Living in the Light or Dwelling in Darkness

Open: Dr. giving a prognosis to a man who is dealing with some heart issues. The Doctor tells him that in order to avoid a heart attack or stroke the man will need to stop smoking. lose 35 lbs, start exercising, and avoid eating certain unhealthy foods. Do these things and you can reduce your risk by 70%!

Transition: Some of the patients who hear that prognosis will listen and heed. They will follow the prescription the doctor has ordered and they will become healthier. Some of the patients, however, will not heed the warning. They may listen, and they may even cut back on smoking for a few weeks, but they do not take the warning seriously

What makes the difference in accepting or rejecting the doctor’s warning? Why doesn’t everyone with heart trouble respond to this scientific analysis of the problem? It makes sense and its backed up by medical studies, so why do the responses vary?

In an even more tragic sense, we must accept the reality that not everyone will respond the same way to the Gospel. Two weeks ago we looked at the first seven verses of John 9 about being Light Bearers for the Glory of God. Together we looked at our mission as Light Bearers and how we can carry the Light of Jesus with compassion, but with urgency. And we discovered how we can carry the Light with confidence because of who Jesus is.

This morning we are going to look at 3 different perspectives on how people respond to the same message. This is important because these are the same manner of responses we will get when we take the Light of Jesus into the darkness of sin. We will look at the blind man’s response of acceptance; we will look at the parent’s response of attempted neutrality; and we will look at the Pharisee’s response of rejection.

Carrying the Light of the Gospel into the darkness will yield different responses

Some of the spiritually blind will embrace the Light ()

Explanation: The former blind man’s miraculous healing quickly becomes the talk of the town. All of his friends want to know how it took place, and some even want to know if he was the same man. Not only does the man receive his physical sight, he grows in his understanding of who Jesus is and receives his spiritual sight. After the interrogation by the Pharisees, Jesus finds the man who had been cast out of the synagogue. Jesus reveals Himself to the former blind man as the Son of Man, and the blind man responds with belief and worship

Argument: The blind man began his journey of faith by hearing that it was a man named Jesus who had healed him (v. 11). When the blind man was being questioned by the Pharisees, he had grown in his understanding to acknowledge Jesus as a Prophet (v. 17). While the Pharisees were badgering him and trying to tear his story apart, the blind man acknowledged Jesus as One worthy of being followed by disciples (v. 27). Upon being further pressed by the Pharisees, the blind man stated Jesus was from God (v. 33). And, when confronted by the reality of Jesus as the Messiah, the blind man responded with belief & worship (v. 38)

Application: Understand that most people do not yield their lives to Jesus at first mention. The Holy Spirit draws lost sinners to Christ, and, over time, reveals to them the identity of the Son of God. As someone who is still on the sidelines of faith, do not stop short. Too many accept Jesus as a great moral example or a great teacher, but no more. While He is those things, He is so much more.

For the Light Bearers: We do not know who will accept Christ, or when they will accept Christ. We are to be faithful and consistent in telling the story of Jesus and loving those who are still in the darkness.

Some of the spiritually blind will attempt to remain neutral (John 9:18-23)

Explanation: The parents of the blind man are brought in to be questioned by the Pharisees. The Pharisees want to know two (2) things from the parents. First, they want to know if this is the same man. They want to know if a miracle has occured or if this is a hoax. Second, if their blind son has actually been healed, how did it happen.

The parents answer the first question simply and to the point: they admit this man is indeed their son who had been born blind. The parents avoid answering the second question and put the focus back on their son. They rightly claim he is of legal age, therefore, he can supply his own answers

Argument: The parents obviously know more than they are willing to admit. Their blind son had received his sight, and they, the parents, didn’t know anything about when it happened or how it happened? No way! They avoided answering out of fear. The parents are trying to play it safe. They know the Pharisees have decreed that those who accept the claims of Jesus will be put out of the Synagogue, so they remain silent in an effort to remain neutral.

Trying to play it safe is loaded with danger. The attempt to appease others by refusing to take a stand will not resolve the situation. The appeasement will continue to grow until the cave in occurs.

Illustration: Appeasing the Nazis in the early 1930’s - didn’t work out too well. Trying to appease the LGBTQ agenda in the present - not working out too well.

Application: If you are trying to “play it safe,” realize it is a dangerous path that generally doesn’t end well. Those who have the idea that there is still plenty of time to live for Christ may find their time suddenly cut short. This is one of the Devil’s favorite tactics. He doesn’t get you to deny the reality of Jesus; he just tells you to wait . . .

Some of the spiritually blind will harden their hearts and remain in darkness ()

Explanation: Some of the Pharisees were nearby when the former blind man had his first worship time with the Messiah. Jesus, recognizing their presence, makes a startling declaration by stating, “For judgment I came into this world.” This message is unlike Jesus’ statement in where He said He was sent “not to condemn,” but “in order that the world might be saved.” But following that statement, Jesus then says that those who reject Him as Messiah will be condemned (a very serious judgement). MacArthur says about this, “While Jesus came to save, not to condemn . . . those who reject His gospel condemn themselves.” (MacArthur Commentary Series, , p. 416)

The Pharisees also heard Jesus state, “those who see may become blind.” This parable confused them, so they asked Jesus if He thought they were also blind. They expected a negative answer because they were after all the Pharisees, a self-righteous group indeed. Jesus shocked them by basically saying, “Yes, you are blind and on your way to judgment.” (paraphrase) Jesus told them their attitude of self-reliance and legalism was keeping them in the darkness. This offended and infuriated the Pharisees with the end result of hardening their hearts.

Argument: Those who continue to reject the message of the Gospel become hardened to it over time. God does hand people over to a judicial hardening of the heart whereby these folks become confirmed in their unbelief. In a real sense, they become unsavable because they are rejecting their only means of salvation.

Application: God is the One in charge of changing hearts, not us. We can never know whether a person has been given over (,,) so we continue to pray and witness. For the unbeliever: if the Holy Spirit is convicting you of sin and the coming judgment, surrender your life to Christ today.