From Old Testament times, the Jewish people knew that only God and his Messiah could open the eyes of the blind. However, over their long history, it had never happened. Therefore, when Jesus healed the eyes of a man born blind in John 9:1-41, he caused quite a stir. Some rejected the miracle as spurious, but the healed man held firm to what he knew to be true: "I was blind, and now I see." This is the same testimony of the simplest Christian whose spiritual eyes Jesus has opened to the truth. (sermon notes)
Two parables directed against the religious leaders indicated why they would lose their management of the kingdom, and why others would take their place.
Having defended himself from the devil’s temptations, Jesus went on the offensive as the one anointed to deliver people from sin and oppression.
From the very first preaching of the gospel after Jesus’ ascension, the new believers were “added” to local churches. Once God added them to...