. Slorvemau

14. Radehun

15.  Nnghtio

16. Melloctpey