1. How Jesus Views Human Beings

2. 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' Matthew 22:36-39

3. Why so important?

4. What is the Connection?

5. Hits at the heart of our Relationships People are the richest resource... “No one is poor in this world who is rich in his relationships with people.” You can’t be wrong by people and be right with God!

6. The Object of God’s love --People!

7. Whole Focus of the Gospel = People! John 3:16 “loved the world” = People

8. Love for God =Love for People 1 John 3:16-17 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 2:11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

9. Persons have Value “People are like snowflakes, they are each one infinitely unique, beautiful, and yet fragile. They appear for a little while, and then, vanish away, living their short lives with no conscious awareness of their intrinsic worth.”

10. The World Has the Wrong Standard Physical Attractiveness Performance – Talent. Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson

11. How do you feel about People? Five different views of Blind Man – Jn 9 Represent Five different ways to View People.

12. How Jesus Viewed Human Beings

13. View of the Disciples Jn 9:1-2 As He passed by, Jesus saw a man blind from his birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?“ Man = A Theological Issue, Question.

14. The Neighbor’s View John 9:6-10 Jesus spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" 9 Others were saying, "This is he."

15. The Neighbor’s View=Label Can be dehumanizing. Label’s can be Libels.

16. Pharisee’s View: Jn 9:13-16 They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them.

17. Pharisee’s View: A Problem! No problem in the life of a human being is too hard for God!

18. The Parent’s View Jn 9:18-20 18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 19 and questioned them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself."

19. Parent’s View = Biological Relationship

20. Dangers of “Family” Take each other for granted. Treat them worse than strangers Problem: Expectations. Key: Strive for real friendships!

21. What is the View of Jesus? How does He view Human Beings?

22. Jesus’ View - Jn 9:2-3 2 And His disciples asked Him, " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

23. Jesus’ View: Liberating! Saw him as someone in whom God’ work can be displayed. Saw his need…

24. Jesus saw potential in people!

25. No human being is to be cast upon the garbage heap of human ruin "The only way you can describe a human being truly is by describing his, or her imperfections. The perfect human being is uninteresting…it is the imperfections of life that are loveable."

26. Fundamental: Love your neighbor To do so, you must view him right. To do so, you must love God and see him through His eyes!

27. Conclusion: Wish to be truly joyous? Surrender to God and let His work be displayed in you!

28. No Reason to go it Alone See the light of truth and come to Jesus!