John 9

What did I learn about Jesus?

Jesus corrected the prevailing teaching that physical ailments were the result of personal sin.
Do I earnestly pray for God’s power to be manifest for healing?

What did I learn about disciple-making?

Sometimes people think they are spiritually “enlightened” but are blind.
We must teach disciples to seek the true spiritual light that only Jesus brings.

Extended thoughts and observations from Elder Steve Maxwell:

It is interesting that John 9 leads off with Jesus giving light to the eyes of a blind man right after he declares himself the light of the world in John 8:12. There is clearly a parallel between giving light to eyes that are physically blind and giving light to those who are spiritually blind. There is also a contrast in these verses between those who accept God’s healing and those who reject that healing. The Pharisees chose to remain in their blindness (v.13-34). The contrast between those who accept Jesus’ healing and those who reject it is expressed in v.39 “I have come into the world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

In regard to disciple making, here is what stands out to me. The great commission in Matt 28 to “Go and make disciples” in the original language is actually “as you go.” This means we need to have an awareness of those around us as we go about our lives and look for opportunities to minister to those God places in our path. Here Jesus models that command. In 9:1 “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth . . .” Jesus had just escaped a very dangerous situation in Ch 8:58 (they tried to stone him), and here in the next verse he is focused not on himself but on others.

This is a great reminder for me to fight against my inclination to be insular and focused on my immediate priority, but instead lift up my eyes to see those God has placed in my path.

What do you see?