Subject: healing the man who was born blind by Je |
Bible Note: Dear bjanko, You have gotten and given the message from the (Light) of the world here. It's a good writing. My only question is why after in the beginning you spoke of Jesus as Savior you didn't finish as strongly? You say "he makes us "see" the truth about this". Why the lower case Savior? I would compare Jn.8:22 with verse 48."'Where I am going, you cannot come.' And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, (I) am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." Compare V.47,"(whoever) is of God hears the words of (God); for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.""The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Also, compare John 8:32 and John 14:7. John 8:32, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed (Him), "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free." John 14:7, "If you had known (Me), you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." So I would say that we could compare the works and the words of Jesus. John 9:4 says, "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the (Light) of the world."NASB Sorry, parenthesies mine. We have to decide if this is a man who must work now while its still light and not dark when no one can work; or, is this a Man who works the works of Him who sent Him. The key to the answer is the fact that this word "We" is translated "I must work" in many versions. I have learned to contrast this verse with John 5:19, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of (Himself), unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He (Himself) is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel." Of course the parentheses are mine for comparison. The gospel of John was written to downplay the importance of the baptizer. Jn 5:35, "He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given (Me) to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify of Me, that the Father has sent Me." Jn 5:33, "You have sent to John, and he has testified to the Truth. But the testimony which I receive in not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved." John 5:39, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life." I would say to salwag, compare scriptures with the kids, no matter what age. We want the light bulb to go on in their heads. We want them to open their eyes and study the word of God and the words of Jesus. Compare 9:5 with 11:9 or 8:12 and know that the testimony is true. I would like to see kids after hearing the story, break into individual groups to read further and contemplate capitalizing this Man and give Him the glory He is due now. I would have them read John 9:15-29 and another read John 9:33-38 and see what similarities and contrast they see when they get together to discuss what they have read. Later, Ray V.H. |