Truth and Consequenses

The wrong question

John 9:1–2 HCSB

As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples questioned Him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Humans are preoccupied with a few things. We want things to be fair and by fair we want there to be consequences, we want things to make sense. When the disciples ask this question they wanted things to make sense. To them the fact that the guy was blind had to have a reason. He had to be blind because his parents had sinned or he had sinned. Now stop for a moment and think about what they are asking.

Who sinned that he was born blind. They had a very interesting understanding of humanity. IT had to be someones fault and if his parents hadn't screwed up it must have been him that did so, still in the womb. This comes from a belief that all suffering no matter what or where it happens is a direct result of sin. They had a hard time understanding then how someone could be born blind. In their theology someone had to have sinned, and while it was inconceivable that an unborn child could possibly do so they had to account for that possibility because what if the parents hadn’t sinned, then it had to be the kid. The got this idea from Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18:4 HCSB

Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.

Ezek

Here’s the problem. Humans need a reason and sometimes in fact most of the time when it comes to things that God is involved in that reason is not so simple as we want it to be.

The only answer.

John 9:3-5

John 1:3–5 HCSB

All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 9:3–5 HCSB

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. We must do 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.”

In that simple answer Jesus tells his disciples it’s time to throw out what you think you know for the truth that I am trying to teach you.

Does sin have consequences. Yes it does, of course it does. We only need to look at the lives of David, or Saul, or Eli the priest, Moses disobedience, Judas betrayal, Simon the Sorcerer.

Paul tells us in Romans that there are consequenses to sin.

Romans 8:28 HCSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Yes there are consequences to our sin but Jesus wants people to understand that bad things in life don’t always equal sin in our lives.

The only answer is for us to do what God has for us to do while we can, not for us to pass judgment on people who don’t know who Jesus is. Looking back at verse 4 we see Jesus do something very interesting. Jesus is inviting the disciples into something so much more than just a 3.5 year walk around the middle east. Look what he says.

“We must do the works of Him who sent me.”

W

Jesus is telling the disciples this whole thing isn’t going to end with me. You are going to have to carry it on when I go. RIgh tnow Jesus is the light of the world, but there is going to come a time when Jesus light is put out. The disciples are going to then have to carry that light to be the light in the world.

Matthew 5:14

Matthew 5:14 HCSB

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.

Burned out bulbs

Fast forward

The man is healed mud on the eyes. long walk to the pool to wash it off, his life changed people excited and dry religious leaders really hacked off.

John 9:24-28

John 9:24–28 HCSB

So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner!” He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!” Then they asked him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become His disciples too, do you?” They ridiculed him: “You’re that man’s disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples.

The truth is the truth no matter who it comes from.

John 9:30–33 HCSB

“This is an amazing thing,” the man told them. “You don’t know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

Losing to gain.

John 9:34 HCSB

“You were born entirely in sin,” they replied, “and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

Being thrown out of the synagogue was the best thing in the world for this man. The cool thing is Jesus didn’t leave him floundering.

John 9:35-38

John 9:35–38 HCSB

When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” he asked. Jesus answered, “You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you.” “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped Him.

John 9:

Picking up the pieces

The only way to be whole is by admitting you are not. That’s the problem with religious people as opposed to followers of Christ.

John 9:39-41

John 9:

John 9:39–41 HCSB

Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see’—your sin remains.

This Week’s Challenge

Read John chapters 10 - 15.

Saturday read