Glad Tidings Bible Studies Questions for Evangelistic Groups

12. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 9:1-7, 18-23 and 35-41)

BACKGROUND: Hardly any other miracle of Jesus received as much attention as did the healing of the man born blind. (John 9:32, 10:21, 11:37). If somebody is born blind, his eyeballs are undeveloped. His other senses, for example hearing, usually become very keen instead.

Verses 1-7
- How does the life of the parents change if a child with a handicap is born into the family?
- What impression do you get about how these parents may have tackled this situation?
- Try to imagine what the average day may have been like for this blind beggar.
- What do you think this man may have thought about the love of God?
- The blind beggar had heard many a time what passers-by had said about his disability. Do you think anyone can ever get used to hearing comments like those of the disciples (verse 2)?
- Why do we humans always want to blame someone for the suffering around us?
- What sorts of situations have made you feel that your tragedies, or those of your family, are somebody’s fault?
- How did the beggar probably feel upon hearing the answer given by Jesus to the question of the disciples (verses 3-5)?
- In your opinion, how could the work of God be best displayed in your own life (verse 3)?
- What does it shown by the fact that the man didn’t protest when a stranger came and put mud paste on his eyes (verse 6)?
- Why didn’t Jesus heal the blind man on the spot, rather than send him to grope his way to the Pool of Siloam?
Verses 18-23. The reaction of the parents. Note that being put out of the synagogue equaled being put out of the wider community (cf. weddings, funerals etc.).
- How do you think the parents might have reacted to comments like the one in verse 2?
- Why didn’t the parents seem particularly happy about the healing of their son?
- Why was the healed man apparently unafraid of being put out of the synagogue, in contrast to his parents (verse 22)?
- How do you think you would have acted in the parents’ position?
Verses 35-43. The second encounter between Jesus and the healed man.
- Why do you suppose Jesus wanted to talk to this man once more?
- Why didn’t Jesus ask the man: “Do you believe in me?” instead of “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (verse 35)?
- Jesus asks you the same question today. What do you answer him?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world (verse 5)?
- What does verse 39 mean?
- Why do you think Jesus had to experience the darkness of hell, even though he himself was the light of the world?

GLAD TIDINGS: Your sufferings and those of your loved ones have been given to you so that the work of God might be displayed in your lives. Take verse 3 home with you as a word from Jesus today for you personally.