What Do You See?

Opening Story/Question/Illustration: It was a warm summer evening in Israel as Sarah, 38 weeks pregnant waddles in to the room where her husband is sitting and says the words every husband with a pregnant wife longs to hear and dreads to hear at the same time - “I think it’s time.” The Baby is on its way. Preparations are made quickly and the midwife who will help her deliver the baby is fetched. After hours of unbearable pain - There are no pain killers or epidurals - she finally gives birth to a healthy baby boy. They name him Benjamin, in honor of her grandfather. The new parents are happy, excited, and scared, all at the same time. As time goes on there seems to be a problem. Little Benjamin seems to cry a lot and nothing seems to help him. He also seems to never quite look them right in the face. Thinking that something is wrong they take him to the village doctor who confirms their worst fear - Little Benjamin is blind. With this diagnose things will be quite different. He won’t be able to take up his father’s trade. He will instead probably have to sit with the beggars in order to at least bring home some money. There is no braille, no handicap accessible buildings, no modern medicine or hospitals. For this baby, who is now diagnosed as blind, the world will be a cold, cruel, and difficult place. For these parents, who were looking forward to raising this child, their lives have now become exponentially more difficult. The question, I think they were asking - “Why?” God we’ve been faithful to you and your promises, “Why did this happen?”

Transition to the Text: It’s interesting that this isn’t just a question that this young boy probably asked throughout his life and it isn’t just a question that his parents probably asked - It is a question that the Disciples of Jesus asked. As we come to our text this morning we get to ease drop on their conversation. They see this blind man and they ask Jesus the same question - Why?

Text:

John 9:1–34 NLT

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! 8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” 10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” 11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” 12 “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied. 13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them. 17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” 18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?” 20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.” 24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” 25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” 26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” 30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” 34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

John 9:1–23 NLT

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! 8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” 10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” 11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” 12 “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied. 13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them. 17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” 18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?” 20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

Transition to Points: It’s interesting that the disciples would ask this question and even more interesting how they saw this man. This story is full of people who see this man in several different ways. I want to look at this text this morning and look at how this man is seen by different people in our story and I want us to examine our own hearts this morning and ask ourselves the question - What do I see? How do I view the people around me?

The blind Man is seen in many different ways

The Disciples see a Sinner ()

John 9:1–2 NLT

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

The disciples see this man and their first response is to ask “who did it?”

The first thing they asked when they see him is, “Who sinned?”

They believe that this man’s condition is a direct result of someone’s sin.

This isn’t something new they came up with on their own. This was one of the prevailing views of the day - that calamity in ones life meant there had been sin somewhere.

They would have typically blamed it on him, but this man has been blind from birth, so that brings up a problem - Could he have sinned in his mother’s womb? They don’t know, so it could have been his parents sin.

Some rabbis actually used the text in Genesis where Esau and Jacob struggled in the womb, to say that Easu sinned in the womb.

They would have typically blamed it on him, but this man has been blind from birth, so that brings up a problem - Could he have sinned in his mother’s womb? They don’t know, so it could have been his parents sin.

Sometimes they would encourage parents to make sure and confess their sins so that their kids children weren’t punished.

The disciples see this man an make an instant judgement on him - there’s a reason you are in your condition and it’s probably because someone did something wrong. You deserve to be where you are, its probably your fault.

They had this worldview that said you get what’s coming to you.

The Neighbors see a Beggar ()

John 9:8–9 NLT

8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!”

This man probably sat at the same spot day in an day out to beg.

This man probably sat at the same spot day in an day out to beg. He’d probably been coming here for years. He goes home and notice the response of the neighbors and those who had seen him before -They were arguing over whether or not it was really the same man. This tells me that even though they had passed by him every single day, he was a nobody to them. He’s just a poor beggar that no one pays attention to. Some of them may have passed him for years - and they don’t even know what he looks like.

He’d probably been coming here for years.

After Jesus heals him notice the response of the neighbors and those who had seen him before -

They were arguing over whether or not it was really the same man.

This tells me that even though they had passed by him every single day, he was a nobody to them. He’s just a poor beggar that no one pays attention to.

Some of them may have passed him for years - and they don’t even know what he looks like.

This man and his problem or need became so common to them that they no longer even saw him.

They knew that there was a guy who sat there and begged, but had anyone really taken time to look him in the face? To really care for him? Or had he simply become invisible to them?

Was he now just like background music? It’s been playing for so long that no one even notices the music any longer?

The Pharisees see a problem for their agenda ()

John 9:18 NLT

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents.

The Pharisees really don’t like Jesus - because he claims to be God

The Pharisees really don’t like Jesus - because he claims to be GodThe Pharisees are jealous of Jesus and his popularityIn their eyes Jesus is hurting them and their way of life. In their eyes he is hurting them politically. It’s all about control - The pharisees don’t have any control over Jesus. He’s a loose canon to them - and that’s bad for their cause and their agenda. They try to discredit the man and the miracle- They don’t believe he as born blindThe last thing they need is another healing to testify to Jesus’ powerThey can’t have people running around thinking Jesus is the Messiah - so they try and find ways to discredit Jesus (He healed on the Sabbath). They can’t use this blind man to further their agenda - so he poses a problem for them.

This passage, set in it’s larger context - is really in the middle of Jesus’ fight with the pharisees and religious leaders.

Jesus isn’t hated because is Mr. Lovy dubby. He’s not hated because he’s a good teacher. He is hated because he claims to be God.

This act is one more act that shows that he is who he says he is. Who else can open the eyes of the blind but God? A Man who’s been blind from birth.

The Pharisees are jealous of Jesus and his popularity

In their eyes Jesus is hurting them and their way of life.

In their eyes he is hurting them politically.

It’s all about control - The pharisees don’t have any control over Jesus.

He’s a loose canon to them - and that’s bad for their cause and their agenda.

They try to discredit the man and the miracle- They don’t believe he was born blind

The last thing they need is another healing to testify to Jesus’ power

They can’t have people running around thinking Jesus is the Messiah - so they try and find ways to discredit Jesus (He healed on the Sabbath).

They can’t use this blind man to further their agenda - so he poses a problem for them.

The Parents see a problem for their reputation ()

John 9:18–23 NLT

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?” 20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

It’s a sad day when you can’t even get some support from your own mother.

The Pharisees bring in the man’s parents to find out his history The parents are afraid of the phariseesThey push all responsibility back on their sonThey don’t want to be kicked out of the synagogueThe parent’s want nothing to do with this ordeal because it would be bad for their reputation and bad for them legally. They lie about what they know They are asked how he sees? and they say, “We don’t know.”They also say, “We don’t know who did it.” Both were lies - they were clearly simply afraid of the Pharisees If they were to tell the truth, they would be acknowledging Jesus and His power. They didn’t want to do this in front of the pharisees because they didn’t want to face the consequences of being kicked out of the synagogue. To be kicked out of the synagogue would mean that they would be virtually cut off from religious and social life in Israel. - They would be a community outcast.

The Pharisees bring in the man’s parents to find out his history

The parents are afraid of the pharisees

They push all responsibility back on their son

They don’t want to be kicked out of the synagogue

The parent’s want nothing to do with this ordeal because it would be bad for their reputation and bad for them legally.

They lie about what they know

They are asked how he sees? and they say, “We don’t know.”

They also say, “We don’t know who did it.”

Both were lies - they were clearly simply afraid of the Pharisees

If they were to tell the truth, they would be acknowledging Jesus and His power.

They didn’t want to do this in front of the pharisees because they didn’t want to face the consequences of being kicked out of the synagogue.

To be kicked out of the synagogue would mean that they would be virtually cut off from religious and social life in Israel. - They would be a community outcast.

They throw their own son under the bus to keep their reputation and community standing intact.

Jesus sees and opportunity

Jesus looks at this blind man and sees an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed.

Jesus looks at this blind man and sees an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. Jesus doesn’t see a sinner, He doesn’t see a beggar, He doesn’t see a problem to his agenda or reputation Jesus sees a person who has a need and he sees a powerful God who can meet that need.

Jesus doesn’t see a sinner,

He doesn’t see a beggar,

He doesn’t see a problem to his agenda or reputation

Jesus sees a person who has a need and he sees a powerful God who can meet that need.

For the disciples, Jesus shifts their thinking from one of blame to a discussion on the grace of God in the face of human need.

Everyone else overlooks him, wants it use him, or wants to figure him out - and Jesus just wants Gods power to work in this mans life. 9:

Everyone else overlooks him, wants it use him, or wants to figure him out - and Jesus just wants Gods power to work in this mans life.

What do You See? What do you see when you look at the people around you? What do you see when you look at your coworker, your classmate, your relative?

Do you see a Sinner?

When you look at people, do you simply try and connect the dots from their conditions to it’s cause?

When you look at people, do you simply try and connect the dots from their conditions to it’s cause? Illustration - When you pass someone who seems to be down and out, do automatically think “I wonder what they did wrong that caused them to end up where they are.”When you have a co-worker who’s going through a divorce, is your first response to judgmentally figure out what caused it or to see an opportunity to show the love of God?When you pass a homeless man, is your first response to think, “I bet he’s a drunk or a drug user. That’s probably why he ended up here.” Or do you see a person who God loves and wants to change?When a family member is going through a tough time, do you automatically look for somewhere to place the blame? This one is easy to do - because we know our family’s tendencies and history. - So it’s easy to jump to conclusions that may even be correct - But remember - A blind man didn’t need to be figured out, he needed be healed. We waste so much time trying to figure out why people are the way they are and finding ways to blame them for their situation - instead of offering healing and Grace!

Illustration - When you pass someone who seems to be down and out, do automatically think “I wonder what they did wrong that caused them to end up where they are.”

When you have a co-worker who’s going through a divorce, is your first response to judgmentally figure out what caused it or to see an opportunity to show the love of God?

When you pass a homeless man, is your first response to think, “I bet he’s a drunk or a drug user. That’s probably why he ended up here.” Or do you see a person who God loves and wants to change?

Or do you see a person who God loves and wants to change?

When a family member is going through a tough time, do you automatically look for somewhere to place the blame?

This one is easy to do - because we know our family’s tendencies and history. - So it’s easy to jump to conclusions that may even be correct - But remember -

The blind man didn’t need to be figured out, he needed be healed. We waste so much time trying to figure out why people are the way they are and finding ways to blame them for their situation - instead of offering healing and Grace!

The truth of the matter is, everyone is a sinner but not everything is a result of our own personal sin or choices.

Sometimes it is a result of the fact that we live in broken and messed up world. You didn’t get to choose the parents you were born to or the country you were born in. You didn’t get to choose some of the advantages or disadvantages you had or didn’t have growing up. Now I understand it’s often not what you’ve been given in life, but what you do with it - But my point this morning is that we often want to, like the disciples, sort everything into easy cause and effect categories

One of the beautiful things about grace and mercy is that it breaks the cycle of cause and effect.

You are a sinner who deserves to spend eternity separated from God - Cause and effect.

But God steps in and saves you by his grace.

We would do well to remember that people aren’t problems to be figured out, but simply people made in God’s image who deserve to be loved.

Do you see a nobody?

When you look at people do you really see them? Do you see others a lower than you?When is the last time you had a conversation with someone or really heard their story?Who are you overlooking?Are you too busy to see the people around you who are hurting?Illustration - I can be this guy. Sometimes I can have such a task driven, focused outlook on life that I fail to see people and take a moment and slow down and listen. My wife and I can go home from visiting with people or even from being at Church and she can ask me if I sensed what they were going through and - for me the whole conversation was hunky dory. But she sensed and heard something deeper and sure enough, she was right. Part of this is probably the difference between a male and female and the way God has wired us - but every time that happens it’s a reminder to me that I need to slow down and see and hear what is around me and see and hear the people around me who are hurting.I believe that part of what the Holy Spirit does is change and transform the way we see and hear the world around us. I think that he transforms our minds and we process things differently. That we begin to see hurt and pain and brokeness where we may have overlooked it before.

When you look at people do you really see them?

Do you see others a lower than you?

When is the last time you had a conversation with someone or really heard their story

Who are you overlooking?

Are you too busy to see the people around you who are hurting?

Illustration - I can be this guy. Sometimes I can have such a task driven, focused outlook on life that I fail to see people and take a moment and slow down and listen. My wife and I can go home from visiting with people or even from being at Church and she can ask me if I sensed what they were going through and - for me the whole conversation was hunky dory. But she sensed and heard something deeper and sure enough, she was right.

Part of this is probably the difference between a male and female and the way God has wired us - but every time that happens it’s a reminder to me that I need to slow down and see and hear what is around me and see and hear the people around me who are hurting.

I believe that part of what the Holy Spirit does is change and transform the way we see and hear the world around us. I think that he transforms our minds and we process things differently. That we begin to see hurt and pain and brokenness where we may have overlooked it before.

Another problem in our current political climate is that we tend to overlook people who’s views are different from our own.

We see people on the other side of us as evil - instead of simply holding different views from your own. When you see someone as evil, it’s easy to take the next step and make and dehumanize them or make them invisible.

When’s the last time you really listened to someone who was your opposite?

When’s the last time you listened - Not to answer back or debate - but to genuinely hear another’s opinion?

Do you see a problem for your agenda or reputation?

Who is it at work that you won’t talk to because it would ruin your social status?

Who is it at work that you won’t talk to because it would ruin your social status?Who is it that you try to shy away from simply because you’re afraid of what others will think?Sometimes we are guilty of shying away from people who we think have too many problems or are too needy. People that can be draining - I’m not saying you let them come run your life - but don’t count them out.

Who is it that you try to shy away from simply because you’re afraid of what others will think?

Sometimes we are guilty of shying away from people who we think have too many problems or are too needy. People that can be draining - I’m not saying you let them come run your life - but don’t count them out.

Do you see an opportunity?

Do you see an opportunity for God’s grace to work in the lives of those around you?

Who do you need to look at differently this week?

Illustration - The job that I have the privilege of doing week in and week out - working with teenagers, helps me in this regard. You get some skinny little 6th grade boy who comes in to youth service for the first time and he smells a little funny and is really awkward - it’s hard sometimes to see past that moment - but it never fails, as I take time with them I begin to see something more. A life that God can do something in and through. I see a future church leader or a future doctor, lawyer teacher - and the truth is that no matter how old you are, there is still opportunity for God to move in your life!

What did the blind man see?

This is not a trick question - He saw nothing.

And this is what this story is about - Jesus, the light of the world, bringing light into this man’s life. Check out this passage right after our story:

John 9:24–41 NLT

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” 25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” 26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” 30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” 34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue. 35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” 37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” 38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. 39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

John 9:35–41 NLT

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” 37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” 38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. 39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

This is what those without Christ see - Nothing. The Bible tells us they are blind.

Christ is their only hope

No matter how much you think you know, without Jesus you are blind.

The Pharisees thought they had all the answers, but they missed what God was doing right in front of their noses.

That tells me that you can attend church all your life and think you have all the answers, and miss God.

For those of us who know Christ - He wants to use us to reach the lost and broken. The spiritually blind and hurting.

And we can’t reach them if we judge them and play the blame game

We can’t reach them if we see them as nobody

We can’t reach them if we see them as problem

We can reach them as we see them as an opportunity

An opportunity to love

An opportunity to let the power of the spirit work through us

An opportunity to see God change a life

This message has two calls this morning:

It is a call for those in blindness this morning to let Jesus, the light of the world, give you sight.

And it is a call for those of us who do know the light of the world, to actually be the light of the world. Not to condemn, figure out, manipulate, use, or do anything else - except point them to Jesus.

What Do You See?

Intro

Points

Conclusion