Lesson 134 - Junior

Memory Verse

"He hath opened mine eyes" (John 9:30).

Notes

For the Glory of God

Jesus went about doing good. He never failed to help those who were in need. Jesus had left the Temple because the people did not like His teachings and they took up stones to throw at Him ([JHN:8:59]). As Jesus was walking through the crowd, He saw a man who needed help. The disciples with Jesus saw the blind man, too. Their hearts were not filled with compassion as was Jesus' heart. The disciples judged the man and thought that he was being punished for sin. They asked Jesus who had sinned, the man or his parents?

Many times the sins of the parents cause the children to suffer and to be denied good things. Even so, sin is not always the cause of sickness. There are some sinners who are seldom sick and some of God's people are sick many times. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19). As was the blind man's case, the affliction may be for the glory of God. Job was severely afflicted with boils, yet sin was not the cause, for the Lord said that he was "a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God" (Job 2:3). When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" (John 11:4).

The Light of the World

Jesus came to do the will of God and to finish the work that was planned for Him ([JHN:4:34]). When Jesus was only twelve years old He said that He must be about His Father's business ([LUK:2:49]). Later, when He went out to preach, Jesus said, "I must preach the kingdom of God . . . for therefore am I sent" (Luke 4:43). Jesus gave us an example by His life as well as by His preaching. When He said, "I am the light of the world," (John 8:12), Jesus meant that He would instruct men in spiritual things -" the way of life and the way to life. Jesus' life and His words are our Guide. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). Are you following the Guide?

While It Is Day

Jesus' time on earth was limited. He took advantage of every opportunity to do the Lord's work and to spread the Gospel. There comes a time in every person's life when God calls a halt to his work. Today is your time to work for the Lord. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2). The night comes when a man can no longer work. That time will come in your life. How are you using your day? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Blindness

Jesus did more than talk; He proceeded to glorify God through His works. He could have said to the blind man, "Eyes be open"; and the eyes would have been opened. Jesus had a different way this time. He put clay on the eyes of the blind man. One would think to put mud over his eyes would blind rather than open his eyes. Jesus often does things in a different manner than we think He will. Jesus then instructed the blind man to go to the pool of Siloam to wash.

Obedience

This lesson shows what can happen when a person is obedient to Jesus. There were many obstacles in the way of the blind man, but he obeyed. He did not question as to how he could get to the pool, nor where it was, nor why he should wash there. He obeyed Jesus and "came seeing." For the first time in his life he saw the light of day. The power of the Lord had given him sight. He did not see because of the clay, nor because of the water in the pool of Siloam, but because of obedience. This was the work of God. There are many blind people, there is much clay, and we are told that there still is the Pool of Siloam. So far as we know, no other person has received his sight in this manner. This was a miracle of Jesus.

Spiritually Blind

There are many people who are blind to spiritual things. From their birth they never have seen the beauties of God, because their spiritual eyes are blinded. They are not blinded by an accident nor a disease: they are born blind. The natural condition of man is blindness to the spiritual. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Perhaps the blind man had tried other remedies and cures, with no success. The only hope is in Jesus. He came "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins" ([ACT:26:18]; [LUK:4:17-21]). One may try other means to get spiritual sight but be without success. "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, . . . to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever" (Revelation 1:5, 6). Are your sins washed away by the Blood of Jesus? Have you let Jesus open your eyes to spiritual things?

"At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!"

What a wonderful changed takes place when one's spiritual eyes are opened! The change in a sinner saved by grace is just as real as the change that took place in the blind man. One sees God's creation and handiwork as never before. The world in which he lives is enlarged. He has vision, and a fuller life. The condemnation and shame of his past life are gone. He feels clean and strong through the power of Jesus' might. His experience is just as definite as that of the blind man. He, too, can say, "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).

Unbelief

The neighbours and Pharisees knew that the condition of the blind man was changed. In curiosity they asked how and where. Then, in the face of the facts, they did not believe but tried to deny the miracle. His parents were cautious lest they would be put out of the synagogue " their church. Jesus had relieved them of sadness, burden, and inconvenience caused by their son's blindness. Yet they were afraid and shifted their responsibility to giving credit to Jesus. Every person is either for Jesus or against Him ([LUK:11:23]). There is no neutral ground, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words . . . of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father" (Mark 8:38).

Belief and Worship

The healed man gave his testimony and confession of Jesus: "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing" (John 9:33). The people tried to change his mind and to persuade him that the healing had come some other way. The man knew that Jesus had healed him, and would not give in to their arguments. The Pharisees would not listen to his testimony; instead, they put him out of their place of worship.

Jesus stands by His witnesses. He went to the man, revealed Himself as the Son of God, and the man worshiped Him saying, "Lord, I believe."

Blessed or Condemned

This lesson shows how differently people treat Jesus. The man could not see Jesus. He realised his condition and was willing to let Jesus take away the darkness that he might have sight. He obeyed and was healed.

The Pharisees could see Jesus, yet they were blind to their own condition. They did not believe even after they had seen the miracle. No doubt they "loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Jesus condemned them and said that their sins remained. Many people, that day, refused to believe Jesus and were condemned. One man received a blessing because he believed. Like which of these people are you?

Questions

1. How long had this man been blind?

2. How did he receive his sight?

3. What was his testimony?

4. How did his parents react to the miracle?

5. What did the Pharisees do to the man?

6. Why was he cast out of the synagogue?

7. What work did Jesus come to do?

8. Why were not the spiritual eyes of these other people opened?