While I am in the world

We are in John 9 this morning. I encourage you to open your bibles and look at this passage with me.

We read through this whole passage last week, and started by looking at verses 1-3. Today we are going to focus on verses 3-5.

John 9:3–5 NIV

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Let’s pray and then begin looking at this passage.

Prayer

Why was this man born blind?

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple after the people there were ready to stone Jesus for claiming to be the great ‘I AM’, God come into the world.

As they were going along, they saw this blind man.

The disciples got distracted by the theological question, “Who sinned that this man was born blind?” They were distracted with the philosophical questions concerning suffering.

Jesus gave them the answer…

John 9:3 NIV

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Last week, we focused on not getting distracted with the philosophical questions, and realize that God is at work through suffering. He has a purpose.

Today, we want to look further into that purpose, and what Jesus has to say about it in the following verses.

First, in this verse, we want to make sure we understand what God wants to do.

I think the key here is to understand what is meant by the word ‘displayed’. What does it mean that God wants to display His works in this man?

The word that John used here can be understood or used in ways similar to these English words.

Notice the primary ways is it translated into English is with the words ‘appear’ and ‘revealed’.

The sense of the word is for something that was not there to come to light, or show up.

For example, Jesus appeared to his disciples after He rose from the dead.

In this case, it is not someone appearing, as much as something coming to light that was not understood. Or, in other words, God was going to reveal Himself as He does something with this man.

That God might reveal Himself

Why was this man born blind? Because God wanted to reveal Himself.

God was going to do something with this man So that people might know Him better.

God wants people to know that He is the God who sees our suffering, and wants to give us aid. He wants us to see His power which can even give sight to the blind. He wants us to see that Jesus is the God He claimed to be.

God is going to reveal Himself through this man. That is great!

But as I thought about this, I began to wonder, why now?

Remember, this man was born blind, and now he was an adult. That means he lived his whole life into adulthood as a blind person.

That had to be hard. It had to be hard for him and for his parents. Not only did he have to struggle to live without sight, but he and they had the stigma of being sinners because of his blindness.

God could have stopped that from happening. God could have made him see from the beginning.

But if He had, would anyone have noticed? Would anyone have seen what God wanted to reveal?

God often reveals Himself through suffering

No. If this man did not suffer all those years, and then have Jesus restore his sight, no one would have noticed what God was revealing.

This is sad, but true. When without suffering, we tend to not see our need for God.

No one would have seen God’s hand if this man was born with sight. They would have expected that. It would not have been a miracle.

It took the man being born blind for people to see the miracle of God giving him sight.

However, God did not do it right away. He didn’t do it shortly after birth. He didn’t do it while he was just a boy.

Can you imagine how long the parents prayed for their child to see? How long did this man ask God to give Him sight? We do not know. But put yourself in his place. Would you and I have prayed and asked God to remove the suffering?

I believe we would.

Jesus had been to Jerusalem before. The man apparently lived here, so Jesus could have healed him on His previous trips. Why didn’t he?

Why did He wait until now?

God reveals Himself in His time

Though this man and his parents may have wanted to see the healing come before, God waited until now because God intended to reveal Himself, not only to this man, but to the disciples, the priests, the pharisees and the crowds in Jerusalem! God had a lot of revealing to do, and He knew just the right time to do it!

So, the answer to the question that Jesus gave His disciples was that God wants to reveal Himself through the suffering in His time. He does this because He knows the audience He is trying to reach! He isn’t just revealing Himself to this man, but to others as well.

The disciples were some of those He was trying to reveal Himself to!

They needed to know that God allows suffering not just as a result of a person’s sin. God allows suffering to reveal Himself!

Well, Jesus had more to teach His disciples, and he went on from there.

John 9:4 NIV

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

There is a very important word that stood out to me here. It starts with an ‘m’. Do you see it?

We MUST do the works...

What does the word must mean? It is necessary. It cannot be left undone.

Jesus basically was saying that it was not an option. While it was day, we must do the works for which God sent us into the world.

For Jesus, He was going to to the work He was sent here to do.

He came to seek and save the Lost.

He came to teach and lead us into Truth.

He came to show grace and truth.

He came to reveal the Father to the world.

He came to make the way for us to become children of God, by dying for our sin and rising again.

What if Jesus didn’t do the works? Would God have been revealed? No.

God reveals Himself through His servants!

God has already revealed Himself through Creation to this world. In Romans 1 we see taht God’s wisdom and power is manifested to everyone through His creation.

However, a lot of people do not see that. So, God sent Jesus to reveal Himself more clearly.

So, Jesus knew, He needed to to the works of God, or this man’s blindness would have been wasted. God would not have been revealed!

Jesus knew what He needed to do. And, He did it.

But what did He mean by, “As long as it is day?” And what did He mean by, “Night is coming?”

I believe He clarified that in the very next sentence. He went on to say,

John 9:5 NIV

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

As long as it is day...

So, while Jesus was in the world, He was the light of the world. He was doing the works of God to shine forth, to reveal God the Father, and to show Himself as God, the savior of the world!

The day is while He, the Light of the world was here. The night is when He would leave the earth to return to His Father’s right hand.

He must do the works while He is here. He cannot continue to reveal the Father through these works when He is no longer here.

Jesus worked while it was day. While He was here.

I am so glad that Jesus did the works of the Father who sent Him. Aren’t you?

If He had not done those works, I would not be saved from my sin. I would not know the Father. I would not understand that my sin separates me from God. I would not know that I cannot earn my way into His grace and favor. I would not have the comfort I need when I am going through trials. I would not have the strength I need to get through today.

Praise the Lord that Jesus did the works to reveal the truth, and the Father!

But is that all there is… No. It is important that we do not miss a very important word that Jesus said.

There is another important word in this verse. It comes right before the ‘must’. Do you see it?

John 9:4 NIV

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

He said that we must do the works. He included his disciples, he included us in that!

Notice He also said,

We must do the works...

WE must do the works! Jesus did not give us an option. It is something we need to do. Our Lord demands it.

We are to do the work that will reveal our Lord and Savior Jesus. We are to do the works that will reveal the Father. We are do to the works which will bring Him glory.

When? While it is day.

If while it is still day for Jesus meant that while He was here on Earth, he needed to continue to be the Light, what does it mean for us?

It means that while we are here on the earth, God has work for us to do!

But didn’t Jesus say He was the Light. Yes, He did. And He is the true Light of the World.

But on another occasion, Jesus told His disciples,

Matthew 5:14–16 NIV

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are now the light of the world. The night is coming. We must work while it is still day. That means as long as we are here, we need to be doing the works that reveal Him!

That is, there is a time when we will no longer be in this world. But until then, We MUST do the works of the Father!

What are the works we must do?

The things that will reveal our Father to those around us! The things that when we do them, people will glorify the Father.

In suffering

In bearing burdens

In sharing with the lost

In our homes

In the world

In the church

How do we do the works?

How in the world can I do the works of God to reveal Him to this world?

Who am I?

Who are you? You are a child of God! You were chosen before the creation of the world, because God wanted you!

You are holy, set apart by God for Himself!

You are blameless! Jesus took all of your sin and guilt when He died on the cross!

You are predestined to be God’s adopted child!

You have been given wisdom and understanding to know the grace of God!

You are the One who knows God’s grace, and what pleases Him!

You have been given the Holy Spirit!

The same spirit that came upon Jesus at His baptism, and worked in and through Him to do the mighty works of God, is the Spirit that indwelt you when you believed!

That Spirit of God that worked miracles through Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles is working through you!

That Spirit of God has given you specific gifts to be used to build up the body of Christ!

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 NIV

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Since that Spirit has given you a gift to be used, do not think of yourself as worthless or unworthy! Know that you are specially gifted by God to reveal Him to this world, and to the others in the body who are suffering!

Jesus saw a man suffering, and knew that God wanted to reveal Himself through the suffering. Jesus did the work.

We are surrounded by a world that is suffering. Let’s not be distracted by why they are suffering. Let’s not get caught up in philosophical or theological debates. Let’s get to work!

And, let’s not just go out in our own strength. Let’s do it in His power so that we can be made strong in our weakness.

1 Peter 4:7–11 NIV

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Let’s do it in His strength for His glory!

This week, ask God what works you must do to reveal Him:

At Home

In the World

In this church body

Ask God to show you how to reveal Him this week in your home.

Ask God to show you this week how to reveal Him in the world.

Ask God what work He wants you to do to reveal Him in this church body!

God wants to reveal Himself. He has gifted you, and given you the Spirit to enable you to work for Him.

And, let’s get to work in His strength.

There is a world in need. God wants to reveal Himself through us. Let’s get to it in His strength!

Let this be our motto:

While I am in the World, I am the Light of the World!

Homework:

Read John 9. Ask God to speak to you from the passage this week. Then, reread John 9:3-5. How did God reveal Himself through this man? What did God reveal about Himself through this man? What did God reveal about people through what He did with this man?

Read John 9. This man was an adult before God gave Him sight. I imagine he likely prayed about being healed before. God waited until this moment for Jesus to heal Him. Sometimes we wonder why we are going through trials. This man was blind until now because this was the time for Jesus to reveal Himself as the light of the world. This man benefited from not only gaining His sight, but what else? Who else benefited from this man gaining His sight? Sometimes God may allow us to suffer because God wants to show us, and others around us something about Himself. Can you think of anyone in the Bible that suffered, through whose story you were encouraged? Can you think of anyone in the Bible who suffered, through whose story you learned more about the Lord? What did you learn? Share what God has ‘revealed’ to you through what He did with this Blind man, or with the others with someone this week.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:3-10. Paul suffered, and God never did remove it. Why? What did God want to reveal? What did Paul learn to do according to verse 10? What did Paul learn about strength according to verse 10? Was this also a lesson the blind man had to learn during the years he was blind before Jesus healed him? How does this apply to you?

Read John 9:4. Jesus said a key word in this verse. It starts with ‘m’ and ends with ‘ust’. Do you see it? Must is a strong word. What does it mean? What had to be done? What did Jesus tell us His work was? Consider Luke 19:10. What other verses can you find about why Jesus came? What did Jesus mean by while it is day, we must do the works? What did he mean by the night is coming? I think verse 5 gives a clue.

Read John 9:5. While Jesus was in the world, He was the light of the world. Now, Jesus is no longer physically present in the world. Who is the light now? Consider Matthew 5:14-16. Did Jesus let His light shine so others would see His good deeds and glorify the Father? What good deeds can you do so others will see and glorify the Father? What good deeds can you do to be the Light in your home? What good deeds can you do to be the Light at work? What good deeds can you do to be the Light at church?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-27. Then read Ephesians 4:11-16. Why are these spiritual gifts given to us? For our own good? For the good of the recipient? No. What is the purpose of the gifts? Can the body grow and mature if some of the parts are not working? What are gifts that the Lord gave you? Are you using them in the body? Is it still day? Are you still here? Are you using them now, or resting in the fact you used them before? While you are in the world, you are the light of the world. Think about what Jesus said. Think of Jesus’ example. Did He stop and say He did enough?

Sometimes we may feel weak and tired. Read 1 Corinthians 15:56-58. Why are we working? Read 1 Peter 4:7-11. The night is coming. We will be out of here soon. So, how should we live? Whose strength need we rely on? What is the goal for our working while it is still day?