Blinded by the Light - youth talk
Notes
Transcript
Claim: Symbolism: The light enables the blind to see and the seeing to be blinded (Blind = aware they need help to receive eternal life, Seeing = think they are fine without help). Literally, the pharisees cannot see the obvious - that only a sin free man of God can give physical sight to the blind - while the man who is blind receives sight and faith!
Focus: Our cultures belief that ‘the answers are inside yourself (self-belief/confidence)’ actually cause blindness to the truth about life; alternatively, humble acceptance of our sin gives us true life in Jesus!
Function: Cause us to humble our lives entirely to Jesus to life (sight) in all it’s fulness
Most people think they are pretty ‘good’ people,
Have you ever heard people say - I’m a good person, God will love me,
or ‘I wont go to hell becasue I’m a good person’.
Perhpas you think that?
Weel that’s what this chapter in John 9 is about.
It’s about a blind man - has an encounter with Jesus.
But the big question really is, Who is really the blind, and who can see?
Pray
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
In Jesus’ time, they often thought that is someone had a disability or illness it was becasue they or their parents had sinned terribly in some way.
That’s why they ask Jesus - who sinned? - this blind man or his parents?
But Jesus wants to reverse their whole thinking.
The people who think they are good people - think the blind man is a bad person.
What Jesus is about to show is that actually everyone is bad = but it’s actually the blind who can see.
Game - draw a picture on your head///
House and 2 trees
bicycle
and elephant
No one can actually do this well - wether blindfolded or not.
What you need is someone to draw the picture for you. - or take it off your head.
The seeing are actually blind - is Jesus point.
In fact - they are worse than the blind, becasue they think they can see so they don’t look to Jesus the light to help them!
What does Jesus say about why the blind man is blind in v3?
to show the might of God
And what is the point Jesus is going to make al so in v3 - at the end?
Jesus is the light - no-one else
OK - so Jesus heals the blind man - and no-one believes it!
This can’t be the guy who was blind from birth!
We wouldn’t believe it either would we?
If someone we had always know to be blind came in able to see one day - saying that a man healed him with some spit and mud!
In the next verses - we wont read them now- the Pharisees - who are like the priests and teachers of the Jews,
even call his parents and ask them if this really is him who was blind!
They don’t even really believe them!
It’s pretty funny!
Have a read of it later - they are all argueing about what could have happened!
How could Jesus have done it if he wasn’t from God?
But he can’t be from God becasue he did it on the Sabbath!
He can’t have done it at all some say - no-one ever has healed a blind man from birth!
It’s someone else,
where’s his parents,
who saw what happened,
tell; us the truth...
Evetually they get mad and v34
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Later on, Jesus hears what happened to him so goes to find him and explains who he is.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
The big point Jesus wants to make to the blind man, to the Pharisieas - and to you and me reading about this encounter with Jesus today is this.
If you think you’re a good person - who’s ok with God
- who doesn’t need a saviour like Jesus.
Then you are actually the Blind one!
You are in the dark!
And we need the light of Jesus.
But sadly - as long as you think you’re ok without Jesus the Light - you’ll never find him!
If you like - you’re blinded by the light!
It is those who know they are not good enough for Jesus, for God.
Those who know they are sinful and selfish, those who know they are blind - in the dark,
well those people Jesus will save. - like the blind man he met here.
So, it’s simple question today.
Do you know you are blind, sinful, and need Jesus the light to forgive and love you?
If so - ask him and he will.
Pray
Group Questions
How does the blind man who is given sight represent Christians who have repented and are given life in Jesus?
How do the ‘wise’ phraisees who can see, represent their blindness to Jesus the light?
What should our responce to Jesus the light be?
How might we tell others about this message of Jesus giving forgiveness to the humble?
Pray
