How can we apply the parents' response in John 9:19 to our witness? Setting the Scene “and they asked, ‘Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that he is our son and that he was born blind.’” What the Parents Actually Did • Confirmed the undeniable facts: “We know he is our son” • Certified the miracle’s reality: “and that he was born blind” • Withheld further testimony out of fear (vv. 21-23) Key Takeaways for Our Witness • Start with what you know for sure • Validate God’s work in front of skeptics • Resist the temptation to stay silent when the cost is high Positive Lessons We Can Imitate • Clarity: They spoke plainly—no ambiguity or confusion • Verifiable evidence: They pointed to a living example of God’s power • Humility: They recognized limits to their personal knowledge Warning Lessons We Must Avoid • Fear-driven silence: “His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews” (v. 22) • Passing the buck: “Ask him; he is of age” (v. 21) when they could have affirmed Jesus directly • Minimal cooperation: Only answering what is safe, not what is true in full Applying These Lessons Today 1. Speak the obvious truths Christ has done in your life 2. Do not understate miracles to fit cultural comfort zones 3. Accept the social cost of public allegiance to Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33) 4. Anchor boldness in God’s Spirit, not in human approval (2 Timothy 1:7) 5. Let your testimony point people straight to Jesus, not merely to yourself (John 9:25) Practical Steps for Courageous Testimony • Pray for open doors, then walk through them (Colossians 4:3-4) • Memorize one-sentence versions of core gospel truths for quick sharing • Keep records of answered prayers and life changes as proof points • Surround yourself with believers who model fearless witness (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Rehearse Acts 4:20: “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Summary Affirm the facts, celebrate the miracle, refuse fear, and point every listener to the Savior who still opens eyes today. |
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