Once I was Blind but Now I See (John 9)

So good to see all of you. When you go ahead and pray before we dive into God's word father, thank you for the opportunity to hear from you and your word. I pray that you would speak through me and Reveal Your Truth to our hearts. And father I pray that you would open our eyes to see your glory in the face of your son Jesus. And change us into his likeness from one degree of Glory to another. We need your spirit to do this. Father, we need you because none of us can change ourselves. None of us can stand in your presence without the blood of your son cleansing us from all unrighteousness. We ask all this in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Anyone ever had to live without one or more of your senses?

Either for your whole life or even just for a short while.

I think a lot of us went without our sense of taste during the covid pandemic.

And some, I know. I've been without hearing or sight for a while. but losing a sense that you once had, Is very different than ever having that sense at all from purse. When you lose the sense that you had before, there's a longing for it to return. Because, you know, how beneficial that since has been for your well-being.

Losing your sense of taste food. Doesn't satisfy like it. Once did losing your hearing communication becomes way more difficult. Losing your sight, Beauty. And familiarity with the world is lost or strained. but if you never had that sense to begin with, and you can't even imagine what life with that sense would be like

Sin. Sin entered the world. Every one of us has been missing one of our senses. We've been missing our spiritual sight. From birth. We can't even imagine what it's like to have that sense until it's restored. Until it's given to us. And in Jesus Christ, we have been given spiritual sight to see and embrace him for who he really is the light of the world. The story we have here in John. Chapter 9 is what I would call a living parable. The Parables were made up stories about real about the real world that revealed spiritual truth to those who God had given the ability to understand. Jesus explains the purpose of his parables. In Mark chapter 4 and Luke chapter 8, as a fulfillment of Isaiah 6, 9 through 10. The purpose was to reveal spiritual truth to those who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear. But you have where everyone who remained willfully, blind, and deaf to Jesus, Seeing they would not perceive and hearing, they would not understand. but in our passage in John chapter 9, instead of telling a story, Jesus uses a real encounter in his present experience. And this real encounter like The Parables reveal spiritual truth to those who Jesus has given eyes to see and it conceals spiritual truth from those who have willfully blinded themselves in rejecting Jesus.

This is a living Parable explaining the spiritual truth of what Jesus has just asserted in the previous chapter. But he is the light of the world. We're going to walk through this living Parable and highlight the spiritual truth, Jesus reveals in it. John starts out conveying this living Parable with an amazing miracle in verses 1 through 12.

As you passed by. He saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, Rabbi who send this man or his parents that he was born blind. Jesus answered. It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work. The works of him who sent me while it is day night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with his, the saliva, then he Anointed The Man's eyes with the mud and said to him. Go wash in the pool of Siloam, which means sent. So he went and washed and came back, seeing the neighbors, and those who had seen him before. As a beggar we're saying is this? Not the man who used to sit and beg some said it is he others said no but he is like him. Saying I am the man, so they said to him, then how were your eyes opened? The answered, the Man Called, Jesus made mud, and anointed my eyes and said to me, go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight. They said to him, where is he? He said, I do not know.

The disciples have a wrong assumption about this man who was blind from birth. in verse 2, they asked Jesus, who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind As if there are only two options. Last week, Pastor been missing preached from Luke Chapter 13, where is similar? Assumption was made. The assumption that calamities difficulties sickness death, all of it is always the direct result of a particular sin. well yes, all of that came about because since that sin entered the world back in Genesis chapter 3, But it's a false assumption that these things are always a direct result of a particular sin committed by the ones experiencing the hardship. In the Old Testament. God told the nation of Israel that if they obeyed, they would be blessed. But if they disobeyed, if they send, then they would be cursed. so, the natural assumption is the reverse We might assume that if there is a perceived blessing, it's always a direct result of obeying God. And if there's a perceived curse it's always the direct result of disobeying God, but that's actually a logical fallacy. 2 disciples assume that either this guy send or his parents sinned because being born, blind is a hardship. That is that in their minds, could only be the result of a curse from God for some specific sin. A Jesus corrects their assumption. In this particular instance, the real reason this man was born blind was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jesus is about to perform an amazing miracle. I work of God proving that he is the Christ, but also giving a vivid picture of an important spiritual truth. Jesus came to the Earth to do the works of God. Ultimately and going to the cross and dying for the sins of the world but we cannot forget that his entire Ministry leading up to his death and Resurrection was also filled with the works of God. Fulfilling Prophecy from the Old Testament about the Christ. The work of God, raising up his disciples to carry on his work as he established his church through. Them is a work of God. Revealing the truth of the New Covenant, he would bring in through his death and Resurrection is a work of God. All of these are works of God, that Jesus is on Earth to do while it is day. And you tell the disciples and Us by extension, that we are to work with him. While it is day, the night is coming when we will rest in Eternal. But until that time, There's work to do.

As long as Jesus is in the world, he will be doing the works. The father who sent him to be the light of the world. Remember, this is all answering this question of why? This man was born blind.

Jesus is going to demonstrate through this man. What it means that he is the light of the world.

Do in detail. John tells us how Jesus gives this man sights after living his entire life without that since Jesus, spits on the ground, mixes his saliva and dirt into mud on his fingers smears. The spit mud onto the Man's eyes and tells him to go wash it off.

I don't, I don't mean to make light of this amazing Miracle, but it kind of seems a little rude to me. I mean, the guy can't see, he hasn't been able to been able to see his whole life in Jesus just walked up seemingly without any explanation and wipes and spit mud on his face. I'm here maybe he was used to be being treated, rudely like this or maybe Jesus did explain what he was doing and John just didn't record it. Not sure. But regardless, Jesus sent the man to the pool of Siloam to wash now, the name Siloam means sent in Aramaic and I think John includes that information for us because it's important to remember that Jesus was sent to do the works of the father and in doing. So he also sends us to participate in these works as well. When Jesus gives us spiritual sight, he does so sending us to obey his commands. well, the man obeys washes, his face in the pool and comes back seeing I don't miss the gravity of this miracle. Remember this man is never seen anything before in his whole life?

This is a brand new experience. He's never known the bright beauty of sunshine. The flickering flames of a bonfire, the twinkling, star host.

He's never seen color. He doesn't even know yet which is red, or blue or green.

He's never known what his own parents look like.

He's never known what he looks like.

Until he washes in that pool and sees his reflection in the water for the first time.

He looks into the water and sees the Myriad of colors reflected on its surface. He looks around and sees the bustling crowds of the City full of life. He runs back to where he used to sit and beg knowing the way by and feel more than by sight so that he can see who it was, who gave him the amazing Miracle of sight.

But before he can find the man who did this for him, he's accosted by his neighbors. The people who knew him as a blind, beggar recognized him, but something didn't believe that he was the same guy. Receiving is tight, transformed. This man so much that the people who saw him day after day, we're not even sure if this was the same guy.

But he kept on insisting that he is the very same beggar that they had known. Now, asking two questions. the first question was, how

How is this possible? How did you receive sight? When you've been blind your whole life?

Three tells me exactly what happened from his perspective. The Man Called Jesus put mud on his eyes, hadn't washed in the pool of Siloam and he obeyed and received his sight simple as that. the second question was where, where is This Man Called Jesus? Are we don't get to know why they wanted to know where Jesus was. Maybe they wanted to see more amazing miracles. Or maybe they wanted to turn Jesus into the religious leaders who were seeking to kill him. We don't really know. But it was probably the latter because they bring the man to the Pharisees where they were likely going to bring Jesus as well if they could get their hands on him. So this is a truly amazing Miracle, but the Pharisees will go on to drag this man and his parents through an awful trial in verses 13 through 34.

They brought to the Pharisees, the man who had formerly been blind. Now, it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So, the Pharisees again, asked him how he had received his sight and he said to them, he put mud on my eyes and I washed and I see some of the Pharisees said, this man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath but others said, how can a man who is a sinner do such signs and there was a division among them. So they sat again to the blind man. What do you say about him since he has opened your eyes? He said he is a prophet. The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and ask them. Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he now see his parents answered, we know that this is our son and that he was born blind but how he now sees we do not know nor do we know who opened his eyes ask him he's of age, he will speak for himself. His pain. I said these things because they feared the Jews for the Jews. That already agreed that. If anyone should confess Jesus to be the Christ, he was to put out of the synagogue there. For his parents said, he is of age, ask him. So for the second time, they called the man who have been been blind and said to him, give glory to God, we know that this man is a sinner, he answered whether he's a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know that though, I was blind now. I see they said to him, what did he do to you? How did the open your eyes? He answered them, I've told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples and they reviled him saying you are his disciple, but we are Disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we do not know where he comes from the man answered. Why? This is an amazing thing. You do not know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to Sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will God listens to him never since the world has began, has it been heard that anyone open? Eyes of a man. Born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered him. You were born in other sin and would you teach us and they cast him out?

The Pharisees question, the man, because this miracle happened on the Sabbath.

They want all the details so they can add this to Jesus's rap sheet. Jesus is proving to Be A Serial Sabbath breaker. And I intend to see that he's properly punished for his crimes. So they asked the Man how he received his sight, just like his neighbors did and he tells the Pharisees, the same thing, he told his neighbors mud, rinse site,

Well, the Pharisees are a bit divided. On what to make of Jesus and this miracle on the one hand performing a miracle like this on the Sabbath is a clear violation of Sabbath rules and no one who's really from God, would break the Sabbath like this. On the other hand, the miracle itself could only be done by the power of God, so he has to be from God. The bit of a pickle. But it's one of their own making. God's word, never even hints that performing miracles on the Sabbath as a violation.

That was a man-made addition and not biblical. Well to untangle, the mess, they found themselves in. They asked the man's opinion about the guy who gave him site and he clearly sides with the truth. He says he's a prophet. Jesus is a prophet. Not just any profit. He is the prophet. The one Moses wrote about the Christ, the son of God.

All the Pharisees refuse to believe that. So they doubt that the man was even blind in the first place and they dragged his parents in to verify that he was indeed, born blind.

They recognize their son. And here in this courtroom. Before the cold scrutiny of the Pharisees. For the first time ever. The man looks on his parents.

Lovingly raised him in such difficult circumstances. But the glory of this beautiful moment is Tainted with the harsh questions of the Pharisees. Is this your son? Was he? In fact, born blind? How can you not see if he was born blind?

I imagine the Weeping for joy that there boy can finally see No longing to embrace him and take him to see all the wonderful things, he missed out on as a blind child.

But they're forced to answer these cold questions as if their son is a criminal.

The joy is overshadowed by Terror. A terrified that they'll be thrown out of the synagogue, because of Jesus. They knew what was at stake? If their testimony about their son corroborated, the claim that Jesus is the Christ than they would be accused of confessing. Jesus is the Christ and everyone who confesses Jesus, as the Christ was thrown out of the synagogue passed out ostracized shunned.

So the answer as brief and cryptically as possible. Yes. That's our son and he was definitely born blind but we don't know how we can now see. And we definitely don't know who opened his eyes. He's of age, ask him.

Tell the Pharisees, bring the man back onto the witness stand for a second round of questions. but this time, the man sees what's happening. I'd end up showing the Pharisees their own blindness.

I imagine that this part of the proceedings was more shouted than spoken. The Pharisees, tell the man to give glory to God.

This phrase seems straightforward enough for the carries, the connotation of admitting guilt before the Lord. it's like saying, We know that Jesus is a sinner who can't open anyone's eyes. Just admit that you've been lying, that's basically what they're saying.

When they accuse Jesus of being a sinner. The man, he replies that he's not in the place to judge, whether Jesus is a sinner or not. Then he gives the simplest. Most beautiful confession of how Jesus has changed his life forever.

one thing I do know, I thought I was blind now. I see.

All of us who had our lives changed by Jesus. Can say the same thing.

I'm not sure about all the differences between Calvinism and arminianism are how many dispensations are covenants. There are or even what exactly when exactly, the Rapture is going to happen. But one thing I know, And it's the one thing that truly matters.

Once I was blind but because of Jesus, the Christ, the son of God and what he's done for me on the cross. Now, I see.

All this was not the confession they were looking for. So they pressed him further for more details about how Jesus had opened his eyes and the man has really had enough of this Witch Hunt. So, the answer is that, I'm in a very snarky way. I already told you, you wouldn't listen, remember mud rinse site, it's not complicated. Why do you want to hear it again? Oh, I know. You must want to become one of Jesus's disciples.

Well that response definitely got the Pharisees more riled up than they had been. Now they revile the man and reveal their own blindness, they accused the man of being one of Jesus's disciples and they assert that they are Disciples of Moses.

Then they argue that they know that God has spoken through Moses but they don't know where this Jesus guy comes from. Moses, Moses is a famous prophet of God, but Jesus to them is a nobody from nowhere.

Well, the man immediately picks up on their blindness and calls them out on it and not gently. The Pharisees, don't know where Jesus comes from, but Jesus opened. This man's eyes. Scripture is clear that God doesn't listen to The Wicked, but he does listen to those who do his will. So I'm 66:18 says, if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 34 15 says the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and he and his ears toward their cry. Clearly, if anyone were to Open the Eyes of a man born blind, that power would have to come from God. Since it's never happened before, in all of history. So, can I put dots? Carry the one. Yep. Jesus has to be from God. That's where he's from.

Otherwise he couldn't have done anything to open. This man's eyes. The Pharisees don't take snark very well even if the guy's point is solid and found in scripture. So in their pride their rage against this man and accuse him of being born and send. Is it the same assumption that the disciples had the beginning of the chapter? But here the Pharisees use it as sort of a crutch for their own hurt Pride. They can't abide being taught scripture from a beggar who is assumed to have been born blind because of some heinous sin. So, they cast him out. This is the very thing that his parents were afraid of. He's now shunned by the religious community.

Don't amazing. Miracle is taking place, but the Pharisees are so blind that they drag this man and his family through an awful trial. And now Jesus is going to render inappropriate judgment. Inverse of 35 + 41.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out and having found him. He said, do you believe in the son of man? He entered and who is he? Sorry that I may believe in him. Jesus said to him, you have seen him and it is he who is speaking to you. He said, Lord I believe and he worshipped him. Jesus said for judgment, I came into this world but those who do not see Macy. And those who see may become blind. Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, are we also blind Jesus said to them if you were blind you would have no guilt. But now that you say we see your guilt remains

In Jesus's judgment. He reveals himself to the man and he conceals himself from the Pharisees. First, Jesus reveals himself to the man. Jesus wasn't at the awful trial but he heard that the man was cast out of the synagogue for standing up for him before the Pharisees. so, he finds the man and unlike the cold Litany of questions from the Pharisees, he asked him one, simple compassionate question, Do you believe in the son of man?

That's the most important question. .

And that's the question. I'm posing to you as well. Do you believe in the son of man? Do you believe in the Christ? God's anointed one. The answer you give for me, either life or death. Liberty, or bondage, light or Darkness? Like we saw in the last chapter.

The man answered Jesus with a legitimate question of his own. Who is he sir? That I may believe in him. What is simple honest question?

You cannot believe in him unless you know who he is.

I was all of my events listed conversations went like this.

But don't miss the beauty of this moment, this man. Nose. The Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, because he knows that it was Jesus who opened his eyes, what he doesn't know. Is what Jesus looks like.

He's never laid eyes on Jesus before. He got whisked away to the trial before he could find Jesus after. He was given sight.

and Jesus says, you have seen him.

You have seen him.

the one person you've longed to look upon for the entire time you've been able to see, You've seen him.

And you heard him because it is he, who speaking to you right now?

Can you imagine the recognition? In the Man's eyes when he realizes the man. He speaking to is the one who opened his eyes. The Christ, the son of God, and he responds the same way as all who had their spiritual eyes opened, he says, Lauren I believe. And you worship Him.

Well, after revealing himself to the man, Jesus conceal himself from the Pharisees hear Jesus. Very succinctly explains what has occurred in this living parable. He came into the world for judgment that those who do not see Macy. And those who see may become blind, notice he did not say that he came to judge. he came for judgement, Get already confronted, these religious leaders with their empty Reliance upon their wrong. Interpretation of the scriptures back in John, 5, verse 45. Jesus said, do not think that I will accuse you to the father. There is one who accuses you Moses on whom you have set your hope. His Moses wrote about Jesus. Jesus isn't judging them, they have judged and condemned themselves because they refused to believe what is right in front of their faces.

The light of the world has shown on both the Blind and the seeing and he is reversed them.

Those who are blind know their need and the light of the world gives them lights to see the truth of his love. Those who see our self-reliance and ironically do not see their need. And the light of the world, blinds them with his offensive brilliance.

What some of the Pharisees heard Jesus, make the statement about the blind in the seeing and they ask Jesus. If they are also blind, They rightly understood that in Jesus's statement, everyone is either formerly blind or forever blind. Blindness was not a good thing.

They asked this tongue in cheek. But Jesus answered them by explaining his statement. If you were blind, then you would have no guilt. You would have no sin because you would rely on Jesus for your righteousness. But since you say, we see your guilt, your sin remains. your self-righteousness prevents you from seeing your need and it prevents you from seeing I prefer prevents you from believing in Jesus. And refusing to believe in Jesus for the Forgiveness of your sins, leaves. You in your sin, your guilt remains

Everyone who sees the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ either Revels in the truth of God's love for us in Christ or reveals it in blindness.

Do not rely on your own righteousness while revealing Jesus, instead run to Jesus and faith. Relying on his righteousness and revelling in the glory of his great love for you.

Jesus is the light of the world. And he came into the world, to pay the penalty for your sin. He took your sin on the cross and gave you his righteousness so that you can be reconciled to God and he rose from the dead three days later. So that now you can live with him forever.

And doing this, he also gave you spiritual sight to see and embrace his great love for you. Can you see it?

Can you see him?

Can you see his amazing love for you?

He loves you so much that he gave up his life so that you could live

God loves you so much that he gave his best. He gave his son so that he can spend eternity with you as part of his family.

Let that love, fill you up. To overflowing and share it with everyone. Once I was blind. But now I see because Jesus the light of the world has opened my eyes.

Father, thank you for opening our eyes, through the power of your spirit and light of your son Jesus. Pray that everyone in this room would understand our need for forgiveness. I pray that anyone who still relying on their own righteousness, would realize their need and run to Jesus rely on his righteousness.

We cannot stand before you in our own Merit. We need your perfect son to cleanse us and to be our righteousness. So that we can even approach you.

And you've given us exactly what we need. Because you want to be with us forever.

Thank you for showing us how much you loved us.

Thank you for giving us your best when we were at our worst. Thank you for opening our eyes to see the beauty of your son, the beauty of your glory, the beauty of your love forever.

We thank you and praise you in Jesus name, amen.