John 9:14-25 / Now I See (pt 2) Shinning Light Into the Darkness

Experience rejection because of tradition

John 9:14 ESV

14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

It was unlawful to do work on the Sabbath

This included healing people.

Jesus had showed them that this was not the will of this commandment.

So this miracle was rejected (not because of God’s will)

but simply because of tradition.

You will sometimes battle to share your faith

Not because you contradict scripture.

But because you contradict traditions.

Visitors Table Witnessing

In one church I used to attend we set up a visitor’s table

Speak to visitor, answer questions

ALWAYS ASK ONE QUESTION...

Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?

This Church was good with it

But there was a time that it would have been rejected

“They MUST walk down the aisle during a worship service. (Revival meeting is also acceptable).

What would they say (I wonder) to the man on the cross next to Jesus, or the Philippian jailer who Paul and Silas witnessed to?

My favorite salvation Story.

Caught and Saved at the Drugstore:

Experience rejection because of skepticism.

John 9:18 ESV

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight

Skeptics, doubters, nah-sayers....

Even Noah had to deal with them. (been around forever)

Some for good reason

Evolution - I’m a solid nay-sayer

Some of us think of our own salvation story

We think of terms like miraculous.

Maybe not because of a healing

But because of the change that took place.

I know what I was like before I accepted Christ.

Not awful, but stubbornly confident in what I wanted.

Immediately - changed once I accepted Christ.

I just didn’t want those things anymore.

Yet there will always be those who say,

You’re just attributing it to your religion.

Your religion provides an important crutch for you.

Experience rejection because of fear.

John 9:20–22 ESV

20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)

There are still places in the world where acknowledging Christ, brings serious retribution.

Thankfully we are still largely sheltered from that kind of reality.

Those in authority were so opposed to Christ that is used fear to rebel against the gospel.

It may not have been religious leader in your experience

Maybe just those who “controlled the room” so to speak.

Either individually or collectively set the “norm”

Militant Atheism

Richard Dawkins - Reason Rally in Wash DC.

At the end his speech he instructed them to question the finer points of our faith. But not with any sense of cooperation or hospitality … instead he said,

“… Mock them, ridicule them … in public...”

This was not a response to a question

This was a prepare thought out speech

from one of the leaders of atheism

His speech began by celebrating the ability to oppose God in the US.

He circled back to his opposition of belief inGod several times

Signs all over the place showing contempt for God & those who believe in Him.

How can they have so much contempt for something they are sure is not real.

But that is the reality.

Know your story and answer with what you know.

John 9:25 ESV

25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

Don’t get fooled into believing that it is up to you to prove the validity of the Gospel.

Here is my story

You tell me what you you think happened?

There will be a time that it truly is “All you know”

But you can the bible available to you.

Christ has sent the Holy Spirit as a helper