Jesus is the light of the world that can heal the blind.
However, as Pastor Josh and Rich discussed this healing can often be messier than we would like and requires us to partner with Jesus instead of just waiting on him to heal us.
This week we were challenged to answer what we define as light? Where do we see evidences of God’s healing in our own story? How often do we share the beauty of what God has done in our lives?
Let’s read together.
Read this from the Bible together:
John 9:1-12
*As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples questioned Him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 4 We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After He said these things He spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” He told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who formerly had seen him as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the man who sat begging?” 9 Some said, “He’s the one.” “No,” others were saying, “but he looks like him.” He kept saying, “I’m the one!”
10 Therefore they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.”
12 “Where is He?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he said.*
Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…
“As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples questioned Him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” When it comes to healing for yourself or for others, have you ever wondered if the sickness is your fault? Why do you think human nature wants to blame ourselves or others instead of believing all are deserving of healing?
“Go,” He told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing. Physical healing in the Bible always reminds us of our need for spiritual healing. If you aren’t in need of physical healing, what areas of your life needs to be healed spiritually? What habits, thoughts, actions, or desires have become unhealthy? Do you believe you can healed from sin just as much as from sickness?
**Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.” Our story is a part of the healing process for others and ourselves. What parts of your story hold power? Have you ever skipped over sharing messier parts of your story in order to look like you need less healing?
“What are you tempted to believe is the light?” Josh mentioned that some people try to look for other lights in their life outside of the True Light. What counterfeit light do you most look to? Politics, money, self-sufficiency? What are your blind spots?
“We need to be people who are sendable.” The pool of Siloam means “Sent”. Are you a send-able person? What do you think qualified the blind man to be sent—was it how much he was able to see or was it how little he could see? What role does admitting need have in our being a sent people?
”We are in need of grace so much more than we would like to admit.” Why do humans struggle to confess their need for grace? In what ways can you commit to being honest about your need for healing this week?