INITIATION:

This is the post number 23 as I am cooperating @hivewatcher. I appreciate all of you who stood by my side this critical time.

Many blind people were in Jerusalem when Christ was here on Earth. But yet He healed all those who came to Him. In this story, Christ is passing through a street in Jerusalem with His disciples. By the wayside, sat a man who was blind from the day he was born. Christ healed him.

Have you ever imagined what life would be like if you were born blind? But physical blindness is only one kind of blindness. One can also be blind spiritually.

The good news is that Jesus heals all kinds of blindness, physical or spiritual. One is spiritually blind when one does not know Christ as Saviour.

BIBLE TEXT:

John 9:1-38

TOPIC:

THE HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND

MEMORY VERSE

One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see ( John 9:25b, NIV).

TARGET:

To help the child understand that Christ heals both physical and spiritual blindness.

FOCUS :

During and after the lesson, each child will show that he or she understands the lesson by being able to:

1. Tell how Jesus used His power to heal the blind man.
2. Discuss different ways he or she can show love to people who are handicapped.
3. Identify the different kinds of physically handicapped persons we have today in our society.

MAIN LESSON DISCOURSE:

1. WHY THE MAN WAS BLIND FROM BIRTH (JOHN 9:1-5):

The disciples saw a man blind from birth and become curious. They felt that the man’s blindness was a result of sin. So they asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus told His disciples that the man did not sin and his parents did not sin either. The man’s blindness was designed so that the work of God will be shown in his life. Jesus then explained to His disciples that He is the light of the world while He is in the world. This means that if any one believes in Him that person will have light that will guide his steps.

2. HOW JESUS OPENED THE BLIND MAN’S EYES (JOHN 9:6-15).

After Jesus had spoken to the disciples, He did something. Without saying anything to the blind man, Jesus bent down and spat on the dust in the ground. He stirred the damp dust, took some of it and rubbed it on the man’s eyes. It was after this that Jesus spoke to the man for the first time. He said, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam”. The man did not ask any question. He simply got up, took his walking stick, and began to pick his way to the Pool Jesus sent him. He was obedient. Obedience is important in every area of our lives.

On getting to Siloam, the man began to splash the cool water onto his face. When he removed his hands from his eyes, he noticed that his eyes had opened. He began to see. He could hardly believe it. Immediately, he started shouting, “I can see! I can now see!” People who were nearby rushed to where he was and saw that he had started seeing indeed. They were amazed.

While he was going back to where he came from, his neighbours and those who had been seeing him begging asked, “Is this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “Yes”. Others said, “No” But he said, “I am the man“ They asked him what had happened. He told them what a man called Jesus did to his eyes and what He told him to do. When they wanted to know where Jesus was, he said he didn’t know.

3. THE PHARISEES COME INTO THE MATTER (JOHN 9:16-38)*

The people took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. They felt the Pharisees should know what happened as it was on the Sabbath day.
The Pharisees asked the man how he started seeing. He told them, “Jesus put mud on my eyes, I washed in the Pool of Siloam and now I can see!” An argument started among the Pharisees. Some said that Jesus was not from God, that He was a sinner since He broke the Sabbath. Others did not agree. “But how can a sinner do such wonderful things?” They asked.

When they asked the man what he thought about Jesus, he said Christ was a prophet. After this, they sent for the parents of the man who came and identified their son. The Pharisees asked them how their son started seeing. Because of fear, they told the Pharisees to ask their son since he could talk for himself.

The man was called again. He was told to give God the glory, that Jesus was a sinner, the man replied, “All I know is that I was blind but now I see!” Not being satisfied, the Pharisees asked the man again how he was healed. He said, “I’ve told you over and over. Why do you want to hear it again – do you want to be His disciples?” This made the Pharisees very angry. They said many bad things about Jesus. The man couldn’t understand their anger, so he boldly told them, “If this man were not of God, he could not have healed me“.

At this, the Pharisees were so angry that they cast him out of the temple. Later, Jesus met him and after speaking with him, the man believed on Jesus.

APPLICATION:
Francis was admitted into the hospital because he was very sick. The doctors did all they could. But his case went from bad to worse. Rather than get well, his head began to swell greatly. Everybody was worried. Nobody knew what was happening. Francis remained in the hospital for many weeks. His case was hopeless. In fact, it was clear Francis was going to die because his condition was, indeed, very bad.

Meanwhile, Christians continued to pray for Francis. The Church as a whole also, prayed and still nothing happened. But God was at work. Francis didn’t die. His life lingered as the days and months dragged by. Surprisingly, one day, news came that Francis had recovered. “What happened?” Was the question.

Francis himself told the story of how a man walked into his hospital room with a cup in his hand. He gave the cup to Francis and asked him to drink “life” from it. Francis obeyed. He took the cup from the Man’s hand and drank from it. And as soon as he finished drinking, he became well. God had healed him miraculously.
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DISCLAIMER:

The original production and publication of this extracts belong to Sunday School Department of Assemblies of God Nigeria, as shown on the front page. We teach in the church and social media available.