Free to Love - John 12: 35-36

As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 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." When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" Others were saying, "This is he," still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the one." So they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went away and washed, and I received sight." They said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know." (John 9:1-12, NASB)
Jesus then said, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." (John 12:35-36, NASB)

Sermon Summary
On Sunday, Pastor Jamey Bryant concluded the "Free" series by teaching from John 9, exploring Jesus as the Light of the World in the context of recent tragic events including violence in our communities. The sermon began with a powerful prayer time acknowledging that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" but against spiritual darkness. Jamey walked through the blind man's healing at the Pool of Siloam during the Feast of Booths, showing how Jesus demonstrated He is both the Light of the World and the "Sent One" the ceremonies pointed to. Through multiple interrogations by neighbors and Pharisees, the blind man's understanding grew from knowing "the man named Jesus" to declaring "Lord, I believe" and worshiping Him. Jamey concluded with the challenge that we are now the light of the world, qualified to share our stories of grace with others who desperately need hope.

1. What's the most embarrassing time you tried to fix something but made it worse instead? (Like the Pharisees trying to "fix" the situation with the blind man!)
2. Jamey said "the darkness has not overcome it" about Jesus as the Light. Where have you seen darkness trying to overcome light in your own life this week?
3. The blind man went from saying "the man who is called Jesus" to "He is a prophet" to "Lord, I believe." How does our deepening understanding of who Jesus really is change our perspective on life and strengthen our testimony to others?
4. Jamey mentioned that "bad things happen irrespective of how good or bad we might be" but God can use them for His glory. What difficult part of your story might God want to use as a display of His works?
5. The Pharisees were so focused on Jesus breaking Sabbath rules (making clay, healing) that they missed the miracle. What religious rules or expectations might blind us from seeing what God is actually doing?
6. "I was blind, but now I see"—the man couldn't deny his experience even under pressure. Who in your life needs to hear your "I was blind, but now I see" story this week, and what's stopping you from sharing it?
7. Jamey said we're "free to love others by sharing the grace we've so freely been given" and that "no one can argue with your story." What specific person is God bringing to mind who needs to see the light of Christ through you—and what's one concrete step you'll take to share that light with them this week?
   
   

Extra Credit
Look up and read these passages about light and darkness:
John 1:4-5 - "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."
John 8:12 - "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'"
Matthew 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 - "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
How do these passages expand our understanding of light overcoming darkness? What common thread runs through all of them about our role as light-bearers versus Jesus as the true Light?