Faith Over Fear
Faith To See It God’s Way
Pastor Doug Heisel – October 5, 2025
John 9
(vs 1–2) — Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”
(vs 3) — Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.
(vs 6–7) — He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes, and said, “Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “Sent”). The man went and washed—and saw.
(vs 8–9) — Soon the town was buzzing. His relatives and those who year after year had seen him as a blind man begging were saying, “Why, isn’t this the man we knew, who sat here and begged?” But others objected, “It’s not the same man at all. It just looks like him.” He said, “It’s me, the very one.”
(vs 10–12) — They said, “How did your eyes get opened?”
A man named Jesus made a paste and rubbed it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ I did what he said. When I washed, I saw.” “So where is he?” “I don’t know.”
(vs 13–15) — They marched the man to the Pharisees. This day when Jesus made the paste and healed his blindness was the Sabbath. The Pharisees grilled him again on how he had come to see. He said, “He put a clay paste on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.”
(vs 16) — Some of the Pharisees said, “Obviously, this man can’t be from God. He doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others countered, “How can a bad man do miraculous, God-revealing things like this?” There was a split in their ranks.
(vs 18–19) — …So they called the parents of the man…and asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How is it that he now sees?”
(vs 20–22) — His parents said, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he came to see… Why don’t you ask him? He’s a grown man and can speak for himself.” (His parents were talking like this because they were intimidated by the Jewish leaders, who had already decided that anyone who took a stand that this was the Messiah would be kicked out of the meeting place…)
(vs 24) — They called the man back a second time—the man who had been blind—and told him, “Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor.”
(vs 25) — He replied, “I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind; I now see.”
(vs 28, 34) — …With that they jumped all over him…Then they threw him out in the street.
(vs 35) — Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him. He asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
(vs 36–37) — The man said, “Point him out to me, sir, so that I can believe in him.” Jesus said, “You’re looking right at him. Don’t you recognize my voice?”
(vs 38) — “Master, I believe,” the man said, and worshiped Jesus.
WHO am I in this story?
1. Am I the one in need of a MIRACLE?
2. Am I the one spending more energy FIXING BLAME than TRUSTING God?
3. Am I the one blinded by competing AGENDAS?
4. Am I the one letting fear sideline my INFLUENCE?
WHAT is the story challenging me to do?
Ask Jesus to OPEN MY EYES so that I become one who looks and sounds more like Him.
Next Sunday: Faith In Opposition
Life Group Discussion & Question
BREAKING THE ICE: Look around and share what you see that you are thankful for. Then, thank God for sight.
DIGGING IN: It is easy to go through life seeing, yet not really seeing what God wants you to see. Such was the case in John 9. It speaks to all of us about our need to have Jesus open our eyes again and again.
1. John gives an entire chapter that underscores how the story is more than a history lesson—it’s a message from God, if we tune in. Read the chapter and share something that stands out to you. This step of Bible study is called “observation.” Simply share something you see and then share why it stood out.
2. Another good Bible study habit is to ask, “Who am I in this story?” Review the four questions listed in these notes that Doug shared on Sunday. Which one challenges or convicts you the most and why?
3. Ultimately, Scripture is to be applied not just read and studied. Review the application in this handout and then share an example, related to your faith, of something you once were “blind” to, but now you see.
BRINGING IT HOME: The result of truly seeing Jesus caused the man to worship. Gratitude and worship should be natural expressions of our growing faith. End this time by sharing something you are grateful to Jesus for. Consider sharing it online too, along with a link to Sunday’s message or invitation to church.