Faith in Christ Jesus:2 Timothy 1:12 defines FAITH as knowing the trustworthy character and motives of Jesus, and being confident in His limitless promise-keeping ability, and consequently committing yourself entirely to His keeping. We are studying the Gospel of John, answering these questions: 1) What is revealed of Jesus’ character, motives, and abilities? 2) What is indicated that you could confidently commit to Jesus’?

John 9 The Lifting of the Curse!

The Curse: (Genesis 2:17, 3:17-19; Romans 5:12-21) was brought into the world when Adam sinned, and can only be lifted by the Second Adam’s sacrifice for all sin. That curse is death (and all that leads up to it), sorrows (pain, labor, hardship, toil), vanity (perverseness, frailty; in Romans 8:20), and corruption (perishable, decay; in Romans 8:21).

The Cure: Luke 4:18-19, The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Why? Suffering sinners and saints ask the same question, which has two answers. We seek both cause and purpose. Some seek physical cures that circumvent God’s purposes! Ezekiel 18:20, The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Also read Prov. 21:11. Job 34:31, Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]: also read Jeremiah 31:14, Hebrews 12:8, and Isaiah 53:5. Romans 5:3-5, … tribulation (pressure, oppression, affliction, distress, straits) worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. John 9:3, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Does It Hurt? That blind man had time to consider his condition, endure false blame, blame his parents, think God unjust, try various treatments, and finally accept his lot in life. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus saw (to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything; to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to) a man which was blind from his birth. Your troubles have purpose (value) and you are not forgotten.

Genesis 16:13, …Thou God seest me…

John 9 The Lifting of the Curse!

Read John 9:1 Jesus saw (to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything; to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to) a man which was blind from his birth.

What does this reveal of Jesus’ character? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

How does that encourage you when you suffer ANYthing? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Read John 9:3-5. Everyone suffers the general affects of The Curse. The Curse is not fair, and some suffer far more than others!

What is Jesus’ WORK and IDENTITY in these verses? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

How do those facts encourage you to trust Jesus? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Read John 9:33. “If Jesus had not Divine authority, He could not have had Divine power.” – Alfred Edersheim.

Replace “if” with “since”. Since this man is of God, He can do _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

How does that encourage your faith? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Read John 9:35-38. The first time he saw his Deliverer, it was to worship Him.

How does that affect you? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Read John 9:39-41. They believed the man was morally guilty, thus physically blind. But they were morally blind, thus guilty! Can you explain that? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

What is your response to Jesus?_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .