The Bible Recap – Day 297 (John 9-10) – Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: October 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps and explores John chapters 9 and 10. She delves into the story of Jesus healing the man born blind and unpacks Jesus’ teaching about being the "Good Shepherd." The focus is on how Jesus challenges cultural assumptions, reveals deeper spiritual truths, confronts religious authorities, and assures believers of their security in him.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cultural Views on Suffering and Sin

• Context: Ancient cultures often equated physical illness with personal or inherited sin.
• Jesus Corrects This View: When asked whose sin caused a man’s blindness, Jesus says it’s not about punishment but God’s glory.

  “He’s blind because this situation is going to be used to glorify God.” (00:37)

• Implication: God doesn’t always operate within human logic about suffering and divine justice.

2. Healing on the Sabbath and Breaking Religious Rules

• The Sabbath Incident: Jesus heals the man on the Sabbath by making mud from spit and dirt—an act that blatantly disregards Pharisaical rules.

  “Jesus throws his leg over that fence and decides that the best way to heal this man is not just to speak it into existence like we know he can, but to spit on the dirt, make mud, and put it on the man’s [eyes].” (01:24)

• Pharisaical Reaction: The Pharisees are shocked, as Jesus not only heals but does so in a way that intentionally breaks their added traditions.
• Lesson: Jesus demonstrates that closeness to God comes from relationship, not rule-keeping.

3. Public Miracle at the Pool of Siloam

• Why the Pool of Siloam? Jesus sends the man to a significant, public place to wash, ensuring visibility of the miracle.

  “This pool is huge…For Jesus to send the man there tells us he wants everyone to know about this healing.” (02:22)

• Shift in Jesus’ Approach: As Jesus nears his death, he becomes more public about his miracles.

4. Interrogation and Testimony Evolving

• The Pharisees Investigate: They interrogate the healed man and his parents, who fear expulsion from the synagogue.
• Boldness of the Healed Man:

  “He seems to get kind of snarky… ‘You guys are so curious about Jesus. Sounds to me like you want to follow him too. That’s awesome.’” (03:24)

• Faith Progression: The more the man tells his story, the more his understanding and faith deepen—from calling Jesus “the man called Jesus” to “prophet,” then to recognizing him as from God, and finally as God himself.

5. Spiritual Blindness vs. Spiritual Sight

• Jesus Explains: He came so the blind may see and those who claim to see (the self-righteous) may become spiritually blind.
• Key Insight:

  “He’s talking about spiritual eyes. Those who think they can see, those who are not aware of their own spiritual poverty… he’s going to blind them.” (04:23)

6. Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Door

• Old Testament Background: Israel’s leaders were often described as bad shepherds, but God promised to send a true shepherd.
• Metaphors Unpacked:

  “He calls himself the good shepherd…Then he says something confusing. He calls himself the door of the sheep. So are you the shepherd, or are you the door? Yes.” (05:18)

• Shepherd/Sheepfold Imagery: The shepherd literally serves as the door, laying across the entrance for the sheep’s safety.
• Ownership and Care: Jesus contrasts himself to hired hands; he owns the sheep, protects them, and lays down his life willingly.

7. Inclusion of Gentiles

• Jesus’ Hint:

  “I have other sheep that are not of this fold.” (07:03)
  This echoes OT prophecy about including outsiders (Isaiah 56:8).

8. Foreshadowing Jesus’ Death

• Voluntary Sacrifice:

  “No one takes his life from him. He lays it down willingly.” (07:23)

• Correcting Misconceptions: Jesus’ death is not forced by others but is part of God’s redemptive plan.

9. Confrontation with Religious Leaders

• Demand for Clarity: The Pharisees press Jesus to explicitly declare himself the Messiah.
• His Response:

  “I’ve already told you and shown you, but you don’t believe because you aren’t my sheep.” (08:02)

• Notable Insight:

  “He doesn’t say you aren’t my sheep because you don’t believe. He says, you don’t believe because you aren’t my sheep.” (08:17)

10. Eternal Security and ‘God Shot’

• Tara-Leigh’s Highlight:

  “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (08:36)
  She finds great comfort in Jesus’ promise of security for his followers.

• Reflection:

  “Nothing is stronger than Him, not even me...In his hand he holds us secure because what he initiates, he will sustain and he will fulfill. And thank God I could never do it, but he can and he does and he keeps doing. He’s where the joy is.” (09:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus Subverting Expectations:

  “He’s turning their whole belief system on its head.” (02:06)

• On the Growth of Faith:

  “The more this man has to tell the story about who Jesus is and what he did, the more his faith seems to increase.” (04:47)

• On Security in God:

  “To me, the single most comforting thing in the whole universe is that nothing can snatch me from the Father’s hand. Nothing is stronger than him, not even me.” (08:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Introduction & cultural beliefs about sin and sickness | | 01:24 | Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath (the mud miracle) | | 02:22 | Importance of the Pool of Siloam | | 03:24 | Interrogations and the man’s growing boldness | | 04:23 | Jesus’ spiritual lesson on blindness and sight | | 05:18 | ‘Good Shepherd’ and ‘door’ metaphors explained | | 07:03 | Inclusion of the Gentiles – ‘other sheep’ announcement | | 07:23 | Jesus foreshadows his voluntary death | | 08:02 | Confrontation with religious leaders: ‘Are you the Messiah?’ | | 08:36 | “God shot” comfort: eternal security in God’s hand | | 09:08 | Host’s personal reflection and concluding reassurance |

Closing Reflection

Tara-Leigh Cobble unpacks the narrative of John 9-10, highlighting Jesus’ compassion, defiance of empty rules, invitation to deeper faith, and assurance of salvation. She encourages listeners that even in confusion, “He’s where the joy is.”