JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 18: THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE
1. Key Texts
• John 9 — Healing of the man born blind
• John 7–8 — Sukkot background
• Isaiah 42:6–7 — Light for the nations, opening blind eyes
• John 8:12 — “I am the Light of the World”
2. Date & Place
• Late 28 AD, immediately after the Festival of Sukkot in Jerusalem.
• Jesus has just left the Temple after conflict over his identity.
• The encounter occurs near the Temple courts where disabled persons often gathered.
3. Main Account
A. The Disciples’ Assumption
• The disciples ask, “Who sinned—this man or his parents?”
• Reflects a worldview equating suffering with moral failure.
• Jesus rejects the entire framework: “Neither… but that the works of God might be revealed.”
• He reframes suffering as potential, not punishment.
B. The Sign & the Symbol
• Jesus makes mud, places it on the man’s eyes, and sends him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.
• Symbolic connection to Sukkot’s water ritual.
• The man obeys, washes, and returns seeing—physical and spiritual sight begin to emerge.
C. Seeing vs. Not Seeing
• Neighbors doubt; parents avoid involvement; Pharisees resist the miracle.
• Each group “sees” through bias—habit, fear, control.
• The healed man moves from “the man called Jesus” to “Lord, I believe.”
• Spiritual sight grows through encounter, not certainty.
D. Jesus’ Revelation
• Jesus finds the man after he is expelled.
• Reveals himself as the Son of Man.
• The man believes and worships.
• Jesus concludes: “The blind will see, and those who claim to see will become blind.”
• The danger is not blindness—it is unteachable certainty.
4. Main Point
• How you see determines what you see.
• Disciples see through blame; neighbors through habit; Pharisees through fear; Jesus through compassion.
• Light doesn’t just expose—it guides.
5. Exegetical Insight
• Mud + Siloam evokes Genesis creation and Sukkot imagery.
• “I am” (egō eimi) echoes the divine name.
• The repeated questioning functions like a legal deposition showing sight evolving and sight collapsing.
6. Reflection Questions
• Where do I assign blame instead of compassion?
• What assumptions shape how I see others?
• How is Jesus reframing my struggles?
• Where might I be spiritually “certain” but actually blind?
7. Action Step / Challenge
• Practice “sight-shifting” this week.
• When tempted to judge or blame, pause and ask: “What is God wanting me to see here?”
• Let Jesus retrain your eyes.
Buy the books!
This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement (3 Volumes, Hekhal Publishing Co., 2025).
You can buy or borrow the trilogy at:
Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well)
Amazon (print or ebook)
Barnes & Noble (print or ebook)
Hoopla (borrow)
Many more booksellers worldwide!
