Blindness Healed - 4 - from birth

Blind from birth

· John chapter nine describes a healing miracle.

· WHO: man blind from birth

· WHAT: spit, mud, pool

· WHEN: Sabbath (again)

· Other things that are mentioned include eyes and a pool.

• Healing the Man Blind from Birth (Wikipedia)

John 9:1 (NLT)

John 9:1 NLT

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

· Jesus knows where you are

· DURATION of sickness - Length of time

John 9:2 NLT

2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

· CAUSE of sickness = WHY

· WHY are people sick? – God, devil or man (sin)

John 9:3 NLT

3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

· The sin issue = WHO

· WHO caused it? Who is to blame for problems in the world? Whose fault is it?

o Jesus acknowledged sin on both parts – parents and the man – all have sinned and fallen short

Sickness NEVER comes from God

Sickness does not make someone special

· Never take pride in sickness –

· God does not “trust” certain people with sickness

· The Chosen – Season three was wrong about little James

Jesus NEVER made ANYONE sick!

· Many lives have been made shipwreck thinking God makes people sick

· A house divided against itself cannot stand –

· God is CONSISTENTLY Good

Study the Bible in CONTEXT – do not make a doctrine out of 1-2 verses.

· Let the Bible interpret itself – line upon line.

· The GLORY Jesus referred to will be revealed in verses 31-32

· Glory = Jesus as the HEALER

John 9:4 NLT

4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

· Task = healing –

· Acts 10:38 - doing GOOD, healing ALL who were oppressed of the devil for GOD was with Him

Acts 10:38 NLT

38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

John 9:5 NLT

5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:6 NLT

6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

Man’s Mud is God’s Grace!

· Earth was cursed because of the sin of Adam

· It seems as if Jesus – the Second Adam – was redeeming a piece of the earth to bring a blessing to the man = GRACE!

· Prophetic illustration – Jesus will someday reclaim the whole world to Himself – (7 sealed scroll = earth’s title deed! (Revelation chapter 5)

Never look down on HOW God wants to heal you – just be glad He did it!

· Don’t be like Naaman the Syrian leper who would not wash in the Jordan river because it was DIRTY.

John 9:7 NLT

7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

· God does not want you to STAY the way you are – go and TESTIFY of the goodness of God.

Miracles testify of themselves – to give God glory

Group 1 - Neighbors and others

John 9:8–12 NLT

8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” 10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” 11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” 12 “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied.

8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”

9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!”

10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?”

11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!”

12 “Where is he now?” they asked. I don’t know,” he replied.

Group 2 – Pharisees

John 9:13–15 NLT

13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”

13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees,

14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him.

15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”

Miracles can be ignored, but never denied

John 9:16 NLT

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

· Many still disagree in spite of what they see…

· Follow the science!

John 9:17 NLT

17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

· why would the professional teachers of God’s law ask a commoner his opinion about a miracle? Desperation – religion always looks for a loophole.

John 9:18 NLT

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents.

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents.

True blindness refuses to believe God despite overwhelming evidence

· Refused to believe – just like Jesus predicted in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus

· Who truly is blind now?

Group 3 – the parents

John 9:19–23 NLT

19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?” 20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”

20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,

21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”

22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.

23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

Miracles demand an answer

· The evidence of the power of God demands a verdict

John 9:24–25 NLT

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” 25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”

25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

God is glorified through healing

· THIS is the way Jesus referred to God getting the glory – through the HEALING not the SICKNESS

John 9:26–33 NLT

26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” 30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”

26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”

27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”

28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!

29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from?

31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.

33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”

Pharisees turn on the man they wanted!

Deniers do not like the truth, only what they wanted to hear

John 9:34 NLT

34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

· You can’t curse the cured!

· Man cannot curse what God has blessed.

· Man cannot bless what God has cursed.

Jesus is more than Healer, He is Lord

John 9:35–38 NLT

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” 37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” 38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”

37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”

38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.

Healing is only the doorbell for salvation

Don’t go to hell healed!

John 9:39–41 NLT

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

The greatest miracle is salvation