Jesus Gives Sight to the Blind
Notes
Transcript
WELCOME:
Happy New Year! It is the first Lord’s Day of 2026 and we are looking forward
Great Prayer Meeting New Years Eve! We had a great turn out. Thank you so much for coming out to pray
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 121 “A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.”
LET US STAND AND WORSHIP!
“The Goodness of God”
Words and Music by Hillsong’
PRAYER OF PRAISE FOR WHO GOD IS
Lord, thank you for your constancy. For never turning Your back on us, for never getting frustrated with us, for forgiving our sins, for allowing us to be part of Your plan. We ask that You would look down upon this gathering of people and fill our hearts with great joy today as we focus on You. Amen!
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION TO OPEN OUR HEARTS
Lord, give us ears to hear Your voice and eyes to see Your glory. Would you this morning illuminate Your Word and make it known to us? Help us no to make application to others peoples’ lives, but to apply every Word to our own lives. Amen
SERMON
INTRODUCTION:
If your not familiar with the Gospel of John, you must know that there is a deeper spiritual meaning behind the literal miracles that are recorded.
That is true for the story that we will look at today. Jesus heals a man who has been blind from birth. Now this is a literal physical healing that was witnessed, and recorded, but yet has a deeper meaning than just the fact that Jesus can make a blind man see.
The spiritual meaning behind this miracle is that Jesus gives spiritual sight to the spiritually blind. There are things that believers can see or understand that the unbelieving world cannot. And the only way one can acquire this “sight” is through an encounter with Jesus Christ.
All of us begin life as a blind beggar
All of us begin life as a blind beggar
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
Explanation:
We can all imagine this man. We’ve all seen movies from the days of Jesus with beggars who sit helplessly begging for money because he could not take care of himself. Now a blind man today would be helpless, but in those days so much more. They were considered worthless as far as work becuase there is nothing they could do to take care of themselves. They were completley dependent upon the grace of others.
And this man did not just become blind at some point in his life, he had been blind since birth. There was never a time in his life when he could see. He’s never saw his parents face, he never saw the stars at night, he never got the opportunity to get up early and see the sun rise..
The disciples ask Jesus whose sin caused this blindness? Was it his or his parents. Because that was the theology of the first century and the theology often of us today. We see trad]grey and we immediately think, “what did that guy do…or what did that lady do to receive such a suffering as that…”
And Jesus tells them, it had nothing to do with anything that this man did or his parents did! In other words, this ailment is was not about what anyone did wrong, this life long blindness is going to provide an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed to the world
BTW: Let us be careful in making the sin of others, attributing other people’s wickedness becuase of their situation in life. We honestly do not have the ability to discern what God has brought into another person’s life
When we make accusations, if they are wrong we are not only accusing that person of something they may not have done, but we are also accusing God of something He may not have done.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing
Jesus does many miracles in the gospels. And sometimes he does them with a command, sometimes by touching someone, but here it is by spiting in mud, smearing it on this man’s eyes and then having him wash it away.
In the gospel of John, there is a creation theme that runs through the book. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” which immediacy reminds us of Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
In Gen 2, the Creator forms man from the dust of the ground and breaths life into him. In John chapter 9, THE CREATOR takes dust from the ground smears it on the man’s eyes and gives him the ability to see.
That’s what John wants us to see here. This same Jesus who was in the beginning, whom the world was created through, is the Jesus of the New Testament who recreates man to have spiritual life.
This is not just about a blind man receiving sight, it’s about people who walk in darkness that encounter the Light of the world. It’s about a world who is spiritually blind and can receive the ability to see spiritual realities of this life when they are touched by Creator Himself.
Every person no matter how good or bad they are, from the time we are born all begin in the same place: DARKNESS. Not physical darkness of the womb, but spiritual darkness of this world. Ever since the fall of Adam, man’s sin who all have been affected by has darkened his eyes and left him in a depraved state. He is spiritually blind meaning the spiritual realities of this world do not penetrate below the surface. Just like this blind man who lives in a colorful world with so much detail, but to him he sees nothing!
What is it like to live in darkness?
· There is no grasp of spiritual truth. When the Bible is read, preached, discussed there is no real grasp of it. It is heard, but not discerned, never making it below the surface where is penetrates the heart.
· People are not able to see the true meaning of this life and how God designed us to live, and what it means to truly follow Jesus
When a person who is spiritually blind opens the Bible it makes no logical sense to them. I’m not saying they cannot understand some of the teachings of Jesus in literal sense…but they cannot grasp the deeper spiritual meanings and the implications of these things in their own life.
Example: What was it like reading the Bible for you before Jesus? For me it was very dull, boring, and confusing. So dull and boring that I did not want to open it up because it really meant nothing to me. A ancient piece of literature that spoke of things that had nothing to do with my life!
When we are blind from birth we do not see our own sinfulness. It is unrecognizable. We do not see the seriousness of heaven and hell. We do not see the spiritual warfare. We do not see the righteousness of God, nor can we perceive the realities of the final judgement or eternity. Everything is dim, nothing can be made out clearly.
Example: This is why blind people continue to live in willful sin. Even when they know it is wrong, they cannot see the spiritual implications of their sin, nor even that they are sinful at all. What they see is what the world sees, good decent people based upon their works or deeds.
But Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World”
What is Light? In its simplest form, light gives us the ability to see. We have lights in our house, lights on the streets, and God created the sun for us to be able to see on earth. In the book of Revelation there will be no sun or moon because the Light of the world will be all the people need to see.
Notice Jesus did not say he was A LIGHT like the sun, but THE LIGHT meaning a different kind of light that has a different effect than the lights we commonly know. The sun gives us the ability to see physical things while Jesus gives us the ability to see spiritual things.
Think about when you first came to Christ. If the Light of Christ has dawned upon you, then there was a dramatic difference in the way that you saw this world. Not physically speaking, but spiritually speaking. There is are it’d difference in the way you understood sin, righteousness, and eternity…
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
This is where we all begin. A natural man who cannot see or understands the things of God, for they are spiritually discerned and the only way to get this discernment is by becoming spiritual.
And that can only happen when the Creator reaches down into His creation and by act of divine grace touches our eyes and gives us the ability to see.
When blind people begin to see, those around you will be the first to notice.
When blind people begin to see, those around you will be the first to notice.
Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
Explanation:
Here was a man that everyone knew very well. They were his neighbors (verse 8 says). They may have very likely gave him a little money from time to time. They probably talked about the man to their children who would ask why that man has a stick and sits by the side of the road and then explained to their children why they thought he was blind and how it is a good thing to help those like him who are not able to help themselves.
And now here he is before them again, up and walking around without his stick. He sees what’s going on around him for the very first time. Looking up into the air at the clouds and around at all the people. And he is different! Not dressed differently, but different because a miracle has taken place in this life, and they cannot deny it.
So they did what people do! They started talking! IS that the beggar who has sat here ever since I can remember? Some people said, yes that is him! I cant believe it! Others said, No that can’t be him, he was blind! Blind people do not just do not regain their sight! Once blind always blind!
And the man said, “yes, I am the one”. And they said how can this be?? And he told them, exactly what happened..the man called Jesus names Jesus made him well.
Bridge:
And so this truth is true of ever soul who has been born blind and now have light to see.
1) Because they can now perceive truth and begin to understand the things of God they walk differently through this life!
Now I want you to notice the progression of this man’s understanding:
(v 11) “He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”” “the man called Jesus”
Thats all he knew in the beginning! No doctrine! No ecclesiology! No knowledge of what it means to be born again! No understanding of repentance and faith! No Eph 2:8. Nothing except that the man’s name is Jesus
(v 17) “So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”” “So they *said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
Now the blind man knows he is more than a man. He says he is a prophet. That is someone who reveals the revelation of God
(v 30-33)“The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.””
Now he says the masters of this religion do not know where He is from, but this man knows! He is from God!
And only God can open the eyes of the blind!
He has went from knowing nothing, seeing nothing, to teaching the highest teachers in Israel.
No one who was blind and receives sight lives the way. Not physically nor spiritually. And one of the greatest witnesses in our lives is to those who knew us when we were blind now see us live and talk differently because we can see. The change is undeniable.
I try not to reference myself too much, because preaching is about Jesus not Jake. Nevertheless I will share with you an example of this in my own life, no credit to myself, simply what God had done to me.
Before Ashley ever came to Jesus, she was very skeptical of my conversion. She thought I was putting on a show for a long time, years even. But as the wounds began to heal, and we could stand in a room together and not have any hard feelings, she began to notice that something did happen to me, and that I was not the same person I was a few years ago. She said to me later on, that it was that dramatic change that made her realize God had really done something to me, and she wanted it too.
When blind people see, others notice!
2) When this happens, we cannot help but become witnesses!
Just put yourself in that blind man’s shoes. You have not been able to see your entire life, you encounter this Jesus and immediately you see things you’ve never seen before. This whole new world, everything changes…would not tell, others?
Who wouldn’t tell others? We have to come and tell other people about our trips and our experiences both good and bad, how much more do we tell others when our eyes have been opened to see things we’ve never seen before.
Witnessing is not just for the evangelistic…..it’s a characteristic of the converted. Everyone who has had their eyes open cannot help but tell other people of this man called Jesus who for no apparent reason moved into my life, touched my eyes and opened them to see
Luke 12:8 ““And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;”
The need to be fully committed to Jesus
The need to be fully committed to Jesus
Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.
Explanation:
Notice here those three words, “and finding him”. That is Jesus goes out of His way and pursues this man who had just been put out of the synagogue by the Pharisees, and found him to bring him to a full commitment and understanding of who Jesus is.
I want you to notice the chain of events here. The man is a beggar. He’s blind. But he’s not begging for sight, he’s begging for money or food.
Jesus comes to him in the middle of no where, gives him the ability to see…Immediately life is different, others recognize it, but he’s not there yet.
Jesus comes to him again, this time showing him with open eyes who He is and bringing him to the point of acceptance or rejection
This is the point Jesus brings all of us to. It’s not just the opening of the eyes. God allows people see truth often, sometimes truth about themselves, sometimes truth about Christ, but He gives us enough light to see….But what we do with that light will determine what will happen next in our lives.
Notice his question: “do you believe in the Son of Man”.
Jesus is not asking him if he believes if He is real. Obviously this man standing right in front of him who gave him sight is real. He is inviting him to put his trust and life in hands of Jesus Christ.
See that is what is required for one to be saved.
To understand truth does not save one. One may get it intellectually, but trust is a matter of the human heart and the human heart will to do what God’s truth requires of us.
Hebrews 6:4–6 (NASB95)
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Salvation does not come by the opening of our eyes alone, It comes through faith!
And faith is trusting God with our lives. Coming to Him by repentance and faith! No longer living by what we see with our physical eyes, but living according to God’s truth, living for things we cannot see!
Genesis 15:6 (NASB95)
Then he (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
And what Jesus asked that man, is what Jesus is asking us today: “Do you believe in the Son of Man”
Not with your eyes, but with your heart, soul, mind, strength
Does He have all of you?
There are eyes that will see, and eyes that think they see yet remain blind
There are eyes that will see, and eyes that think they see yet remain blind
And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
Explanation:
Now the Pharisees are here watching this whole thing unfold. They have sen the blind beggar, they have seen his new ability to see, and they also know it is Jesus who has healed this man by the man’s own testimony and conversation he just had with Jesus.
Yet despite all of this evidence that Jesus has truly has come from God and does the works of God…..they still refuse to believe and submit their lives to him in the way he tells people to..
And so Jesus says He came into the world to give sight to those who do not see and so that those who see may become blind”
THE BLIND: These are those who walk in spiritual darkness. And they confess that they are lost, and that they are helpless just like that blind beggar, AND THEY KNOW IT.
And they know that they are in need of Jesus and have nothing to offer to Him. And they know they are trapped in their sin and cannot free themselves. These are the ones whom He came to save
THOSE WHO SEE: These are those who THINK they see. The Pharisees, who were looking right into the face of the Son of God, who heard God’s truth, yet rejected it and rejected Jesus… They claim to be able to see, but see not need of Jesus or His truth, or His righteousness.
Jesus then says to them, because they see (or think they see) “their sin remains”
POINT: We are accountable to the light that Jesus gives. If we reject the light, part of our judgement will be to remain in darkness. And even the light Jesus gave will be taken away.
But if we are given truth and accept it, and believe it, and obey it we will be given more light just like this blind man.
Closing thought:
What light has God given you to accept and obey? What truth has God revealed to you?
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN THE SON OF MAN?
Are you the blind he came to save, or the ones who think they see and remain blind?
~PRAYER~
