19 The Man born blind





John 9:1-38 







2. What was the immediate, obvious need?


3. Who took the initiative in effecting the healing?

      The person in need?

      Others?   Jesus?

      How was it expressed?

4.     Describe the actions or process leading to the healing; that is, what was said (e.g., questions, requests, commands) and what was done (e.g., approaching, following, touching, publicly/privately), and by whom?


5. Did the person in need or someone else verbally express faith? ~. Non-verbally?       Describe how and by whom faith was involved in this healing.


6. What were the evidences that the person was healed?


7. What were the reactions to the healing?






1.     What is the cause of, or reason for the man's blindness: as implied in the disciples' question? (see also Exod. 20:5 and 34:7)? as expressed by Jesus? as inferred from the Jews' remarks (see especially v. 34)?

2.     What do you understand to be the relationship between sin and illness (or, specifically, "blindness")? What did Jesus mean by, "neither this man nor his parents sinned?" Were they, in fact, sinless? Aren't we all sinners? Why do "Some of the Pharisees" accuse Jesus of being a sinner? "But others" describe the healing as being what? Does God "not listen to sinners?" If not, where does that put us?

3.     Jesus twice says, "I am the light of the world. "Why introduce the healing with such a statement? What expressions does John use for the restoration of sight?

4.     Is the healing accomplished solely by Jesus? (Note: it was about half a mile from the temple grounds [John 8:59] to the Pool of Siloam [on the southern tip of Jerusalem]- not a simple journey for a blind man with mud in his eyes.) From the blind man's own witness, "now I see" (v. 15), who was involved in the healing? Is this always the case?

5.     In comparison with Jesus' first meeting with the blind man which was more or less accidental ("As he went along, he saw ..."), his second encounter was intentional ("... when he found him ..."). Are there any indication(s) as to why Jesus sought out the formerly blind man?

6.     What lesson(s) have you learned about healing from this account?