Lesson 69 John 9

John 9:1–7

Jesus heals a man who was born blind

John 9:1–2

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

According to verse 2, what did the disciples ask about the cause of this man’s adversity?

Many people in the Savior’s day believed, as do some people in our day, that the adversities people face are the consequences of sins that they or their

parents had committed.

Do you think this belief was correct? Why or why not?

John 9:3–5

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

What do you think it means that “the works of God should be made manifest in him”?

From the Savior’s teachings in these verses, what truth can we learn about our adversities?

John 9:6–7

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

What do you imagine it was like for

this man to see for the first time?

How did this man’s adversity allow

others to witness God’s power?

In this account, the man needed to wash in the pool of Siloam in order to receive his sight. What might you need to do so that God can demonstrate His works and power in your life?

John 9:8–41

The Savior seeks out the man He had healed

after the Pharisees cast the man out

Search John 9:14 for the day on which the Savior healed the blind man.

What reaction do you think the Pharisees had

to Jesus healing the man on the Sabbath?

Please, take turns reading aloud from John 9:16–38.

According to verse 22, why did the blind man’s parents defer to their son to explain how he was able to see?

“Synagogues served as the religious and social center for many Jewish communities. Synagogues offered access to spiritual instruction and worship, as well as educational and social opportunities. Because the synagogue was so integral to Jewish society, to be cast out of the synagogue … meant more than being excommunicated and losing fellowship with the religious community. It meant banishment from cultural and social affairs as well. This threat was apparently severe enough to keep the parents of the man born blind from getting too involved in the investigation of [their son’s healing]” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 230).

Please, read verses 30–33 silently, including the excerpt of Joseph Smith Translation, John 9:32 found in verse 32, footnote a, looking for the man’s response to the Pharisees.

What reasoning did the man

use to defend Jesus?

What did this man know

about Jesus Christ?

Why do you think this man was willing to stay true to what he knew about Jesus Christ, even though it meant being cast out of the synagogue?

As we remain true to what we know in spite of opposition, our testimonies will be strengthened.

Opposition in all things

Ether 12:6

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Why do you think our testimonies are strengthened after withstanding

opposition or trials of faith?

How has your testimony been

strengthened because of opposition?

Please, read John 9:11, 17, 33 silently, looking for phrases that describe the man’s vision or understanding of who Jesus was.

According to these phrases,

what happened to this man’s spiritual vision?

Why do you think his vision and understanding

of the Savior became clearer?

Please, scan John 9:36–38, looking for the way this man ended up seeing the Savior.

What did this man end up

seeing about the Savior?

How correct did this

man’s vision become?

President Howard W. Hunter

“Now sight had been given twice—once to remedy a congenital defect [a physical defect from birth] and once to behold the King of Kings before He would ascend to His eternal throne. Jesus had quickened both temporal and spiritual vision” (“The God That Doest Wonders,” Ensign, May 1989, 16–17).

How might the man’s healing from physical

blindness represent his healing

from spiritual blindness?

What principle can we learn from this account about what can happen to us as we

exercise faith in Jesus Christ?

Why do you think exercising faith is necessary in order to see and understand spiritual truth more clearly?

2 Nephi 2:23-25 - Dallin H. Oaks

John 9:39–41

39 ¶ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

How would you summarize what the Savior taught the Pharisees?