Now I See!

The Big Why

Why was this man blind? - John 9:1-2

John 9:1–2 NIV

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Sometimes, God brings things into our lives to bring us back to Him. Sometimes, it is sin.

Sometimes, our suffering is part of a bigger plan we can’t fully see or understand.

Sometimes, suffering is just part of the fallen world we live in.

Sometimes, God has a plan to bring glory to Him through our suffering. Consider the story of Job

Why did Jesus choose to heal this man? - John 9:3-7

John 9:3–7 NIV

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

God’s purpose was to display the works of God - vs.4

Jesus knew His time was short - vs. 5

His desire was to be the light to this man living in darkness - vs. 6

Jesus’ actions demonstrate a requirement of both faith and action on the part of the man born blind.

The Big Rejection

The man and his neighbors - John 9:8-12

John 9:8–12 NIV

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.

The neighbors struggle with the unimaginable miracle

Is this the same Man?

Jesus is seen as a man

The man and the Pharisees - Part One (The Investigation) - John 9:13-17

John 9:13–17 NIV

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

The Pharisees struggle because they have already rejected Jesus

Is Jesus a sinner?

Jesus is a prophet

The parents and the Pharisees - John 9:18-23

John 9:18–23 NIV

They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

The Pharisees desperately search for an alternative explanation

How did this happen?

Is Jesus the Messiah?

The man and the Pharisees - Part Two - John 9:24-34

John 9:24–34 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 they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

The Pharisees seek to threaten and intimidate the man and resort to insults

How can we oppose this?

Jesus is from God

They threw the man out

Why is Jesus rejected?

Jesus does not fit our expectations

Following Jesus would require personal change

Following Jesus exposes my immorality