Sight to the Blind

1 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.” 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. 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.” THEY BROUGHT TO THE PHARISEES THE MAN WHO WAS FORMERLY BLIND. NOW IT WAS A SABBATH ON THE DAY WHEN JESUS MADE THE CLAY AND OPENED HIS EYES. THEN THE PHARISEES ALSO WERE ASKING HIM AGAIN HOW HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT. AND HE SAID TO THEM, “HE APPLIED CLAY TO MY EYES, AND I WASHED, AND I SEE.” THEREFORE SOME OF THE PHARISEES WERE SAYING, “THIS MAN IS NOT FROM GOD, BECAUSE HE DOES NOT KEEP THE SABBATH.” BUT OTHERS WERE SAYING, “HOW CAN A MAN WHO IS A SINNER PERFORM SUCH SIGNS?” AND THERE WAS A DIVISION AMONG THEM. 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.” THE JEWS THEN DID NOT BELIEVE IT OF HIM, THAT HE HAD BEEN BLIND AND HAD RECEIVED SIGHT, UNTIL THEY CALLED THE PARENTS OF THE VERY ONE WHO HAD RECEIVED HIS SIGHT, AND QUESTIONED THEM, SAYING, “IS THIS YOUR SON, WHO YOU SAY WAS BORN BLIND? THEN HOW DOES HE NOW SEE?” HIS PARENTS ANSWERED THEM AND SAID, “WE KNOW THAT THIS IS OUR SON, AND THAT HE WAS BORN BLIND; BUT HOW HE NOW SEES, WE DO NOT KNOW; OR WHO OPENED HIS EYES, WE DO NOT KNOW. ASK HIM; HE IS OF AGE, HE WILL SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.” HIS PARENTS SAID THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE JEWS; FOR THE JEWS HAD ALREADY AGREED THAT IF ANYONE CONFESSED HIM TO BE CHRIST, HE WAS TO BE PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE. FOR THIS REASON HIS PARENTS SAID, “HE IS OF AGE; ASK HIM.” SO A SECOND TIME THEY CALLED THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN BLIND, AND SAID TO HIM, “GIVE GLORY TO GOD; WE KNOW THAT THIS MAN IS A SINNER.” HE THEN ANSWERED, “WHETHER HE IS A SINNER, I DO NOT KNOW; ONE THING I DO KNOW, THAT THOUGH I WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE.” SO THEY SAID TO HIM, “WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU? HOW DID HE OPEN YOUR EYES?” HE ANSWERED THEM, “I TOLD YOU ALREADY AND YOU DID NOT LISTEN; WHY DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN? YOU DO NOT WANT TO BECOME HIS DISCIPLES TOO, DO YOU?” THEY REVILED HIM AND SAID, “YOU ARE HIS DISCIPLE, BUT WE ARE DISCIPLES OF MOSES. “WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS SPOKEN TO MOSES, BUT AS FOR THIS MAN, WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE HE IS FROM.” 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.” THEY ANSWERED HIM, “YOU WERE BORN ENTIRELY IN SINS, AND ARE YOU TEACHING US?” SO THEY PUT HIM OUT. 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. 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. EVERY LIFE HAS TRIALS, DIFFICULTIES, CHALLENGES, SUFFERING • SOMETIMES WE BRING THESE THINGS ON OUR SELVES • OTHER TIMES GOD ALLOWS THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN • SO THAT GOD’S GLORY WILL BE REVEALED THROUGH OUR STRUGGLES…. • WHEN WE FACE OUR TRAILS… OUR SUFFERING… TRUSTING IN GOD • WHEN HE BRINGS US THROUGH OUR CHALLENGES….. • GOD’S WORKING IN OUR LIVES IS DISPLAYED TO THE WORLD • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT LEANING ON GOD IN TRAILS, IN SUFFERING • PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT CHRIST TO THOSE AROUND US.. • AND WHEN WE DO THIS IT CAN STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH AS WELL... • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW JOHN DESCRIBES THIS • IN THE MIRACLE OF THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH RECEIVING SIGHT. A QUESTION IS ASKED • THE DISCIPLES ASK JESUS WHOSE SIN CAUSED THE MAN TO BE BORN BLIND • NOW THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A STRANGE QUESTION TO US • TO ASK WHOSE SIN CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE BORN BLIND • BUT THE RABI’S IN JESUS DAY TAUGHT THAT ALL PHYSICAL PROBLEMS • WERE CAUSED BY SPECIFIC SINS • THE SIN IN THE GARDEN BROUGHT DEATH INTO THE WORLD • SO, THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN SIN ENTERING THE WORLD • AND PHYSICAL SUFFERING • BUT THE BOOK OF JOB MAKES IT CLEAR THAT NOT ALL PHYSICAL SUFFERING • IS A RESULT OF A SPECIFIC SIN. • THANKFULLY JESUS IS GONNA EXPLAIN THIS TO THESE FELLAS AN ANSWER IS GIVEN • JESUS EXPLAINS THAT THE MAN WAS BORN BLIND • SO THAT THE WORKS OF GOD COULD BE DISPLAYED • GOD’S PRIORITIES ARE NOT THE SAME AS OURS… • WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUFFERING • IT IS REALLY HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND • THAT GOD MIGHT HAVE SOME AMAZING PURPOSE • FOR WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH • THIS MAN’S SUFFERING WAS NOT BECAUSE HE OR HIS PARENTS HAD SINNED • IT WAS TO REVEAL GOD’S GLORY THROUGH • THE MIRACLE THAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR • IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND • THAT JESUS IS NOT SAYING ALL TRIALS, ALL SUFFERINGS • ARE FOR THIS PURPOSE • SOME SUFFERING IS THE RESULT OF OUR SINS • SOME SUFFERING IS THE RESULT OF LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD • SOME SUFFERING IS THE RESULT OF THE SINS OF OTHER PEOPLE • SOME SUFFERING IS THE RESULT OF SATAN WORKING IN THIS WORLD • JESUS IS POINTING OUT THAT.. THERE ARE TRIALS.. • THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES… CHALLENGES… SUFFERING • THAT OCCUR FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVEALING GOD’S WORK • GOD’S GLORY…. GOD’S MAJESTY.. GOD’S LOVE. • AND THAT HIS MAN’S BEING BORN BLIND WAS FOR THIS PURPOSE. • JESUS THEN EXPLAINS THAT FOR THE WORKS OF GOD TO BE DISPLAYED • WE HAVE TO GET TO WORK • I LOVE HOW HE SAYS WE MUST WORK THE WORKS OF HIM WHO SENT ME • NOTICE HE DID NOT SAY I HE SAID WE… • AND THEN HE SHOWS THEM WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE • WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO WORK THE WORKS OF HIM WHO SENT ME. A MIRACLE OCCURS • JESUS DOES SOME VERY UNUSUAL STUFF HERE • FIRST, HE SPITS ON THE GROUND • SALIVA WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES • IN THIS CASE JESUS MAY HAVE USED IT SO THAT THE • MAN WOULD UNDERSTAND JESUS WAS HEALING HIM • THIS SEEMS REALLY STRANGE TO US • BUT THE MAN WOULD HAVE HEARD JESUS SPIT • AND UNDERSTOOD THAT TO BE ABOUT HEALING • SECOND, JESUS MADE CLAY, WELL REALLY, HE MADE MUD • OUTTA THE DIRT AND SPITTLE • AGAIN, THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING THAT WE MIGHT MISS… • JOHN WILL TELL US IN A MINUTE THAT THIS WAS DONE ON A SABBATH • AND THERE WAS A VERY STRICT SABBATH RULE • AGAINST MAKING CLAY ON THE SABBATH • SO, FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO MIRACLE HERE…. • THEN JESUS GIVES THE MAN A COMMAND. • I KEEP BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT • VIRTUALLY EVERY MIRACLE WE FIND IN THE BIBLE • HAS A COMMAND ATTACHED TO IT • AND FREQUENTLY THE MIRACLE DOES NOT OCCUR • UNTIL THE COMMAND IS OBEYED • IN THIS CASE THE COMMAND IS • “GO, WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM” • AND THE MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE SIGHT • UNTIL HE OBEYS THIS COMMAND • AFTER HE WASHED, HE CAME BACK SEEING • WHICH CAUSES SOME… CONFUSION IN THE CROWD • THE MAN’S NEIGHBORS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. • SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS THE MAN WHO USED TO BEG • OTHERS THINK HE JUST LOOKS LIKE THE ONE WHO BEGGED • THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGE IN HIS APPEARANCE • OR PERHAPS THEY JUST COULD NOT CONCEIVE • OF SOMEONE BLIND FROM BIRTH GAINING SIGHT • THE TEXT SAYS HE KEPT SAYING “I AM THE ONE” • AND FINALLY, THEY ASK HOW HE HIS SIGHT WAS RESTORED…. • WHEN WE GO THROUGH TRIALS AND SUFFERING • AND GOD WORKS IN OUR LIVES • WE NEED TO BE LISTENING FOR THIS QUESTION • WHEN SOMEONE WHO HAD A DRINKING PROBLEM • GETS SOBER BY GOD’S GRACE • THEY NEED TO LISTEN FOR WHEN PEOPLE ASK • HOW THEY GOT SOBER.. AND THEY NEED TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY • WHEN PEOPLE NOTICED THAT I HAD CHANGED • AFTER I CAME TO CHRIST • I WAS ASKED A FEW TIMES.. WHAT CHANGED YOU? • I WISH I HAD PAID MORE ATTENTION TO THESE SITUATIONS • AND USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE GOD • THIS MAN DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF GIVING GLORY TO JESUS EVENTS EXPLAINED • THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH TELLS HIS NEIGHBORS • THAT A MAN NAMED JESUS GAVE HIM SIGHT • THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE MAN REFERS TO JESUS • AND HE REFERS TO HIM AS A MAN… KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE GO ALONG • HE GOES ON TO TELL EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED • JESUS MADE CLAY, PUT IT ON HIS EYES, AND TOLD HIM TO GO WASH • HE WASHED AND RECEIVED SIGHT • THIS IS CLEARLY A MIRACLE… THE PEOPLE SHOULD REJOICE • THE PEOPLE… HIS NEIGHBORS SHOULD BE PRAISING GOD • THEY SHOULD RUN TO THE TEMPLE AND MAKE A SACRIFICE • BUT INSTEAD OFFICIALS ARE CONSULTED • THE MAN AND HIS PARENTS ARE QUESTIONED BY THE PHARISEES • THE NEIGHBORS BROUGHT THE MAN TO THE PHARISEES • NOW MAYBE THEY TOOK HIM THERE • CAUSE A MIRACLE HAD HAPPENED • AND THEY WANTED TO PHARISEES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MIRACLE • OR MAYBE THEY KNEW THE PHARISEES OUT TO GET JESUS…. • SINCE THE VERY NEXT THING MENTIONED IS THE FACT • THAT IT WAS A SABBATH WHEN JESUS MADE THE CLAY AND RESTORED SIGHT • I THINK IT IS LIKELY THESE PEOPLE TOOK THE MAN TO THE PHARISEES • TO HELP GET JESUS IN TROUBLE • THE FACT THAT JESUS DID THESE THINGS ON THE SABBATH • IS HUGE TO THE PHARISEES • THEY HAD MADE ALL KINDS OF RULES ABOUT • WHAT YOU COULD AND COULD NOT DO ON THE SABBATH • THESE WERE NOT GOD’S RULES; THEY WERE MAN MADE RULES • SO, THE PHARISEES QUESTION THE MAN ABOUT WHO JESUS IS • AND THE MAN BORN BLIND SAYS; “HE IS A PROPHET” • FIRST, HE SAID HE WAS A MAN, NOW HE SAYS HE IS A PROPHET…. • THE JEWISH LEADERS DO NOT BELIEVE THE MAN WAS BORN BLIND • SO THEY QUESTION HIS PARENTS • THE PARENTS ANSWER THAT HE WAS IN FACT BORN BLIND • BUT THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT • WE ALSO LEARN THAT HIS PARENTS ARE AFRAID OF THE LEADERS • BECAUSE THE LEADERS HAD DECIDED THAT ANYONE • WHO AGREED WITH THE TEACHING OF JESUS WOULD BE • KICKED OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE • THEN WE COME TO MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS ACCOUNT • THE PHARISEES TRY GET THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH • TO SAY THAT JESUS IS A SINNER • AND THIS MAN STANDS UP FOR JESUS, DEFENDS HIM • NOW, UNDERSTAND THIS MAN IS A POOR BEGGAR • WHO JUST RECEIVED SIGHT, HE HAS NO POWER, NO POSITION • HE IS STANDING BEFORE THE LEADERS OF HIS COUNTRY • AND HE GIVES THESE LEADERS AN AMAZING THEOLOGY LESSON • HE TELLS THEM GOD DOES NOT HEAR SINNERS • BUT LISTENS TO THOSE WHO DO HIS WILL • HE TELLS THEM NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF • ANYONE BORN BLIND RECEIVING SIGHT • HE TELLS THEM; “IF JESUS WERE NOT FROM GOD, HE COULD DO NOTHING • HE ASKS THEM IF THEY WANT TO BECOME JESUS’ DISCIPLES • AND IN RESPONSE TO HIS DEFENSE OF JESUS SENTENCE IS PASSED • IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE PHARISEES MAKE THE SAME • ASSUMPTION THAT THE DISCIPLES HAD MADE • THEY ASSUME THE MAN’S BLINDNESS HAD BEEN BECAUSE OF SIN…. • THE PHARISEES SAY THE MAN WAS BORN ENTIRELY IN SIN • AND PUT HIM OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE • STAND UP FOR JESUS THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES • WHEN WE STAND UP FOR CHRIST AND CALL SIN… SIN • WE MIGHT LOSE A JOB, OR FRIENDS, OR A LAWSUIT • WHEN WE STAND UP FOR CHRIST AND STATE THAT • SALVATION IS IN CHRIST ALONE… • WE MIGHT FACE SOME CONSEQUENCE, SOME REPERCUSSION. • BUT OFTEN GOD USES THESE CONSEQUENCES TO DISPLAY OUR FAITH • JESUS CONFIRMS AND STRENGTHENS THE MAN’S FAITH • JESUS HEARS THIS MAN HAS BEEN PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE • AND FINDS HIM… HE ASKS THE MAN; “DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF MAN?” • THIS TITLE, THE SON OF MAN FOR THE MESSIAH FROM THE BOOK OF DANIEL • JESUS IS ASKING THIS MAN IF HE BELIEVES IN THE MESSIAH • THE MAN RESPONDS; “WHO IS HE LORD, THAT I MAY BELIEVE IN HIM?” • FIRST THE MAN BORN BLIND HAD CALLED JESUS A MAN • THEN HE CALLED HIM A PROPHET, NOW HE CALLS HIM LORD • BUT HE IS NOT DONE YET…. • JESUS EXPLAINS THAT HE IS THE SON OF MAN • AND THEN WE SEE THE MAN’S FINAL RESPONSE • THE TEXT SAYS; HE SAID, “LORD, I BELIEVE.” AND HE WORSHIPED HIM. • SO, THIS MAN BORN BLIND FIRST CALLS JESUS A MAN, THEN A PROPHET • THEN HE CALLS HIM LORD, AND FINALLY HE WORSHIPS HIM. • I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS OF THIS MIRACLE • JOHN HAS JUST SHOWED US AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF FAITH • THIS MAN BORN BLIND, WHOSE SUFFERING WAS USED TO DISPLAY • THE MIGHT WORKS OF GOD, WHO STOOD BEFORE THE LEADERS OF JEWISH NATION • AND DEFENDED CHRIST, WHO SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES • FOR STANDING UP FOR CHRIST AND WAS PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE • WENT FROM CALLING CHRIST A MAN, TO SEEING HE WAS A PROPHET • TO CALLING HIM LORD, TO WORSHIPING HIM AS MESSIAH • WHAT AN AMAZING DESCRIPTION OF COMING TO FAITH IN CHRIST • BUT JOHN ALSO SHOWED US WHAT REJECTING CHRIST LOOKS LIKE FAILURE INDICATED • AT THE SAME TIME THAT JOHN SHOWS US THIS MAN’S FAITH GROWING • HE SHOWS US THE FAILURE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE • FIRST THE MAN’S NEIGHBOR’S FAIL TO GIVE PRAISE FOR THE MIRACLE • THEN THEY TAKE THE MAN TO THE PHARISEES FOR QUESTIONING • THE LEADERS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE UTTERLY REJECT • THE MIRACLE AND CALL JESUS, A SINNER • THE IGNORANCE OF THE PEOPLE MIGHT BE UNDERSTANDABLE • BUT THESE LEADERS SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM SCRIPTURE • THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD RESTORE SIGHT TO THE BLIND… • JOHN CONCLUDES THE ACCOUNT OF THIS MIRACLE • BY TELLING HOW JESUS POINTS OUT THE FAILURE OF THE PHARISEES • JESUS EXPLAINS THAT HE CAME INTO THIS WORLD SO THAT • THOSE WHO DID NOT SEE MIGHT SEE AND THAT THOSE WHO • CLAIM TO SEE MAY BECOME BLIND • SOME PHARISEES HEARD HIM SAY THIS AND UNDERSTOOD • HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THEM. • THEY ASK; “WE ARE NOT BLIND TOO, ARE WE? • THE WAY THEY ASK THIS MEANS THEY ARE EXPECTING • JESUS TO SAY NO.. OF COURSE NOT, I DID NOT MEAN YOU GUYS • BUT JESUS POINTS THEM TO THEIR PRIDE AND ARROGANCE SAYING • IF YOU WERE BLIND, YOU WOULD HAVE NO SIN; • BUT SINCE YOU SAY, ‘WE SEE,’ YOUR SIN REMAINS. • THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH • AND THE JEWISH LEADERS IS AMAZING • IN THEIR PRIDE AND ARROGANCE, THE PHARISEES • THINK THEY HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT • THEY ARE CERTAIN JESUS CANNOT BE THE MESSIAH • BECAUSE HE DOES NOT FOLLOW THEIR LAWS • HE MUST BE A SINNER WHO DOES NOT KNOW GOD SINCE HE • BREAKING THE RULES, THEY MADE UP • THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH • RECEIVES SIGHT THROUGH A MIRACLE DONE BY JESUS • AND UNDERSTANDS HE IS FROM GOD • WHEN JESUS CONFIRMS THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF MAN • THE MAN WORSHIPS HIM….. • EVERY LIFE HAS TRIALS, DIFFICULTIES, CHALLENGES, SUFFERING • SOMETIMES WE BRING THESE THINGS ON OUR SELVES • OTHER TIMES GOD ALLOWS THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN • SO THAT GOD’S GLORY WILL BE REVEALED THROUGH OUR STRUGGLES…. • SO THAT WE CAN COME TO FAITH, SO THAT OUR FAITH • CAN BE STRENGTHENED… SO THAT OUR FAITH CAN BE DISPLAYED • JOHN INCLUDED THIS MIRACLE IN HIS GOSPEL • SO THAT WE CAN LEARN • THAT WE NEED TO LEAN ON GOD IN TRIALS AND SUFFERING • THAT GOD PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO US • THROUGH THESE TRIALS • TO GROW OUR FAITH… TO PRESENT OUR FAITH.. TO STAND UP FOR CHRIST.. • WE WERE ALL BORN BLIND.. IN SIN.. UNABLE TO SEE OUR SIN.. UNABLE TO FIX OUR SIN.. • BUT CHRIST CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN, JESUS OF NAZARETH… 87