What to do with Jesus
This morning, we are reviewing John 9 and it is going to be a bit of a flyover.
• We aren’t going to have the time to explore on the ground level where we can see all the detail, but
• We aren’t going to go so high up that lose sight of them either.
• I will do my best to hit a sweet spot somewhere in the middle, so that you see the core truths in this passage of scripture clearly enough so that you can spend the rest of the week really dialing it in.
To help you see these core truths, I want you have the parable of the soils in the back of your mind.
Outline
• Truth claim: Jesus is the light of the world
• There will be opposition to this truth
• There will be a pull toward this world
• There will be acceptance of this truth
Chapter 9 naturally flows from chapter 8, where Jesus threw one of his biggest truth bombs on the Jews. If you aren’t aware, John records 7 I AM statements in his gospel account. We get 3 of them in our passages tonight, but we begin on the heel of another one of these statements. At the end of chapter 8, the Jews were rejecting his teaching and clinging to their identity as children of Abraham.
To this, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
This was not lost on them. They didn’t scratch their heads at some seemingly poor grammar. They knew exactly what Jesus was saying here. This was a direct parallel to Exodus 3 and Isaiah 45, where this was God’s description of himself. This was a direct claim of deity. So, by the time we get to the opening scene in chapter 9, Jesus has already taken a swing at the hornet’s nest.
There are many different ways to digest this story. Tonight, I would like to look at a truth claim, then discuss the three different reactions to this claim. With that said, let’s read the story together.
Truth claim: Jesus is the light of the world
• Before the miracle, there was already an assumption being made
• He proved this by healing a blind man, who has lived his entire life in literal darkness
• In every miracle, Jesus always reveals an aspect of his nature (light & sovereignty)
• Many times, the truths of scripture challenge our current understanding
Before the miracle, there was already an assumption being made
Who Sinned?
John 9:2–3 CSB
His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.
This is not an unreasonable question to ask. Many times in the OT, we see references to generational sin (Num 14:18), while also seeing that everyone is responsible for their own sin (Ez 18:20). It is also a biblical concept that sin degrades. But isn’t it interesting that there was no room for a situation like Job’s, where the man could be innocent or an allowance for God to use the elements of this fallen world as a tool in his hand?
Don’t presume to know why someone is going through a hard time. Yes, God judges sin. Yes, sin impacts the whole of creation, but we can never know the inner workings of God in another person’s life.
He proved this by healing a blind man, who has lived his entire life in literal darkness
Often in John’s gospel, Jesus would reveal a spiritual truth by performing a corresponding physical miracle (ex- woman at the well. Physical thirst is an illustration of the reality of the spiritual thirst we all have).
So here, Jesus claims to be the light of the world then performs a miracle by opening the eyes of a blind man.
He spits in mud, smears it on the man’s eyes, then goes and tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam (which means Sent).
In every miracle, Jesus always reveals an aspect of his nature (light & sovereignty)
I am the light of the world. This is another I AM statement
Jesus is revealing another aspect of his nature. He is – in himself – light. Light illuminates. It makes visible what was once concealed.
As a result, Jesus does the work of the Father while it is still day and heals the blind man.
Many times, the truths of scripture challenge our current understanding
1. Performing a miracle evidently was considered a ‘work.’ Jesus also spit in dirt and made mud. This would have been considered kneading and was prohibited by the oral law. This challenged the Pharisee’s traditions.
What traditions do you think you have? If you say none, then you are probably the one who has the most. We all have them, and we need to be aware of it.
2. God redeemed a hopeless condition to display the power of God for the glory of God
God can ordain hardship for his glory. If a man can be born blind so that his restoration results in praise to God, what do you think he can do with your current sufferings? How can you take your situation and use it to bring God glory? You may not know why you are going through your current issue, but does not excuse you from loosing faith in God’s work in your life.
Now that is just the claim. Now, we need to see how different people react to it.
There will be opposition to this truth
• They already rejected other truth claims of Jesus
• Their tradition got in the way of believing in Jesus (not all of them, though)
• Their pride and power got in the way of believing in Jesus
• Their disbelief further hardened their hearts
• They asked a leading question
• They attacked the man’s character
They already rejected other truth claims of Jesus
chapter 8 – “I AM”.
They entered into the conversation with a predisposition toward Jesus.
Their tradition got in the way of believing in Jesus (not all of them, though)
Jesus made it his business to constantly challenge them on their traditions, because it was a veil over their eyes.
Jesus’ miracles should have been clear evidence of his claims.
Blind man goes before the Pharisees, who say Jesus is not from God because he broke Sabbath. This should have caused the Pharisees to praise God, but it actually did the opposite. Their own pride and envy hardened their hearts.
So, to investigate, the Pharisees questioned the man’s parents. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s okay to trust but verify. I only wish this was the case there, but it wasn’t. They were being underhanded. First their tradition prohibited them from seeing Jesus for who he really is. Then, when they ask more questions, look at their question to the not-blind man:
He man summoned a second time and was tried to be persuaded against Jesus
John 9:24 CSB
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.”
Have you ever had someone as you a leading question like that? Sometimes, they even mimic the head movement to get the answer they want…
Then, when the not-blind man seemingly lectured them, their pride flared up like a bon-fire, so they attacked his character (v34) and threw him out.
Hard hearts – The Pharisees clung so tightly to their man-made rules for the Sabbath, that they were blinded to God’s work that was happening right in front of them. They wanted the attention and power. They ruled with the threat of excommunication. They led with leading questions and they mocked anyone who would push against their authority.
Like the parable of the soils, the gospel message of Jesus’ true identity fell along the hard path where it could not penetrate and take root.
But that’s not the only reaction to Jesus’ message…
There will be a pull toward this world
• The man’s parents acted on the fear of man and the fear of loss.
Speaking as a parent, they should have protected & defended their son.
They should have praised God for the miracle! Paint the picture of the difficulty of a blind childhood
Fear of man – The parents basically threw their son under the bus, making him answer the Pharisee’s questions because they were afraid to be banished from the community.
We are not to operate in fear. Unless it is a healthy fear of the Lord, fear is always a tactic of the enemy.
2 Timothy 1:7 CSB
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
Luke 12:4–5 CSB
“I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
Let this be a warning to you and I. This can happen even to the strongest of us. Remember Peter – Mr. Tough Guy? The one who sliced an ear off when the Roman soldiers tried to arrest Jesus, then flat-out denied Him 3 times that same night. None of us are immune to the opinions of the people around us or the authorities over us.
Like the seed that fell among the thorns, the worries and cares of this life choked the spiritual life out of the parents.
Thankfully, the story doesn’t leave us handing there…
There will be acceptance of this truth
• child-like faith in Jesus
• simple obedience to Jesus
• gave a simple answer to a simple question from Jesus
• Why? Because he knew he NEEDED JESUS
Child-life faith in Jesus
The blind man didn’t know who Jesus was. He was put in a situation where he had to make the decision to believe Jesus’ words or reject them. It was a simple choice.
He also had a simple theology. ‘Jesus healed me.’ No one in Israel’s history has healed a person blind from birth, therefore, this man must be from God.
He also wasn’t weighed down by man-made rules. He certainly didn’t reject Jesus’ offer because it was the Sabbath.
Simple obedience to Jesus
The not-blind man didn’t know Jesus before all this. He clearly discerned there was something real about this man, so he did was Jesus said.
It wasn’t until the not-blind man was questioned by the Pharisees that he said Jesus was a prophet.
Let this be a reminder to us that we don’t have to know everything from the beginning. We are responsible to act on what we know.
Philippians 3:16 CSB
In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.
As a result, the not-blind man became more of a teacher than the Pharisees and had already settled to be Jesus’ disciple (v27)
He gave a simple answer to a simple question from Jesus
Healing of physical blindness led to a restoration of spiritual blindness. Jesus revealed himself as Messiah, and the immediate response was, “I believe Lord!”
The seed fell on good soil that will allow it to root, grow, and bear fruit
Why? Because he knew he NEEDED JESUS
It wasn’t until after he was banished from the community that Jesus came back and revealed who he truly was.
Jesus reveals his true self to the man and claims he came into the world for judgement and then immediately judged the Pharisees.
The fact of the matter is that you and I have the capacity to be each of these three people.
If you claim to see Jesus and hear Jesus, but have not received Jesus, then you are NOT HIS. Jesus’ words of judgement over the Pharisees applies to us today. If you have observed these things tonight, but have not received these things tonight, then I am asking that you make that step tonight. Don’t let another second go by before you say as the blind man, “I believe Lord!” Leave this place tonight with your eyes wide open to the spiritual truths proclaimed tonight and your ears attentive to the voice of your master.