The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus[b] to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”  John 9:18-23

1. The fear of people will silence our verbal witness for Jesus Christ: Acts 4:13-20

Two cures for overcoming fear that silences our witness

a. Spending time with Jesus: verse 13

b. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit: verse 19-20

2. The fear of people reveals the sin of self-preservation

• • • Abraham: Gen. 12:11-13, Gen. 20:2
    • Isaac: Gen. 26:6-7

Two cures for overcoming fear that seeks personal comfort

a. Accept the message of the cross as offensive: Galatians 5:11

b. Seek to know the love of Christ more and more: 1 John 4:18