Man Born Blind

John 9:1–7 ESV

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 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 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.

Main Point: I hope to contend that Jesus reminds us that there is in fact a cosmic explanation behind all things...ands its not what we think.

Introduction

I went to a birthday party once…

Now as we have become a more secular people we get further and further away from cosmic explanations...and yet we continue to want to deal with the cosmic explantation.

If you could ask God a questions what would it be?

Main Point: I hope to contend that Jesus reminds us that there is in fact a cosmic explanation behind all things...ands its not what we think.

So take the subject of today’s story…

[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

All we really know about this guy is this one thing...but it is a window into the rest of his life.

What outsiders thought of him

What outsiders thought of him

What it meant for his family

What it meant for his family

And what his future was like

And what his future was like

The most important thing about this man in the story is that he is born blind…what would be the most important part of your story?

Would you change that if you could?

And I think it is okay to call what we are reading about as suffering. And like many people we are looking for an explanation...and we are looking to be God.

We want to control the universe.

Main Point: I hope to contend that Jesus reminds us that there is in fact a cosmic explanation behind all things...ands its not what we think.

Jesus’ answer might leave us with more questions...

[3] Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

The reason os so that God can display his glory...and yet the reasoning from sin is never shut down…

The reason os so that God can display his glory...and yet the reasoning from sin is never shut down…

Which is more true, Isabel gets her blond curls from Heather? Or from God...which is more fundamental.

Is sickness the product of sin or is it there to display the Glory of God...which is more fundamental.

Is there any genetic trait you share with he rest of your family? Hair color? Hitchhikers thumb? Do you see God as a co cause n that?

Main Point: I hope to contend that Jesus reminds us that there is in fact a cosmic explanation behind all things...ands its not what we think.

There is a deeper meaning to this account from the life of Jesus, it is that of giving spiritual sight and spiritual blindness.

[4] We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus is the light of the world. It is only through him that we can make any sense of the senseless world we live in.

Later on in this account the religious leaders see that Jesus has healed… and that he healed on the day of rest and the reject him for it.

:[35] Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” [37] Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” [38] He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (ESV)

The Pharisees who think they see are in fact blind and the blind see the true God.

What is something you used to be sure about but found out you where wrong? How did it feel when you figured it out?

When you learned about Jesus was it an Aha moment…would you mind sharing?

The truth is we are all sick and it is because of sin…

Jesus does not shut down the thinking because it was true then and is true now…

Human disease is not even the worst of it. Spiritual death is coming for all who do not look up and see Jesus as saviour.

Who will you worship? What will be the story of your sickness? Will it end is sightedness or blindness?