TEACHER GUIDE · John 9:35-41 · RUN SHEET
Now I See
THE BIG IDEA · SAY IT AT LEAST FIVE TIMES
Jesus finds us, and admitting we can't see is how we see him.
Open with it, bring it back after every section, close with it. By the end they should be able to finish the sentence for you.
BEFORE THIS PASSAGE · DAY 14
John 9:1-25, Once I Was Blind. Its big idea: Jesus, the light of the world, gives sight to those who never had it.
AFTER THIS PASSAGE · DAY 16
John 10:1-18, The Good Shepherd. Its big idea: The good shepherd knows you by name and lays down his life freely.
Open: Ask: “Have you ever been left out of a group, and did anyone come looking for you?” Recall last time (John 9:1-25): Jesus gave sight to a man blind from birth, and the man told everyone. Fill the gap briefly: the leaders questioned him again, he insisted Jesus must be from God, and they threw him out (9:26-34). Read John 9:35: “When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man.” Big idea: Jesus finds us, and admitting we can't see is how we see him. Ask one person what stuck from last time.
| SECTION | THE ONE THING | ASK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | He Found the Man John 9:35-36 · about 12 min | Jesus seeks out the person others have pushed away. | Why do you think Jesus went looking for this man instead of waiting for him to come back? |
| 2 | Lord, I Believe John 9:37-38 · about 12 min | Jesus accepts the worship that belongs to God alone. | What does it tell you about Jesus that he let this man worship him? |
| 3 | Are We Blind Too? John 9:39-41 · about 14 min | Insisting we already see is what keeps us blind. | Why is it so hard to say, “I might not be seeing this clearly”? |
Close (never cut it): Let the passage end where it ends: with Jesus. He went looking for a man everyone had rejected, and he received that man's worship as God. Then leave Jesus' own question with the room, without adding to it: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
PROTECT THE ENDING
If section 3 starts late, skip its discussion and optional point, read vv.39-41 aloud, and go straight to the close.
KIDS SIDE (BACK OF THE HANDOUT)
Story order: 2, 4, 3, 5, 1 (top to bottom) · Feelings: The man when he was thrown out sad, The man after meeting Jesus happy, The Pharisees worried, Jesus when he found the man happy · Code: LORD I BELIEVE · Act it out: One child sits alone outside a circle. The teacher, playing Jesus, walks over and asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The child answers, “Lord, I believe,” and kneels.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.RUN SHEET · TEACH FROM THIS PAGE
YOUR NOTES
1. He Found the ManJohn 9:35-36about 12 min
THEIR PAGE, WORD FOR WORD (ANSWERS FILLED IN)
1. He Found the Man John 9:35-36
- The leaders threw the healed man out. He is alone.
- Jesus hears about it and goes to find him.
- The man brings an honest question, not a finished belief.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He FOUND the man.
“Tell me so that I may BELIEVE in Him.”
DISCUSS
Why do you think Jesus went looking for this man instead of waiting for him to come back?
Why do you think Jesus went looking for this man instead of waiting for him to come back?
Jesus seeks out the person others have pushed away.
MUST COVER
- v.35: Being thrown out cost the man his community. Jesus answers that loss by finding him.
- v.36: “Who is He, Sir?” He does not know much yet, but he is ready to believe.
IF THERE’S TIME
- Luke 15:4-7 (a parable Jesus told): the shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one lost sheep.
- Jesus' question uses “Son of Man,” his favorite name for himself. It points to the heavenly figure in Daniel 7.
Illustration idea: A kid is left off the team list at recess, and a friend walks across the playground to sit with him.
RUNNING THE DISCUSSION
Listen for:
- He cared about the man because the man had lost everything.
- He wanted the man to know who had healed him.
If it drifts: If the talk turns to church hurts in general, come back to v.35. The people who rejected him did not have the last word. Jesus did.
TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE
The man didn't find his way to Jesus. Jesus found him, and he still does.
Short on time? Drop both optional points.
Bridge → The man asked who the Son of Man is. Now Jesus answers.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.TEACHER GUIDE · SECTION 1 OF 3
YOUR NOTES
2. Lord, I BelieveJohn 9:37-38about 12 min
THEIR PAGE, WORD FOR WORD (ANSWERS FILLED IN)
2. Lord, I Believe John 9:37-38
- Jesus says plainly: “He is the One speaking with you.”
- A man who could never see has now seen Jesus.
- He worships Jesus, and Jesus does not stop him.
“You have already SEEN Him,” Jesus answered.
“Lord, I believe,” he said. And he WORSHIPED Jesus.
DISCUSS
What does it tell you about Jesus that he let this man worship him?
What does it tell you about Jesus that he let this man worship him?
Jesus accepts the worship that belongs to God alone.
MUST COVER
- v.37: The first face this man sees is the face of the Son of Man.
- v.38: To a Jew, bowing in worship was for God only. Jesus receives it without correcting him.
IF THERE’S TIME
- Acts 10:25-26: Peter, one of Jesus' closest followers, refuses a man's worship and says “I myself am also a man.”
- Revelation 22:8-9 (the Bible's last book): an angel refuses worship and says to worship God.
Illustration idea: A child finally meets the pen pal she has written to for years and says, “So it's you.”
RUNNING THE DISCUSSION
Listen for:
- He was just grateful, so Jesus let it go.
- Jesus knew he was God, so the worship was right.
If it drifts: If the talk turns into a general debate about Jesus' divinity, go back to v.38. What did the man do, and what did Jesus allow?
TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE
He admitted he didn't know who Jesus was. That honesty ended on his knees.
Short on time? Keep one of the two optional passages, not both.
Bridge → Not everyone standing there was seeing what the man saw.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.TEACHER GUIDE · SECTION 2 OF 3
YOUR NOTES
3. Are We Blind Too?John 9:39-41about 14 min
THEIR PAGE, WORD FOR WORD (ANSWERS FILLED IN)
3. Are We Blind Too? John 9:39-41
- Jesus' coming sorts people: the blind see, and the seeing go blind.
- The Pharisees ask, “Are we blind too?”
- Claiming to see keeps guilt in place. Admitting need opens the door.
“For JUDGMENT I have come into this world.”
“But since you claim you can see, your GUILT remains.”
DISCUSS
Why is it so hard to say, “I might not be seeing this clearly”?
Why is it so hard to say, “I might not be seeing this clearly”?
Insisting we already see is what keeps us blind.
MUST COVER
- v.39: Jesus' arrival brings a verdict. Some come to see, and some are shown to be blind.
- v.41: The problem is not missing sight. It is claiming sight we don't have.
IF THERE’S TIME
- Luke 18:9-14 (a parable Jesus told): a proud religious man and a humble tax collector pray. Only the one who says “be merciful to me” goes home right with God.
Illustration idea: A driver who refuses to admit he is lost keeps making wrong turns. The one who pulls over and asks gets home.
RUNNING THE DISCUSSION
Listen for:
- Pride. We don't want to look foolish.
- Fear that if we're wrong about this, we're wrong about everything.
If it drifts: If people start naming others who are “blind,” point back to v.40. The Pharisees asked about themselves, and that is where Jesus' words aim.
TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE
The Pharisees said “we see” and stayed in the dark. The beggar said “who is He?” and saw Jesus.
Short on time? Drop the optional passage. Read the blanks aloud together.
Bridge → Go to the close: look at who Jesus has shown himself to be.
YOUR NOTES
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.TEACHER GUIDE · SECTION 3 OF 3
With One Friend, Over Coffee
About 30 minutes · for a friend who is curious, or not sure
RUN ORDER
- Set the scene. Jesus healed a man born blind. The religious leaders didn't like his story and threw him out of the synagogue, the center of his community.
- Read it together. Read John 9:35-41 aloud. Ask what stands out. Let them answer first.
- Notice who does the finding. Point to v.35: Jesus heard and went to find him. Ask what they make of that.
- Notice the worship. In that culture, a Jew bowed in worship to God alone. Jesus accepts it. Ask: what would a man have to be to accept that?
- Leave his question. Say that Jesus' question to the man is the one the passage leaves with every reader: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Let it sit. You don't need an answer today.
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HEAR
“Doesn't a grateful man bowing to his healer prove nothing?”
Fair point. The striking part is less the man's bow than Jesus' silence. Good Jewish teachers refused worship, and Jesus accepted it. That is a claim about himself you have to weigh.
Fair point. The striking part is less the man's bow than Jesus' silence. Good Jewish teachers refused worship, and Jesus accepted it. That is a claim about himself you have to weigh.
“Isn't calling people who disagree 'blind' a way to avoid being questioned?”
It could be misused that way. But Jesus doesn't say disagreeing makes you blind. He says claiming you see everything does. The beggar asked questions, and that is what led him to see.
It could be misused that way. But Jesus doesn't say disagreeing makes you blind. He says claiming you see everything does. The beggar asked questions, and that is what led him to see.
“What if I'm not sure what I believe?”
That is exactly where this man started: “Who is He, Sir?” An honest question is a good place to be.
That is exactly where this man started: “Who is He, Sir?” An honest question is a good place to be.
“I was pushed out by church people once. Why come back?”
This man was pushed out by religious people too, and Jesus went looking for him. Jesus and the people who hurt you are not the same.
This man was pushed out by religious people too, and Jesus went looking for him. Jesus and the people who hurt you are not the same.
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.TEACHER GUIDE · WITH ONE FRIEND
Evergreen Principles
Four standards every week. The rest rotate: each lesson brings the few that fit its passage best.
EVERY LESSON
| THE PRINCIPLE | IF YOU’RE NEW | IF YOU’VE TAUGHT FOR YEARS |
|---|---|---|
| Pray before you prepare Teaching the Bible is spiritual work first (John 15:5). | Pray for your class by name during the week. | Pray for the one person you find hardest to reach. |
| Study the text first Understand the passage yourself before any help. | Read it in two translations; write your own questions first. | Don’t lean on old notes. What did you miss last time? |
| Teach one big idea People remember one sentence, not four points. | Write it in 12 words or fewer before anything else. | Test every story against it. If it doesn’t serve it, cut it. |
| Point to Christ All of Scripture points to him (Luke 24:27). | Ask: what does this show about Jesus? | Show grace as the reason for obedience, not just the rule. |
FOR THIS LESSON
| THE PRINCIPLE | IF YOU’RE NEW | IF YOU’VE TAUGHT FOR YEARS |
|---|---|---|
| Let the Bible do the talking The man's words and Jesus' words carry this scene on their own. | Read v.38 aloud slowly, then ask what happened before explaining anything. | Resist a long talk on the word for worship. Let people discover in the text that Jesus doesn't correct him. |
| Plan for the skeptic and the grieving This is a story about being thrown out and about a claim some will doubt. | Have the answer ready for “gratitude proves nothing” (see the coffee questions). | Watch for people who drifted after being hurt by church. Name v.35 gently for them without singling anyone out. |
| Let the passage land the way it lands The scene mainly shows who Jesus is. It is not a to-do list. | End on Jesus and his question, not on homework. | Don't turn v.41 into a lecture on pride. Let the contrast between the beggar and the Pharisees do the work. |
BEFORE CLASS
☐ Read the passage three times
☐ Big idea in one sentence
☐ Opening and close chosen
☐ Know what you’ll cut
☐ Handouts, pens, extra Bibles
☐ Prayed for the class by name
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.TEACHER GUIDE · EVERGREEN PRINCIPLES
Openings, Closings & Hard Moments
Pick one opening and one close; rotate so class doesn’t get predictable.
OPENINGS
ask a real-life question
This lesson: Have you ever been left out, and did anyone come looking for you?
start in the text
This lesson: Read v.35 twice, then ask: who is looking for whom?
use an object
This lesson: Hold up a blindfold. Ask which is worse: not seeing, or not knowing you can't see?
CLOSINGS
call back to the opening
This lesson: We asked who came looking for you. In this story, Jesus came looking, and the man ended up worshiping him.
allow quiet reflection
This lesson: Read Jesus' question from v.35 slowly and allow thirty seconds of silence.
send them out with a verse
This lesson: Read John 9:38 together: “Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.
WHEN CLASS GETS HARD
Someone says church people once pushed them out, like the synagogue did to this man.: Don't defend the church. Acknowledge the hurt, point to v.35, and note that Jesus went to the one who was thrown out.
Someone hears “your guilt remains” as Jesus being harsh or unfair.: Admit it is a hard word. Then show that the door is open: the one who admits he can't see is the one who sees. The guilt stays only with those who insist they need nothing.
Silence after a question: Wait. Then rephrase simpler, or ask them to talk to a neighbor first.
One person dominates: “Thanks. Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t spoken yet.” Talk privately if it continues.
A question you can’t answer: Say so, write it down, bring an answer next week.
A tangent takes over: “Great question. Let’s catch it after class so we can finish the passage.”
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.TEACHER GUIDE · OPENINGS, CLOSINGS & HARD MOMENTS
John 9:35-41
Now I See
Who Do You Say I Am? · Dig Deeper
KEY VERSE
““Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.” John 9:38
““Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.” John 9:38
THE BIG IDEA
Jesus finds us, and admitting we can't see is how we see him.
Jesus finds us, and admitting we can't see is how we see him.
1. He Found the Man John 9:35-36
- The leaders threw the healed man out. He is alone.
- Jesus hears about it and goes to find him.
- The man brings an honest question, not a finished belief.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He the man.
“Tell me so that I may in Him.”
DISCUSS
Why do you think Jesus went looking for this man instead of waiting for him to come back?
Why do you think Jesus went looking for this man instead of waiting for him to come back?
2. Lord, I Believe John 9:37-38
- Jesus says plainly: “He is the One speaking with you.”
- A man who could never see has now seen Jesus.
- He worships Jesus, and Jesus does not stop him.
“You have already Him,” Jesus answered.
“Lord, I believe,” he said. And he Jesus.
DISCUSS
What does it tell you about Jesus that he let this man worship him?
What does it tell you about Jesus that he let this man worship him?
3. Are We Blind Too? John 9:39-41
- Jesus' coming sorts people: the blind see, and the seeing go blind.
- The Pharisees ask, “Are we blind too?”
- Claiming to see keeps guilt in place. Admitting need opens the door.
“For I have come into this world.”
“But since you claim you can see, your remains.”
DISCUSS
Why is it so hard to say, “I might not be seeing this clearly”?
Why is it so hard to say, “I might not be seeing this clearly”?
Read this week: Luke 15:1-7 · Luke 18:9-14 · John 3:17-21
BIG IDEA: JESUS FINDS US, AND ADMITTING WE CAN'T SEE IS HOW WE SEE HIM.HANDOUT · ADULT SIDE (KIDS ON THE BACK)
John 9:35-41 · FOR KIDS
Now I See
Name: ____________________
Big idea: Jesus comes to find us.
1. Put the story in order!
Number the boxes.
Jesus goes and finds him.
Jesus says, “I am the One.”
Jesus asks, “Do you believe?”
The man bows and worships Jesus.
Leaders throw the healed man out.
2. How did they feel?
Circle a face.
The man when he was thrown out
The man after meeting Jesus
The Pharisees
Jesus when he found the man
3. Word search
| W | O | R | S | H | I | P | E | D |
| J | N | V | F | D | B | D | O | G |
| U | V | C | J | E | S | U | S | B |
| D | F | B | E | L | I | E | V | E |
| G | O | L | O | R | D | N | B | H |
| M | U | B | Y | O | B | F | L | B |
| E | N | H | K | G | D | S | I | R |
| N | D | C | F | N | G | O | N | V |
| T | O | S | Y | S | R | V | D | R |
JESUS · BLIND · BELIEVE · WORSHIPED · JUDGMENT · LORD · FOUND
4. Secret code
1=B · 2=D · 3=E · 4=I · 5=L · 6=O · 7=R · 8=V
5
6
7
2
4
1
3
5
4
3
8
3
5. Draw it!
Draw the man bowing down to Jesus. Show his wide-open eyes.
6. Memory verse
““Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.” John 9:38 Say it to a grown-up: ☐ ☐ ☐
Jesus came looking for the man because...
DIG DEEPERKIDS SIDE · PRINT ON THE BACK OF THE HANDOUT