Sermon Tone Analysis
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! SIGHT*[1]*
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8 12
*The healing of the man born blind*
John Chapter 9
Jesus has already informed the people that He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD – and following the discussion of chapter 8, John moves on to record the story of the man born blind.
This chapter is very remarkable because of the extended dialogue that runs through it.
It is arguably the fifth sign that John refers to in his Gospel.
The passage naturally breaks up into three narratives:
v *Verses 1 – 12 The blind man is healed and quizzed by his neighbours*
* *
v *Verses 13 – 34 The man who was blind is the subject of an official enquiry*
* *
v *Verses 35 – 41 Jesus finds the man and introduces Himself – the man worships*
In each of these sections I want to focus on the man himself – there is too much material for an exhaustive study – even though the chapter raises many issues that are worthy of such study.
If you look at these sections – and they are broken up for us in that way in the NIV – you will see the *distinct stages in the spiritual pilgrimage of the man who was born blind.*
You should also be aware that the man’s healing was at great cost to him.
In words which are easily passed over in our times (verse 34) you will see how that the man – having been grilled by the Pharisees – is excommunicated by them.
This would have a very profound effect upon his life.
Synagogue membership was the key to all other social benefits.
! PART ONE – THE MAN THEY CALL JESUS
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.
Night is coming, when no-one can work.
5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Having said this, he spat on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent).
So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.
11 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.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
It seems to me almost certain that the blind man would have overheard the conversation of Jesus and His disciples.
Imagine him there the subject of theological discussion.
So the first thing I notice about this man – is that he is aware that some are suggesting his condition was caused by sin.
Jesus explains that this is not the case and that it is an opportunity for “the work of God to be displayed in his life”.
The second thing I notice is that Jesus dealt with him in a way that prevented him from knowing who he was – at first.
*/He went and washed – and came home seeing./*
This causes the first debate about him – his identity and how he comes to be healed.
The key words are : */ “I am the man”/*
And */“The man they call Jesus …”/*
Regarding the whereabouts of Jesus he has no idea.
(v12)
v JESUS INTERVENES IN HIS LIFE
v HE HEARS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT SIN AND BLINDNESS
v HE GOES AND RETURNS SEEING
v HE KNOWS JESUS SIMPLY AS “/The man they call Jesus…”/
Those are some very obvious factors in the life that is being transformed – not only in terms of physical blindness – but spiritual blindness too.
There are here – on the very surface of the narrative – certain truths about finding Christ – about becoming a believer.
*1.
Jesus takes the intitiative*
* *
*2.
There are deeper issues here concerning God’s plan – and human need - God’s plan and human sin.*
* *
*3.
Jesus – when obeyed – is able to totally transform your life.*
* *
*4.
The first stage of RECOGNISING JESUS is often in terms of His humanity:*
*“The man they call Jesus…”*
That is a good place to begin.
<SECOND READING>
!
PART TWO - HE IS A PROPHET 13-34 especially 17
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.
14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.
15 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.”*
16 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 do such miraculous signs?”
So they were divided.
17 Finally 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 man born blind had the misfortune ??? to be healed on the Sabbath – so he becomes the subject of an extended enquiry.
His parents are called – but they are too frightened of the consequences to support their son.
As we listen to the dialogue we are aware that the man is moving on in terms of his understanding of Jesus.
*/“I washed and now I see” v15/*
*/ /*
*/“He is a prophet” v17/*
*/ /*
*1.
The man has become the subject of a religious investigation*
If Jesus enters your life – then you should be aware that there will be those who will question your experience.
Sometimes it is a quite natural curiosity.
They want to know what’s happened.
Can you explain it?
Can you tell them simply and directly what Jesus means to you?
At this stage the man knows (a) he is healed (b) the one who instructed him must be a prophet – a representative of God.
When questioning the parents produces no evidence they question the man again.
*2.
Now he becomes the focus of some very unpleasant suggestions*
* *
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind.
“Give glory to God,” they said.
“We know this man is a sinner.”
25 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!”*
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
27 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?”*
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple!
We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
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