Blindness

Intro

Key points

1. Jesus disciples pose an interesting question: Can this man’s blindness be attributed to sin?

-Generally speaking we know that there is suffering, sickness and infirmity due to sin. It is part of the the curse.

-However one would be hard pressed to make an argument from scripture that a specific sins resulted in a specific illness.

-We do see specific instances when God causes a specific infliction but those are exceptions and not the rule. (example John the baptists father)

-It’s unclear as to why the disciples pinpointed this man but look at their line of questioning, it seems to be coming from a place of ignorance.

-In fact they sound a lot like Job’s friends.

-Jesus response is not what they were expecting. John 9:3

John 9:3 NIV

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

-Of course we know the man and his parents have sinned but Jesus is asking us to look at this form a different perspective. (Stop being like Job’s friends).

-So this begs the question, what if God does not heal a person’s sickness, disease or infirmity? Why are some healed and not another? I think the answer is still the same, God’s works can still be displayed.

-Even in our suffering we must look for ways to glorify God. Case in point pastor David Ring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9ni5rOq6n8

2. Jesus healing the blind man is a continuation of the teaching motif of darkness and light.

-John seems to be enamored with this analogy.

-In order to bring the man from darkness to light, from blindness to sight Jesus does an unexpected thing, He spits on the ground, mixes it into mud and then applies it to the mans eyes. Then he tells to him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

Why did Jesus mix spit and dirt to make mud and then apply it to the man’s eyes?

To break the Sabbath “law” and thus demonstrate his authority over the Sabbath

To demonstrate God uses natural means to accomplish his purpose

Proverbs 21:31 NIV

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.

Ponder this in the bigger picture of life for a moment. What this means is that God does not despise the physical world he has made. He uses the means of food to sustain life. He uses the means of sex to beget children. And he uses a thousand remedies to bring about healing — from sleep to penicillin, from vitamins to radiation, from sunshine on the skin to cough syrup for the throat.

-John Piper Desiring God

-Jesus asking the man to wash in the pool of Siloam is a call back to Naaman washing in the Jordan (2 Kings 5)

-In both cases the healing was not in the washing but as a result of faith.

3. The man born blind can “see” better than the the supposed religious experts.

-First the Pharisees bring him in for questioning.

-A discussion breaks out amongst them, “he broke the sabbath he can’t be from God.” “He healed this blind man how could he be a sinner?”

-The blind man when questioned states he has to be a prophet.

-Their must be a catch, the unbelieving group call his parents in to be questioned.

-The blind man finally gives one of the greatest testimonies of all time.

John 9:24–25 NIV

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

-Then he really embarrasses these religious experts.

-Their response John 9:34

John 9:34 NIV

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

4. Jesus uses this miracle to teach about the danger of spiritual blindness.

-Jesus looks for this man who has been thrown out by the Pharisees.

-Look at this interaction between theses two (vs. 35-38)

-And then the application in vs.39-41

APPLICATION/IMPLICATION

Bad things, unfortunate things can happen to good people.

Ecclesiastes and the word “meaningless”

2. Let’s be careful not to put God in a box. The Pharisees were sure that he only worked through certain people and specific means. (God would never do it that way.)

3. If you believe Jesus is the Son of Man (that Jesus is the incarnate revelation of God) than what are you going to do about it?

The man born blind worshiped.

The Pharisees remain in the darkness, damned by their guilt that remains.