The Sinner Believes

Last week we saw how the healing of the blind man’s primary purpose was to bring glory to God. That by healing him Jesus would display the power of God and people would praise and honor God. Yet what about the blind man, what happened to him what effect did this healing have on him. This week I want to contrast the faith of the blind man with that of the pharisees. As we look through today’s passage we will see how the blind man glorified God for the miracle, placed his faith in Jesus, and recieved not just physical sight but spiritual sight as well. On the other hand the Pharisees thought glorifying God meant condemning sinners, were disciples of Moses, and were blind to spiritual truths.

John 9:24–41 ESV

So for the 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 answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “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 comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Glory to God

John 9:24–25 ESV

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

Pharisees - claim to give glory to God

How?

condemening sinners

church people an air of superiority

Blind man

I dont know if hes a sinner

his past his sins

One thing i know

was blind but now i see

a miracle of God

New christians may not know theology and church words bible references etc but they know they have been forgiven and are washed clean of their sin

Disciple of Whom?

John 9:26–34 ESV

They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “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 comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

blind man challenge do you want to become his disciples too

indicates his desire to be a disciple

He has seen the power of God through Jesus and knows it

Pharisees - we are disciples of Moses

We know God spoke to Moses but not sure about Jesus

How?

Moses did miracles

God spoke to moses from Heaven

Moses prayed and God answered

Whats difference between disciples of moses and Jesus

Jesus

acknowledges God at work in Jesus

accepts Jesus teachings as God’s

Hope of salvation is by faith not works

Moses

Claims Jesus is of Satan

Proclaims Jesus teachings as blasphemy

Hope of salvation is by works earned salvation

blind man also acknowledges power of Jesus miracle its never been done before

God grants the prayers of the righteous

If not from God he could do nothing

Pharisees instead of admitting the truth cast him out shows hard heartedness

Spiritual Sight

John 9:35–41 ESV

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

blind man

Believes Jesus is God

Worships him

Realizes his own sin

cleansed and forgiven

Pharisees

Reject Jesus Godhood

Do not see their own sin

Their Guilt remains