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The Blind See The Light Trinity Bible Church, 3/12/06
Introduction: You that are accomplished or budding writers, what are three characters needed to make a good story? A person in need, a bad guy, and a hero! Today’s text is no fiction, but it has all the ingredients of a great novel. See if you can find those three characters in the opening verses.
John 9:1-17 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he." 10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know." 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." NKJV
I. The Victim. A person cheated, fooled, or damaged whether by someone else or by some impersonal force. Webster The blind man was a victim of rejection –
A. By Circumstances. 1) He was born blind. 2) He was so poor, he was the town beggar. 3) Others thought of him as being an object of God’s judgment. Many Jews, like Job’s friends, believed that every temporal misfortune was God’s punishment for some specific sin. With a congenital affliction the explanation could be that the sin had been committed in the womb, or by the parents whose sinful act victimized their child. Jesus dismisses these as improper explanations (v.3), but this is not to say that certain trials are not the God-ordained punishment for certain sins. Reformation Study Bible notes.
B. By His Parents John 9:18-23 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then 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 by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." NKJV Don’t you think a disabled person knows they are a burden to their folks? They would give anything to make their parents proud of them. This man is no different, and when he is finally what they had hoped for, they pretend they hardly know him! (See also Ps. 27)
C. By Religious Leaders. (More on this during next point) Is this what you fear? Circumstances are against you, your family won’t support you, and now, the leadership is on your case too. It could be teachers at school, your supervisor at work, or the county official that has it out for you. What can you do? Keep listening and see how this man gets his help, your help will come in the same way.
II. The Villains. John 9:13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. NKJV
A. Character – What would you guess in the personal opinion the Pharisees held for themselves? Do you think they felt they were right? Do you think they thought the best about themselves? Every villain does!
Now lets look at their character as revealed by John and Jesus; Matt 3:7-10; Matt 23:13-15 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. NKJV
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. NKJV
Their whole country was smaller than the state of MN, yet this group controlled all the political, economical, social and religious life of the people. There was no public forum, like we have, to speak out against abuses, no free speech protected by law, no talk radio, no voting them out of office in the next election. Besides all that, these Pharisees were power hungry religious thugs, a truly realistic example of villains.
B. Criticism John 9:24-34 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." 30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." 34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. NKJV
What’s the beef? Where’s the problem? Why be so upset about a beggar being healed? One would think they would bring wagon loads of sick folk to Jesus to see their flock get relieved of afflictions. Instead they criticize and accuse, why? (Next point).
C. Cause John 9:35-41 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. NKJV
They pretend to concerned about the word of God and the Sabbath, but really, there’s a more sinister plot afoot. They are used to control; they could buffalo the people into submission and keep them in line with religious talk, but then along comes this Jesus fellow. He teaches about loving God from the heart, and your neighbor as yourself. He teaches that true leadership is servant leadership and God judges the heart as well as the actions. Then He really messes up their program when He heals on the Sabbath, that was one day they could control with the fear of being excommunicated. The Pharisees could see the people’s sins easily enough, and they told them often about them warning them to “flee the wrath to come”. But the problem was that they couldn’t see their own sins - They were blinded by their pride, self-righteousness, their tradition, and their false interpretation of the Word of God. Wiersbe p. 327
III. The Victor! We saw the victim, and the villains, who do you guess is the hero?
A. Defends (See also Rom. 8:28, 31-35) In verse 3, do you think the blind man even heard the statements the disciples were making to Jesus. My guess is no, he, without knowing it, was being defended by Jesus. “Those whom He redeems are objects of His protecting love”. Are you going through a dark time? Is your sight blinded by something difficult? Are there others around you that accuse you and don’t understand?
I’m here today to tell you there is One who understands what you’re going through and He is here to defend you.
B. Delivers Jesus heals the man and what do they ask? Do they ask how they might honor this “Prophet of God”? Do they wonder what sins He will expose? No, they question him over and over again about details on how it happened.
John 9: 10; 15a; 19; 26 10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" 15a Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 26 Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" NKJV
We are the same way aren’t we? Someone gets a healing or an answered prayer and we ask for the intricate details, why do we do that? Maybe you don’t, but I have a sinful superstitiousness about me, I want to know just what they did so I can duplicate circumstances. What ever it was, if I do the same thing, I think I’ll get the same results. A blessed wallet, marriage, healing, deliverance…. But Jesus delivers from _____ and unto Himself, not unto a method.
C. Delights John 9:4-7 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. NKJV
1) Jesus delights in caring for others, He delighted to heal this poor blind man. 2) But we must understand the reason for this being written, not so we see Jesus delighting in healing a poor blind man, but that the man, whatever his condition, would come to faith in Jesus as the Son of God –that is the real, eternal delight! 3) Jesus is the “Sent” one; He is the pool we need to wash in and to be able to see. (v. 4a) (John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." NKJV)
4) Follow this man’s journey of faith with me and see if you can find out where you are in the steps. John 9:11-12; 17; 30-34; 35-38 a.) He understands there’s someone called Jesus 9 He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight."
b) He doesn’t know where He is or where He’s from. 12 Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know."
c) After he has an experience, the best He can say is He is a prophet. 17 They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."
d) Because he was touched by His power, he defends His integrity to the unbelievers. 30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." 34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.
e) The man hungers to know more of Christ. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"
f) Upon fuller revelation, he bows easily in worship to the Son of God. 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. NKJV
(See Pleasures of God by John Piper, p. 24)
Conclusion. John 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." NIV
Although we’ve had all the elements for a good story; a victim, some villains, and then a hero; this was not written to entertain you but to convince you of your need. Where are you at today? Has sin blinded your eyes? Come to Jesus now and let Him wash you clean!
(for futher study)
Matt 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. NKJV
Ps 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, "Seek My face,” My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! NKJV
John 4:34 34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. NKJV John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. NKJV John 5:36-40 36 But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish — the very works that I do — bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. NKJV John 6:28-29 28 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." NKJV
John 9: 4-5 All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end. 5 But while I am still here in the world, I am the light of the world." NLT
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