Sermon Tone Analysis

The Story Continues

A quick review

(Pool of Siloam picture inserted here)

Disciples question, Jesus answers (9:1-5)

Jesus works and results (9:6-12)

Controversy begins (9:13-16)

Tonight we will see how far we get it is a long passage and have lots of great stuff to cover.

Religious leaders question (9:17-18)

Long passage that we will break down along the way.

For better understanding and context we need to back up some.

Keeping in context (Jn9:13-16)

OK, now we have the context let’s look at the first couple of verses

(Blind man questioned Picture here)

Who is the “they” (v.17)?

Who is the “Him”?

Who did not believe who (v.18)?

Because of unbelief what did they do?

Most of the leaders did not believe, did not believe that Jesus was from God.

Notice (v.16) it was only some.

The blind man believed Jesus to be a prophet.

Now Jesus did not say the man would be healed (but implied) but told him what to do.

It called for faith of the man.

The leaders then did not believe the man was born blind, called for the parents.

It was easier to believe he was not really born blind, then to believe this phenomenon.

Commentator Tasker said:

“Unable to explain this unprecedented phenomenon of a man born blind being enabled to see, they will not admit that it has really happened.”

Parents questioned (9:19-23)

What were the questions asked of the parents (v.19)?

What did the parents know, and not know (vv.20-21)?

Why were the parents afraid (v.22-23)?

The religious leaders come with guile towards the parents

Parents verify, and this should have led them to believe that a man of God was among them, but yet there were not moved and did not believe.

Have you ever presented all the evidence of the bible, of Jesus, the gospel and yet people did not believe?

The parents answer beyond that, to their second question turned everything back to the son for they were afraid of being put out (excommunicated).

Side note: The leadership, the Jews, had already agreed to put out anyone who professed Jesus as from God, of God.

That He was the Messiah.

Put out, well let me give an example of excommunication in the O.T.

More info on excommunication from Dodds:

“The practice in the ancient Jewish world: Of excommunication there were three degrees: the first lasted for thirty days; then followed by a second admonition, and if impenitent the culprit was punished for thirty days more; and if still impenitent he was laid under the CHerem or ban, which wa sindinite duration, and which entirely cut him off from intercourse with others.

He ws treaded as if he were a leper.”

Another thing to remember back in (9:16) there were some who believed, but would not say anything for they did not want to be put out.

Does not matter the age of a child, a parent wants to protect the child.

In this case the parents looked out for themselves and told the Jews to deal directly with the “of age” child.

Previously blind man questioned (9:24-25)

What did the leaders call the man to do, and why (v.24)?

What was the response (v.25)?

In how the question was asked, seemed harsh like dealing with the parents.

They are demanding answer from him, about a man he still has never seen.

He tells them he knows not if the man called Jesus is a sinner or not.

Just that he was blind but now can see.

Think about that spiritually speaking, was there a time when you were blind, but now can see?

F.F. Bruce said this:

“From time to time Christians are confronted with questions meant to embarrass or mock, questions about some science or social issue or another.

One doesn’t have to be an expert in all those things, though the more one knows the better.

more than anything, we may simply say: ‘I don’t know about all that; but this I know: Once I was blind, now I see.”

One more thought before moving on: We do not base our faith on a personal experience but by the truth of God’s word, what His word reveals.

Now our experience can be an addition to help others to asks about about the hope that is in us, that is shown through God’s word, since Jesus is our hope.

Man’s response (9:26-27)

In (v.26) there were two questions asked, could the man answer both, and why?

What more do we learn about the man (v.27)?

Over and over again, same questions asked.

and the same answer would be given.

The man is biting back on them now, what, do you want to be His disciple too?

Man excommunicated (9:28-34)

They reviled the man, what did they acknowledge about the man, and themselves (v.28)?

What did they say about Jesus (v.29)?

In summary how did the man respond to the men from (v.29) in (vv.30-33)?

What was the results of what the man said (v.34)?

(Excommunicated picture Here)

The claim that they did not know where “this man” was from was about Jesus.

Jesus had previously told them where He was from and where He was going (Jn8:23-24)

They claim they are disciples of Moses, but have traded the law for traditions of man, so truly not a disciple of Moses.

The man responds -Here is the proof, and yet you do not believe.

They respond God does not hear sinners, but if they are God-fearing and does His will, He hears them.

Wait, hold on, is that saying they are saved by works?

And God only hears the one who is already God-fearing and doing God’s works?

They are still claiming could not be from God for God has never done this before.

The man finishes with if He were not from God, he could do nothing.

They had treated the man horribly

They abused him (reviled him)

They insulted him (You were born entirely in sins)

They rejected him (they cast him out.

Man believes in Jesus (9:35-38)

What did Jesus do (v.35)?

What is the question by the man in (v.36), and the answer (v.37)?

what were the results (v.38)?

As the leaders cast him out, Jesus sought him out.

they reviled him, Jesus loved him.

Spurgeon once said “He that enjoys the favor of the Son of God will not tremble at the from of the Sanhedrin.”

Jesus asked if he believed, was he committed to the Son of Man who he does not believe he has even seen?

The man is a believer, is a true disciple and is committed.

Jesus responds You have seen Him, I’m Him!

Remember until this time he had not seen Jesus, did not know what he looked like.

He had the name of Jesus, he had the touch of Jesus, now he has the sight of Jesus and the results.

He worshipped him.

For us today

We may know the name of Jesus

We may hear the call of Jesus by the gospel

We then need to receive the touch of Jesus through His precious blood for the forgiveness of sins

Then the gift from Jesus, forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.