A Man Born Blind Johns Writing Sketches of

A Man Born Blind

John’s Writing • Sketches of individuals • Personal relationships of Jesus 2

The Seven “I Am” Sayings “I am the… 1. “bread of life” 2. “light of the world” 6: 35, 48, 51 8: 12; 9: 5 3. “gate” 10: 7, 9 4. “good shepherd” 10: 11, 14 5. “resurrection and the life” 11: 25 6. “way and the truth and the life” 14: 6 7. “the true vine” 15: 1

Themes Words occurring at least this many times in John… Light Truth Life Son Glory 23 38 36 43 42 Witness 54 World 79 God 82 Believe 98

Seven Signs in the “Book of Signs” 1. Water into wine 5 2: 1 -11 2. Healing the nobleman’s son 4: 46 -54 3. Healing the lame man 5: 1 -15 4. Feeding the multitude 6: 1 -15 5. Walking on the water 6: 16 -24 6. Healing the blind man 9: 1 -41 7. Raising Lazarus 11: 1 -44

Do you know anyone with a disability?

If you don’t walk as most people do, Some people walk away from you, But I won’t! If you don’t talk as most people do, Some people talk and laugh at you, But I won’t! I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you. That’s how I’ll show my love for you. I’ll Walk With You Jesus walked away from none. He gave his love to ev’ryone. So I will! Jesus blessed all he could see, Then turned and said, “Come, follow me. ” And I will! I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you. That’s how I’ll show my love for you. Words: Carol Lynn Pearson, b. 1939. © 1987 IRI Music: Reid N. Nibley, b. 1923. © 1987 IRI Enr. Act. 3

A Man Born Blind John 9: 1 -7

Discovery of the Pool of Siloam in 2004

Pool of Siloam: Artists’ Impressions

Sin & Illness “There is no death without sin; no suffering without iniquity. ” b. shabbat 55 a Exodus 20: 5 Jewish Rabbis debated whether: a. Sin can be passed on from one generation to the next. (Exodus 20: 5, Ezekiel 18: 19 -20) b. Fetuses could sin. Some argued they could (Genesis Rabbah 63: 6); others argued they could not (Genesis Rabbah 34: 10)

A Man Born Blind John 9: 8– 12; John 9: 13– 16; John 9: 17– 20; John 9: 24– 25; John 9: 26– 29; John 9: 30– 34; John 9: 35– 38. • “A man that is called Jesus” (verse 11). 1. How did the man • “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I respond to the questions washed, and do see” (verse 15). he was asked about how • “He is a prophet” (verse 17). he was healed? • “Whether he be a sinner or no, I 2. How did the know not” (verse 25). questioners respond to • “I have told you already, and ye did his answer? not hear” (verse 27). • “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing” (verse 33). • “Lord, I believe” (verse 38). • What are some modern examples of spiritual blindness? • What principle is found in verse 25? • Have you, like the man born blind, gradually come to recognize the Savior’s importance in your life?

v President Spencer W. Kimball: Ø “Should all prayers be immediately answered … there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death, and if these were not, there would also be no joy, success, resurrection, nor eternal life and godhood” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 97).

Five Purposes for Suffering 1. Suffering as a proving or testing of our faith. Examples: A. Abraham’s Test of Faith - Genesis 22 B. Israel’s wondering in the desert - Deut. 8: 2 C. Job

Five Purposes for Suffering 2. Suffering meant for improvement, for our own edification. Hebrews 12: 5 -8 James 1: 2 -4

Five Purposes for Suffering 3. Suffering as a punishment for sin a. Deuteronomy 32: 15 -25 b. Jeremiah 30: 15

Five Purposes for Suffering 4. Suffering that shows forth God’s glory a. John 9: 3 b. John 11: 4

Five Purposes for Suffering 5. Suffering that comes from bearing witness for Jesus Christ. Matthew 5: 11 -12 Hebrews 10: 33 -35 Rather than asking “why”, we ought to ask “how” we can honor and glorify God in our response to a painful situation.

A Man Born Blind “LESSON 18: JESUS CHRIST HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND, ” PRIMARY 7: NEW TESTAMENT, 60