Spiritual Blindness

ENGAGE

It's the NEW YEAR - January 1st - 2023

Anyone here does New Year Resolutions?

I have a few things and some are cliche:

I want to work out and lose weight

I want to eat better and healthier

I want to be more in the Word and study

I want to read 1 book every week - 4 books a month - not the ones I'm assigned but the ones that I have already that I've been wanting to read.

I want to date my wife more - at least once a month.

Most of our New Year resolutions are about self-improvement - whether it concerns your body, mind or relationships with others.

Which is perfectly healthy and fine.

But as Christians and sons and daughters of the most High God - Are we intentional about these so called changes we want to make in our lives.

Are we making New Year resolutions that drives the two most important commandments that Jesus gave us -

Love God with all of your heart, mind, strength and soul.

Love others as you love yourself.

I was guilty and convicted of not being intentional.

I need to continue to gear and position my life towards Jesus - in loving Him with all of me and loving others as much as I do myself.

I need to continue to look to the Light - that is Jesus - to point me toward His desires and not mine

In his Turning Point daily devotional for July 18, David Jeremiah writes: “Millions around the world have benefited from the teaching ministry of Kay Arthur; but her work wouldn’t have happened apart from bitter disappointment early in her ministry. While serving as a missionary to Mexico, she contracted a heart infection that forced her to return home.

“‘I felt like a failure,'” she recalls. ‘Depression set in until I cried, “Father, whatever You want.”‘ Back in Chattanooga, she began teaching the Bible to teenagers in her home, and out of those experiences came her life’s work. ‘It would be several years before I’d see how He’d use those formative years of study in Mexico to prepare me to write inductive Bible studies that would eventually reach 52 countries,’ she wrote.

“We seldom understand our trials at the time. We may feel like failures and wonder why God allows suffering, but as time passes we learn to look back and see how He worked things for good and how every trial drove us closer to Him. With every test, our relationship with God grows more intimate and our perseverance more sturdy.”

TENSION

Have you ever gone through something that was so hard that you never thought you could survive from it?

What struggles have you been through and you thought God was punishing you?

I must have done something wrong, that's why I'm probably going through this?

Or we think of others who are going through hard times, we start thinking that they probably had done something sinful to be going through that.

We can think of a few people in the Bible who have faced hardships and trials, while God had allowed it, and many questioned it - God had an ultimate plan and purpose for the suffering in their lives.

Job - who lost his home, his kids and farm.

TRUTH

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2. The Healing of a Man Born Blind (Chap. 9)

2. THE HEALING OF A MAN BORN BLIND (CHAP. 9).

Isaiah predicted that in messianic times various signs would occur. The Messiah would “open eyes that are blind” (Isa. 42:7; cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:5). Jesus often healed the blind (cf. Matt. 9:27–31; 12:22–23; 15:30; 20:29–34; 21:14). This miracle in John 9 is notable because Jesus had just proclaimed Himself as “the Light of the world” (8:12). As a public demonstration of His claim, He gave sight to a man born blind.

9:1. As He went along in the city of Jerusalem, Jesus saw a man with congenital blindness. Jesus’ choice of this individual is significant (cf. 5:5–6). He is Sovereign in His works. That the man was blind from birth pointed out his seeming hopelessness. This illustrates man’s spiritual blindness from birth (9:39–41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1–3).

9:2–3. The disciples faced a theological problem. Believing that sin directly caused all suffering, how could a person be born with a handicap? Therefore either this man … sinned in his mother’s womb (Ezek. 18:4) or his parents sinned (Ex. 20:5). Jesus therefore answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned. These words do not contradict the universal sinfulness of man (cf. Rom. 3:9–20, 23). Instead Jesus meant that this man’s blindness was not caused by some specific sin. Instead the problem existed so that … God could display His glory in the midst of seeming tragedy (cf. Ex. 4:11; 2 Cor. 12:9).

9:4–5. Day means the time allotted for Jesus to do God’s will (to do the work of Him who sent Me). We includes the disciples and by extension all believers. Night is the limit set to do God’s works. In Jesus’ case it was His coming death. As the Light of the world Jesus gives people salvation (cf. 8:12). After His death, His disciples would be His lights (cf. Matt. 5:14; Eph. 5:8–14), bringing Christ to others.

9:6–7. Jesus placed clay (mud with … saliva) on the man’s eyes. Interestingly man was made from this same substance—the dust of the earth (Gen. 2:7). Jesus probably used the clay as an aid to develop the man’s faith, not as a medicine. Jesus’ making of clay broke the Rabbinic regulations against kneading clay on the Sabbath (cf. John 9:14). Jesus then told the man, Wash in the pool of Siloam (this word means Sent). This is located at the southeast corner of Jerusalem (see the map), where Hezekiah’s tunnel channeled water inside the city walls from the Gihon Spring. The man was “sent” there and Jesus was the One “sent” by the Father. The man … washed and went home seeing!

9:8–9. People argued over whether he was the same man who used to sit and beg. If so, it was incredible that he could see. Perhaps, they said, it was a case of mistaken identity. But he himself insisted, I am the man.

9:10–12. But if he were the same man, how was this possible? He gave a simple and factual account of how the miracle occurred. He referred to the Lord as the Man they call Jesus. Since he was blind at the time of the miracle, he had no idea where Jesus went.

9:13–14. Since this miracle was so unusual, the people brought the man to the Pharisees, who were highly respected in religious matters. To the Pharisees, healing (unless life was in danger) and making or kneading clay violated the Sabbath Law.

9:15–16. When the Pharisees … asked him about his situation, he briefly told what happened (cf. v. 11). The Pharisees believed that since Jesus “violated” the Sabbath He was a false prophet turning the people away from God (Deut. 13:3–5). So they concluded, This Man is not from God. Later they said Jesus was “a sinner” (John 9:24). Others concluded that the signs were so impressive that a sinner could not do them. (Of course a false prophet could do deceptive signs [cf. 2 Thes. 2:9].) The Pharisees then were divided (cf. John 7:43; 10:19).

9:17. The healed blind man’s opinion was that Jesus is a prophet. Old Testament prophets sometimes performed miracles which marked them out as God’s men.

9:18–20. The Jews still could not believe this man had been blind. Surely some mistake had been made. So they sent for his parents, who affirmed that he was their son who had been born blind.

9:21–23. But the parents … were afraid to hazard any opinions about the cure or the Healer. The Pharisees and other Jewish authorities (the Jews) had already … decided that Jesus was not the Messiah. Those who held such a heresy would be excommunicated from the synagogue. (Some scholars argue that this verse was added later by an editor, but there is nothing unthinkable about this kind of persecution during Jesus’ ministry.) The parents shifted the pressure from themselves by noting that their son was of legal age to testify for himself (vv. 21, 23).

9:24. The authorities tried to pressure the healed man into withdrawing his testimony about Jesus: Give glory to God (cf. Josh. 7:19; 1 Sam. 6:5; Jer. 13:16) was a call to admit his guilt in siding with Jesus, whom they called a sinner. When they said We know, they were pressuring him. Unbelief often claims to be scientific, but here it was just stubborn and willful.

9:25–26. His witness was clear, and he refused to deny what he knew for certain: I was blind, but now I see! They asked him to go over the story again, hoping to find some contradiction in the man’s report.

9:27. The ex-blind man got impatient. He had already told how he was healed (v. 15), but they did not listen to him. That is, they rejected it. He sarcastically asked if their request for him to repeat his report indicated that they had changed their hearts. Were they inquiring because they were interested in becoming Jesus’ disciples?

9:28–29. The idea of this illiterate beggar sarcastically suggesting they were interested in Jesus was more than their pride could take. They insulted him and then claimed that they were Moses’ disciples. Jesus to them was an unknown. We don’t even know where He comes from. Yet they claimed to know Moses who, Jesus said, wrote about Him (5:46).

9:30–33. The beggar proceeded to teach them since they admitted ignorance of Jesus’ origin. The irony is strong for the reader knows His origin (1:14, 18). According to the beggar’s logic, this miracle was notable and unique. He said that no one had ever heard of … a man born blind receiving sight. He reasoned that God grants not the requests of sinners but those of the righteous (cf. Elijah, James 5:16–18). Therefore this Man, he said, is from God. Otherwise He could do no miracles.

9:34. Upstaged by a beggar, they could only insult him again and throw him out of the synagogue (cf. v. 22). They reasoned that his blindness must have been due to some specific “sin” (they forgot the Book of Job). But they were irrational. How could anybody be steeped in sin at birth? Everybody is born with a sinful nature (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12), but a baby can hardly commit numerous acts of sin moments after it is born!

9:35. Taking the initiative again (cf. v. 6), Jesus found the former blind man. Do you (emphatic in the Gr.) believe in the Son of Man? This was a call to commitment. “Son of Man” is a title of Messiah which includes a rich background (cf. Dan. 7:13; and comments on Mark 2:10).

9:36–37. The beggar responded that he was willing to believe but he was ignorant. Jesus then disclosed Himself and gave the beggar the necessary knowledge for faith. Faith involves an act of the will, based on information.

9:38. After Jesus revealed that He is the Son of Man, the man responded in faith (Lord, I believe) and worshiped Him. His worship of Jesus replaced his worship in the synagogue. The Jews had cast him out of the synagogue, but Jesus does not cast out those who come to Him (6:37). One goal of salvation is worship of the One who saves (4:23).

9:39. Does this verse contradict 3:17? According to that verse (and 12:47) Jesus was not sent “to condemn the world.” But here Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world. Jesus meant He came to pronounce decisions on the ungodly, like a judge (cf. 5:22, 27). The blind who come to sight are those who, admitting their helplessness and inability, trust Jesus for salvation. Those who see and become blind are those whose self-trust and pride blinds them to the wonders of Jesus. He does not condemn them by making them blind; they blind themselves by rejecting Him and Satan contributes to that blinding (2 Cor. 4:4).

9:40–41. Some of the Pharisees … asked, literally, “We also are not blind, are we?” They expected a negative answer because they assumed that certainly they, of all men, possessed spiritual perception. Sin constantly deceives people so they live in falsehood. Jesus replied, If the Pharisees were blind to spiritual things absolutely, they might have claimed ignorance as a defense. But their claims and pretentions of spiritual insight (you claim you can see) and leadership made them culpable. They were responsible for their sins because they sinned willfully. It is dangerous to be a teacher of spiritual truths (cf. 3:10; Rom. 2:19–24; James 3:1).

APPLICATION

Things to remember as you go into this new year: So that Jesus can continue to open our Spiritual Eyes so we can see more of Him in our lives.

Be Humble

James 4:10 Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Be Repentive

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Spiritual Blindness is a result of sin -

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) — 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Be Believing & Rejoice in the circumstances

John 9:35-38 - "Lord, I believe!"

Paul - who went through shipwrecks, being stoned to near death, persecuted, people sought to kill him, to eventually being martyred.

In one of his letters to the church of Corinth he writes:

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to [b]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This was either a physical illness, a struggle or an actual demon who was assigned to Paul to buffet or to "afflict or harm" him constantly.

3 times he pleaded and asked the Lord for this "thorn in the flesh" to leave him but it didn't.

But what does Jesus tells him and reveals to him? "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Be a Disciple - what does it take to be His disciple?

Luke 9:23 - 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

INSPIRE

Testimony of almost dying

A year ago today - I was laying in bed very sick - I had an oxygen tank on my side feeding my fresh air through my nose so I could breath.

I had pneumonia and COVID and I thought I was not going to make it.

I felt like my life flashed before my eyes and all I could think about was my wife Tess, Hazael and if I was going to live long enough to be able to see my next daughter Sofia.

There's something about near death experiences that causes someone to get closer to the Lord and make promises to Him like:

Lord if you get me through this I promise I will be good

Or Lord if I survive this sickness, I will do better

But that's not what came through my heart and mind - the prayer I said was very different, although I was in fear of dying and be apart from my family, someone inside of me prayed - "Lord whatever is your will, let that be done"

Very similar to the prayer of Jesus when He taught the disciples to pray - "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven."

I was afraid to make that prayer but ultimately, I realized that ultimately I was in God's hands and I needed to trust Him and believe in Him.

This Year's Resolution will be different

My resolution will not be about focused on losing weight or trying to do better.

My resolution will be the same prayer that Jesus taught His disciples -

"LORD, let your will be done in my life and others."

Let my life reflect you and your grace

If there be afflictions, hardships or circumstances go my way - may it glorify you through my life by abiding in you and trusting in you.

May the Grace of GOD shine through so that you will receive all of the glory.

CALL

Do you believe in Jesus Christ this morning?

Do you believe that He is your Lord and Savior and King forevermore?

Do you know He came not only to save you from death and sin but to deliver you through the circumstances that you are going through.

Maybe this morning your struggling to understand what I am teaching, and you're not understanding fully what I am saying..

You're just here because your parents made you or this is what you and your family do on Sundays..

But you've never taken it seriously, and may think, I'm still young, I have plenty of time to take it all for real..

My friend that is what a spiritual blind person would say - that there isn't anything wrong with them or they think their relationship with God is ok because they are morally good.