New Sight For The Blind
Notes
Transcript
A Strange Relationship With New Creation
We’re happy to ask for healing
Especially within logical bounds
New creation is hard to grasp
We’re doubtful it really happened
We struggle to trust its truth
1 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 works of God might be displayed in him.
4 As long as it is day, we must do the works 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 After saying this, he spit 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 neighbors 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 asked.
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.
Are Hardships The Result of Moral Sin?
A common belief of the time
Job demonstrates, “No”
The man at the pool of Bethesda seems to demonstrate, “Yes”
We recognize it’s, “Sometimes”
In this case, Jesus redirects focus
A Display of The Works of God
An opportunity, not orchestrated hardship
“but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” [NIV and others]
Because of this...
New Sight to See The Light of The World
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” ~John 1:4
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ~John 9:5
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 perform such signs?” So they were divided.
Threefold Echoes of New Creation
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground...” ~Genesis 2:7
“...he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.” ~John 9:6 (14, 15)
Beginnings of Faith
“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!” ~John 9:24-25
Thrown Out By Those Who Don’t Believe
He had complete confidence in what he knew to be true
He was unwilling to compromise on the truth
He accepted the loss of community
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Faith Made Complete
He encountered his healer
He believed this healing power was from God
In seeing Jesus, he believed in and worshiped the “Son of Man”
Jesus As Creator
John’s gospel account places Jesus in the creation narrative
Jesus exemplifies this by creating sight where it never existed
New creation opens spiritual eyes to the light of God
Do You Believe In New Creation?
Do you truly believe God has the power to create something new?
Or are you distracted by assumptions about cause?
What truth are you holding onto that keeps your eyes open to God’s work?
