How can John 9:30 inspire us to witness about Jesus despite opposition? Setting the scene in John 9 • Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9:1–7). • Religious leaders interrogate the man twice, pressuring him to denounce Jesus (John 9:13–29). • Under growing hostility, the healed man boldly answers: “That is remarkable indeed! You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.” (John 9:30) What stands out in John 9:30 • Astonishment: the man marvels that experts in Scripture cannot see what is obvious. • Personal testimony: he points to the undeniable miracle—“He opened my eyes.” • Courage: he speaks truth while surrounded by skeptics who can expel him from the synagogue (John 9:34). Lessons for our own witness • God uses ordinary people—no theological degree required. • Personal experience with Jesus carries weight that arguments alone cannot match. • Opposition is normal; silence is not. • Boldness grows when we focus on what Christ has done rather than on how others might react. Practical steps to speak up 1. Recall your “opened-eyes” moment—how Jesus changed you. 2. Keep the focus on Christ’s work, not on winning debates. 3. Expect resistance, yet remember that truth is on your side (2 Corinthians 13:8). 4. Rely on the Holy Spirit, who empowers witness in hostile environments (Acts 4:29–31). 5. Speak respectfully yet firmly, following the healed man’s example (1 Peter 3:15–16). Encouragement from other Scriptures • Acts 4:20—“For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” • Romans 1:16—“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” • 2 Timothy 1:7—“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” John 9:30 reminds us that a single, clear testimony of what Jesus has done can shine brightest when opposition is fiercest. |
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