Sight Beyond Suffering: Faith over Blind Resistance

Introduction

They say hindsight is 20/20. Undoubtedly, as you grow older and look back on your life, you see things differently than when you were actually going through them. There have been several things that, at the time, I was sure I had figured out. When you are young, you often think you are right and everyone is wrong. I was no different. Now, as I look back, I realize that I was dumb and naive even when it came to the things of God. There have been many things that I have been forced to change as I have grown in my relationship with God and my study of Scripture. Many of those things were right before me. Yet, I missed them simply because I was more willing to listen to someone else or even form my opinion instead of simply reading, believing, and following what is written in Scripture. I wonder how often we truly miss what God is doing before us because we are stuck in our thinking. Today’s scripture shows us the difference between seeing God’s truth and staying spiritually blind.

Remember that here in John 9, we are seeing a life changed. Before us is a man whose encounter with Christ forces us to answer this very question. As you may recall, this man was born blind. For years, he lived in physical darkness, never seeing a sunrise or a sunset, and having never seen his parents' faces. However, his situation changed dramatically one day when Christ stopped by. As we know, Christ placed clay on his eyes and instructed him to wash in the pool of Siloam. He did, and a great miracle occurred: his eyes were opened, and he saw things he had never seen before. Unfortunately, this caused a massive problem for the religious crowd, namely the Pharisees. They denied Christ as God and refused to put their faith in Him. This miracle challenged their teachings and caused their popularity to decline. Now they are in an all-out investigation of the blind man’s life and the miracle. The entire investigation was designed to discredit Christ and bring the people’s trust back to them. Things were not going well, though. The blind man’s simple faith clashed with their claim to know God, even though they couldn’t see His work.

Let’s read our text and then I will share with you the theme and title of today’s message.

John 9:24–34 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. 26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Here is the theme: Today, we will learn that...

True spiritual sight grows from trusting God’s work, even when life feels overwhelming or others challenge our faith.

However, when we cling to our assumptions and refuse to embrace God’s truth, we risk becoming spiritually blind and isolated.

Today’s text challenges us to examine our tendency to resist God’s truth blindly. It urges us to prioritize faith, humility, and to courageously align with God’s Word as the path to genuinely seeing Christ for Who He is and to obey His Word no matter the consequences. Thus, the title of today’s message, as we continue our Journey through John, is “Sight Beyond Suffering: Faith over Blind Resistance.”

I pray we learn to trust God’s truth over our assumptions. We’ll see how to recognize God’s work, avoid blind resistance, and courageously embrace faith.

We must Recognize the Unmistakable Work of God and the Power of Its Witness.

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.

Note how the Pharisees, who claim to know God, immediately jump to their conclusions about Christ. They state, “Give God the praise: WE KNOW that this man is a sinner.” I find this statement very enlightening. It tells us quite a lot about these men. Instead of listening to and learning from this man's testimony, they desired to control the narrative themselves. They dictated the conversation's course by stating their opinion of Christ. They had developed a theological framework of God based on their thoughts instead of God’s Word; consequently, what God was doing before them was determined by this pre-existing theological framework and not by the actual events.

Is this not the same thing today? Many of us, including me, sometimes struggle to align our actions with our faith in God’s Word. Too many people are like these men. They try to fit God into their preconceived ideas and opinions. Then, when confronted with God’s Word or God’s work in someone else's life, they immediately dismiss them simply because they do not fit into their worldview.

Now, contrast their statements with the testimony of the formerly blind man. John 9:25 “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.” His worldview has changed. It experienced a seismic shift from living in total darkness to having sight. His encounter with the God of the Universe, Jesus Christ, significantly altered his opinion. He was not there to debate the significance of sin or Christ being a sinner. Instead,

His testimony was simple - “I was blind, now I see.”

Those of you who are true believers know and understand this man’s statement. Life changes when you believe and accept Christ as He is. Those who have been changed by their encounter with Him stand in conflict with the world. Amid swirling opinions about Christ, the believer stands firm with a straightforward conviction - “I was blind, now I see.” Our encounter with God’s grace transforms us, and this personal experience with Him holds undeniable weight.

As I was studying this, I learned this: God expects that we unequivocally acknowledge the full evidence of His work in our lives. As we do, we can become powerful witnesses to others about His power to rescue us from the bondage of sin. Even when the world continues to doubt and challenge the validity of Christ and His Word, we can still stand firm in our testimony of who He is and what He has done.

I would encourage you, as a believer, to take a few moments and think back to the time when you met Christ. Perhaps it was through the witness of a family member, friend, co-worker, or neighbor. It might have occurred in worship service, just this one, as you listened to the gospel proclaimed by a faithful preacher or pastor. Or, it might have been more intimate as you read the Word of God yourself and came to understand how much He loved you. Whatever means God uses to bring about that personal encounter, I am sure it is still fresh in your memory. Go back to that moment and relive it. Let it burn in your heart as it did then. Value that moment. Please share it with others. Look for those opportunities that God gives you to tell others what He has done in your life. Sharing the gospel doesn’t need to be complicated. You can share the gospel with others by simply telling them about your encounter with Him. The blind man’s testimony stands as a beacon to all believers about the power of a personal witness.

Recognizing and testifying to the tangible way Christ changes our lives is the right thing to do as believers. When we do, it cuts through the awful noise of doubt and opposition from the world.

TRANSITION: Now that we’ve seen the power of recognizing God’s work through the blind man’s testimony, let’s turn to the Pharisee’s response and examine what happens when pride and tradition blind us to God’s truth.

We must Avoid Blind Resistance Rooted in Tradition and Pride.

Look now back to our text.

John 9:26–33 KJV 1900

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Unfortunately, the Pharisees stubbornly refused to accept the truth.

Their rigid adherence to religious tradition and their pride blinded them to the truth about Christ.

First, note how they remained focused on established religious teaching. They were pretty fond of repeating themselves.

John 9:26 KJV 1900

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

Then note again...

John 9:29 KJV 1900

29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

What was their main issue? They were too focused on men and not God. Yes, they claimed to follow God, yet they were always speaking of Abraham and Moses. These two men, though great men of faith, were not God. The entire theological framework of the Pharisees was built on men and not God. They failed to see past Abraham and Moses to the God of Abraham and Moses.

It is no different today. We have entire religions built upon men and not God. Just recently, Pope Francis died. The world as a whole was focused on his death. During that time, I read countless news articles claiming that Pope Francis was a direct descendant of Peter. Yet, no lineage or blood line connects Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina, to Peter in way or form. Many faiths elevate human leaders—popes, pastors, or historical figures—above God’s Word, just as the Pharisees did with Moses.

Elevating tradition over God can even happen in churches like ours. We tend to become so attached to “how things have always been” that we miss out on what God is doing now. We allow the past and tradition to overshadow God's current work.

Again, note the contrast between the Pharisees and the formerly blind man.

John 9:30–33 KJV 1900

30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Oops! This man, who is not religious, is now challenging the Pharisees concerning their tainted assumptions. Remember, they, the religious rulers, were judging Christ as a sinner based on their interpretations. Remember that these Pharisees were not doing what God expected of them. Instead of believing Christ and accepting the wondrous works He was performing, they fell into their own trap of judging others and dismissing God’s work. Yet God offers grace to those who humble themselves, as He did for Paul. Let their downfall be a warning to us all. We, too, can fall into the very same trap. We tend to judge others and even the work of God by our limited understanding. We often allow “that's not how it was done in the past” coupled with our pride and even our fear of what is unfamiliar, to blind us to God’s work in the present. Pride might look like refusing to admit we’re wrong about a belief or dismissing a new ministry because it feels unfamiliar. It is entirely wrong for us to ignore the continued truth of God’s work and the undeniable evidence of His work simply because it doesn’t fit our preconceived notions of how God should operate.

Let me challenge you this morning to examine your own life. Are there areas where you might resist new ideas or ways God works in your life, your family, or even our church? Again, let me caution you against the dangers of spiritual pride and the tendency to elevate what we perceive or think above what God says or does.

For you or me to stubbornly cling to our own framework and refuse to see the validity of God’s truth and work outside of said framework is a form of spiritual blindness—a blindness that hinders our understanding of God and His marvelous acts.

TRANSITION: While the Pharisees’ resistance serves as a warning, the blind man’s bold faith points us to a better way. Let’s explore how we can embrace faith, humility, and courage to align with God’s truth, no matter the cost.

We must Embrace Faith, Humility, and Courageously Align with God’s Truth.

Here is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. When we take a stand for God and decide to simply have faith in God’s truth and work, there will be consequences.

Look back at our text.

John 9:34 KJV 1900

34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

The ultimate consequence of blindly rejecting God’s truth is seen in the Pharisees. They rejected it, and they ostracized the very one who experienced it. In contrast, the formerly blind man stuck by his guns, believing in Christ based on his personal experience. The consequence for him was continued social pressure to conform, constant criticism for not doing so, and, ultimately, exclusion from the synagogue.

How does a person who has blindly resisted God’s truth and work overcome this issue?

I am glad you asked.

First, you must let go of your established religious framework and have faith in God, His Word, and His work. God is not asking you to figure Him out. He is not asking you to reason it all out. He says Believe and you will be changed.

He seeks those who will take Him at His word, obey His instructions, and accept Him into their life.

It is the same thing that this blind man did, and his life was changed. Christ placed mud on his eyes and instructed him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Christ is saying the same today. He is saying to whoever is here today and is resisting Him to wash in the pool of salvation.

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It is that simple.

Second, there must be a sense of humility involved.

To be right with God, you must recognize that your understanding of His truth and work is limited.

Our understanding is tainted by sin.

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Matthew 15:18–19 KJV 1900

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

You must come to a place where you humbly admit that you are fundamentally flawed. Admit your sin. Admit your flawed thinking taints your opinion of God’s truth and work.

Third, be courageous. Instead of catering to the opinions of this world, do what is unpopular and allow Christ to have His way in your life. Yes, there are consequences. Society will continue to pressure people to conform to its ways. You will experience criticism from even those you love. You may be ostracized by many. However, accepting Christ far outweighs the consequences of blindly resisting Him. Eternity is a long time to live without Christ, peace, joy, and happiness. God loves you so much that He died to spare you from an eternity separated from Him in Hell, a place of torment.

I encourage you this morning to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ, the source of true spiritual sight. It begins with faith, humility, and a courageous step towards Him. As believers, God is calling us to live out our faith in the same manner. We must live daily by faith as we follow Him and obey His Word. We must also live with humility. Humility might mean listening to a younger believer’s perspective or admitting we’ve misjudged someone’s faith. Each day is a day of courage, knowing that there are consequences as we stand for Him. Our obedience to Christ cuts across the grain of today’s society. There will be opposition. However, remember the promise of Scripture.

John 16:33 KJV 1900

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Living the Christian life is all about placing our faith in Jesus, remaining humble and teachable, and courageously living out God’s truth in our daily lives, even when our faith is challenged.

TRANSITION: Having explored how faith, humility, and courage enable us to align with God’s truth, let’s reflect on what this means for us today and how we can live out this calling in our daily walk with Christ.

Conclusion

As we draw this message close, let’s hold fast to the truth we’ve uncovered from John 9. The blind man’s story teaches us that true spiritual sight comes from trusting in God’s work, even when life’s challenges or the world’s opposition press against us. We’ve seen the danger of clinging to our ideas, like the Pharisees did, and the freedom that comes when we humbly embrace God’s truth with courage. My journey has shown me this: when I trust God’s word and work over my assumptions, I find clarity and purpose that no tradition or pride can offer.

I challenge you today to take a step of faith. Reflect on that moment when Christ opened your eyes—whether it was a quiet revelation in prayer or a powerful encounter through His Word. Let that memory fuel your witness. Share your story with someone this week—a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger. Do it over coffee, during a conversation at work, or in the community. Don’t let fear of rejection or the pressure to conform hold you back. And if you’ve never experienced this transformation, know that Jesus is calling you now to trust Him, confess His name, and find salvation, just as Romans 10:13 promises: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Be encouraged. The world may challenge our faith, but Jesus has overcome the world, as He assures us in John 16:33. When we live by faith, walk in humility, and stand boldly for Him, we carry His light into the darkness. God is with you, His grace sustains you, and His love will guide you every step of the way. Let’s go forth this week, seeing clearly and testifying boldly to the unmistakable work of our Savior.