Reflection Questions: The Blind Who See and the Seeing Blind (John 1.45-51, 9.7, 11, 35-41)

John 9:35-41: Jesus heard that [the Pharisees] had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” ³⁸ He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. ³⁹ Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” ⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

1. Consider our great High Priest Jesus and how He hears us! Have someone read Hebrews 4:14-16. What ground does the writer of Hebrews suggest as the reason we should ‘hold fast to our confession’ (4:14)? What does ‘holding fast to our confession’ look like in real life? How does Jesus “sympathize” specifically with our “weaknesses” (4:15)? How was Jesus “tempted as we are, yet without sin”? Discuss our glorious access to God’s throne in 4:16! Why is it a throne “of grace”? Why specifically does the writer say we can “receive mercy and find grace” there?
2. In John 9:35, Jesus “found” the man who’d now been cast out. We’ve made the point in the past that Jesus ‘sees’ especially hurting people (Psalm 34:18-19; John 6:37). The great Church Father John Chrysostom (4^th century) wrote that “those who endure some terrible suffering and are insulted for the sake of truth and the confession of Christ are the ones particularly held in honor by Him.” Can you think of examples in both Testaments where He did this? Since you’ve been a believer, what are some of the times He’s “found” you?
3. Let’s give glory to God! Discuss our ‘always-seeking” Lord in contrast to ‘never-seeking’ sinners (Luke 19:10; Romans 3:10-12). William Temple wrote: “[T]he man did not find Jesus; Jesus found him. That is the deepest truth of Christian faith: Jesus found me. Our fellowship with Him is rooted in His compassion.” What comes to mind as you consider this. It leads me to a profound sense of gratitude. You?
4. What can we learn from the way Phillip handled Nathanael in (John 1:45-46). Discuss Jesus’ confrontation with Nathanael in John 1:47-49? What brings him to see that Jesus is “the Son of God” & “King of Israel” (see Psalm 2:6-7 for “King” & “Son”)?
5. Jesus tells Nathanael that “YOU ALL [plural] will see (1) heaven opened and (2) the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” What’s going on here? (Hint: if you think Jesus is THE One who has once-and-for all opened Heaven, and is THE gate of heaven & THE place where Heaven and earth meet, you’re on the right track (Gen. 28:12, 16-17)!
6. Discuss John 9:39-41, the profound words with which Jesus ends this chapter. What does He mean? Do you know any ‘blind’ who now see? Do you know any ‘seeing’ blind?