LENT ONE2026 - He has the Final Say | March 22, 2026

The narrative follows John 9, focusing on a man blind from birth who meets Jesus and receives sight. The disciples first treat blindness as a theological puzzle—was it caused by sin?—but Jesus refuses reductive answers and declares a need to do the Father's works. Jesus then performs a startling, hands-on healing: he makes mud with saliva, spreads it on the man’s eyes, and sends him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys without debate and returns seeing, which ignites confusion and argument among neighbors who had known him only as a beggar.

That healing provokes a formal inquiry. The Pharisees dissect the method and time of the miracle, fixating on Sabbath rules and ritual propriety. Their questions expose a pattern: religious certainty often protects systems and interpretations more than it welcomes God’s work. The healed man, untrained and unlettered, gives a simple, unanswerable testimony—“I was blind, now I see”—and stands firm when pressured by authorities. His parents, fearing religious backlash, confirm his identity but refuse to speak for the miracle.

The religious leaders respond by excommunicating the man, yet Jesus meets him afterward and speaks plainly: the one who healed is the Son of Man. The man moves from physical sight to spiritual recognition, answers Jesus’ invitation with belief, and worships. The story draws a sharp contrast between those who see because they let God act and those who remain blind from clinging to rules, reputation, or self-authority.

The account then turns inward, applying the miracle to contemporary forms of blindness. Many forms of blindness appear benign—habitual self-reliance, unexamined assumptions about others, or quiet refusals to seek God’s wisdom—but they still separate people from the source of life. The narrative issues an open invitation: allow the light of Christ to expose hidden blindness, receive his work even when it discomforts, and respond in faith that moves from sight to worship.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus overturns imposed identities A single encounter with Christ can reassign status and purpose. The man known only as a beggar becomes a visible member of the community once Jesus intervenes. Identity rooted in Divine action removes shame and reorients life toward worship and witness. [53:11]
• 2. Obedience can feel strange and messy True obedience sometimes requires doing awkward, counterintuitive things—like following a command to wash after being anointed with mud. Such simple acts expose dependence, break pride, and position a person to receive God’s work. Faithful obedience focuses on the command more than the optics. [51:57]
• 3. Religious certainty resists grace Systems that prioritize rules over the living God will scrutinize and reject signs that threaten their authority. The Pharisees’ fixation on Sabbath law shows how religiosity can blind people to mercy and truth. Healthy faith keeps worship of God above preservation of institutions. [55:03]
• 4. Testify to what you know When confronted with complexity, give witness to the personal reality the Lord has given. The healed man could not answer every theological challenge, but his testimony—“I was blind, now I see”—cut through argument and pointed others to Christ. Honest, experience-based testimony invites others into encounter. [60:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [45:24] - City Serve & One-Led Campaign intro
• [46:23] - Opening prayer and purpose
• [47:34] - Blackout illustration: darkness described
• [48:40] - John 9: introduction to the blind man
• [51:36] - Jesus makes mud; gives instructions
• [52:42] - Neighbors’ confusion and uproar
• [54:32] - Pharisees begin investigation
• [55:03] - Sabbath rules and religious conflict
• [58:34] - Parents’ fear and cautious answers
• [60:01] - Bold confession: “I was blind, now I see”
• [62:43] - Jesus reveals himself as Son of Man
• [64:00] - Belief, worship, and final judgment
• [66:32] - Applications: spiritual blindness today
• [74:38] - Benediction and sending blessing

1. In John 9:6-7, what unusual method did Jesus use to heal the blind man, and what specific instruction did he give afterward?
2. How did the neighbors react when they saw the formerly blind man, and how did he respond to their confusion? (John 9:8-9)
3. What two opposing conclusions did the Pharisees draw about Jesus after hearing about the healing? (John 9:16)
4. When questioned by the religious leaders, what simple testimony did the healed man repeatedly give? (John 9:25)

1. Why might Jesus have chosen to heal the man using mud and saliva rather than simply speaking a word, especially knowing it would violate the Pharisees’ Sabbath rules? [56:05]
2. The healed man’s parents were afraid to speak about the miracle because they feared being “put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22). What does their fear reveal about the relationship between religious authority and personal faith?
3. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). How does this statement contrast the responses of the healed man and the Pharisees?
4. The man moved from calling Jesus “a prophet” (John 9:17) to worshiping him as “Lord” (John 9:38). What does this progression suggest about how true understanding of Jesus develops?

1. Jesus overturns imposed identities—like the man known only as a beggar who became a witness. What label or identity have others (or you yourself) placed on you that Christ might want to redefine? How could embracing his perspective change how you live? [53:11]
2. Obedience can feel strange and messy, like washing mud off your eyes. What is one thing God has asked you to do that felt awkward or counterintuitive? What happened when you obeyed—or what holds you back? [51:57]
3. Religious certainty often resists grace. In what areas of your life (or church) have rules, traditions, or comfort zones made it difficult to recognize God’s unexpected work? [55:03]
4. The healed man testified simply: “I was blind, now I see.” What is one specific change Jesus has made in your life that you can share with others, even if you can’t answer every theological question? [01:00:01]
5. Spiritual blindness can be subtle—like self-reliance, judging others, or ignoring God’s guidance in daily decisions. Which of these “benign” blind spots do you most struggle with? What practical step could help you bring it into Christ’s light? [01:08:14]
6. The man was excommunicated for his faith but found a greater reward: knowing Jesus personally. Has following Christ ever cost you something socially or personally? How did that experience deepen your relationship with him?
7. Jesus sought out the man after he was rejected by the religious leaders. Who in your life might feel excluded or judged by others? How can you intentionally extend Christ’s welcome to them this week?