When people are healed by Jesus they begin to see things they’ve been blinded to their whole lives.

In John 9:13-34, Pastor Josh pointed out three different oppositions the blind man experienced when questioned about his healing. We also face these oppositions when we share our own stories of healing.

Like the healed man, legalism, disbelief, and an attack on our qualifications can threaten to silence the story of grace that Jesus is writing in us.

Let’s read together.

Grow Together

Read this from the Bible together:

John 9:13-17, 24-27  
*13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

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Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…

Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.Legalism can blind us to the work God has done. The Pharisees made the Sabbath more important than the miracle of Jesus’ healing. When was a time that you made the rules of religion more important than the power of God’s grace?

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” What does the healed man’s response reveal about not having to know everything? Why do you think sincerity in his proclamation of healing was more important than knowing all the details surrounding the circumstance?

He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” Some people will disqualify your story because it isn’t what they want to hear. Have you experienced this when sharing the story of Jesus’s grace in your life?

Next Steps

“Don’t let the hurdle of legalism come between how much God has changed you and how powerful your story is.” Legalism will tempt us to mute the messy in our own stories, but doing so also saps them of their power. What are you most tempted to skip over when sharing your Jesus-story with others? What are you most comfortable with sharing? Why do you think that is?

“Some of us have been wrecked by grace and we haven’t shared our story in our long time.”When was the last time you told your Jesus-story to someone? What was the result?

“We should be a really secure, generous and free people if we follow Jesus.” Do you see those three characteristics in your life? What area do you think Jesus may be working on in your story right now?