Spiritual Blindess
This morning we need to talk about a blindness that is overtaking a lot of people today Spiritual Blindness but first I want to tell you about something that Jesus did one Sabbath day.
1. Jesus was here to do the work of God while there was time.
John 9:1-5 (KJV 1900)
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
a. The disciples asked a question that has plagued many people for some time who sinned to cause this blindness
b. Their reason for asking was one that they had been taught people still today are caught up in this thought
Numbers 14:18 (KJV 1900)
18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
c. A wonderful thing happened! But the people were blind to it!
John 9:6-8 (KJV 1900)
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
2. Then Jesus did a Miracle!
a. When the townspeople saw the man healed did they jump and shout praises? Some denied he was the same man they were blind they asked where is he
John 9:16-17 (KJV 1900)
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
b. Why did pharisee’s need to ask a man born Blind?
Illustration: during the 1800’s Christian scholars decided that prophecy was impossible and miracles were impossible therefore the book of Daniel for instance was listed as fraudulent not by unbelievers but by Christian theologians they have been proven as foolish and wrong yet they show what spiritual blindness can do even to the wise!
John 9:16-17 (KJV 1900)
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
c. They took him to the Pharisees those even more Blind then they
3. Be careful when dealing with blindness it can be catching!
a. The Pharisees wanted him to believe Jesus was a sinner for healing on the sabbath day
John 9:24-25 (KJV 1900)
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
Illustration : the Altar in Mt sterling
John 9:35-41 (KJV 1900)
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.