Sermon Summary
True Worshipers – Man Born Blind
Darkness covers this world, so we must ask ourselves, “Is there more light or darkness in our hearts, and our lives?”. We’re humans and we’re more comfortable with darkness. In Genesis 1:2, it all began with darkness, and the spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Today God is moving to create light in our darkness.
In today’s passage this man was blind from birth, he has never seen the light. His blindness represents darkness. (John 9:1)
When Jesus walks into the scene, it becomes day. May He be the true light of our lives so we can live in light! And Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)
Jesus told the blind man something so ironic because the blind man is in darkness. Only those who follow Him receives that light. If we’re in the light, the reason is because we’ve let Jesus into our hearts, and He cast out that darkness. Where Jesus is, it’s always light and day!
We humans always try to blame others for our darkness – we blame our spouse, children, friends, world…. etc. We get so hung up on the past, looking for someone to blame. That’s why the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered that his blindness is to show the works of God. Jesus only looks forward and not backwards. So let us take what Jesus said and believe it! God will use us to show His work. God sends us to do His work because He’ll give us the light. He is the one who’ll open the blind man’s eyes. We are not the source of light; we merely reflect God’s light like the moon.
Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”. He could have just said, “Receive your sight!” and the blind man would have been healed. But He commanded him; not for people’s entertainment, but to give us a message about who He is, why He came, and the salvation work He does.
John chapter 9 is a re-enactment of Genesis chapter 1 according to Polycarp. The Apostle John through his writings is trying to tell us a story of Sabbath and redemption. When this blind man had the clay put on his eyes, it is the work of re-creation, also known as redemption or salvation. God doesn’t just throw us away but He re-creates, and remakes us to save us.
After God created light, he separated the light from darkness. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. On Sabbath, light shines in darkness and there’s no more darkness, because darkness doesn’t come back again. Those who understand will come into the light. (John 9:14, Gen 1:4, John 1:5)
In today’s passage we see the separation of light and darkness between the blind man and the Jews/Pharisees as shown in the chart below:
| Jews/Pharisees {DARKNESS} | Man born blind {LIGHT} | Observation: |
|---|---|---|
| Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” (John 9:10 NKJ) | They pretended to be neutral. | |
| He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me,`Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” (John 9:11 NKJ) | The blind man testified of his experience. He called Jesus “the man”. | |
| Then they said to him, “Where is He?” (John 9:12 NKJ) | He said, “I do not know.” (John 9:12 NKJ) | They were not asking because they wanted to honor Jesus. |
| Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. (John 9:15 NKJ) | He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” (John 9:15 NKJ) | They asked again to find fault. |
| Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. (John 9:16 NKJ) | They looked for an excuse to call Jesus a sinner. But even among them they don’t agree. {Darkness becomes darker when the light comes}. |
|
| They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” (John 9:17 NKJ) | He said, “He is a prophet.” (John 9:17 NKJ) | The blind man’s faith and perspective of Jesus is becoming brighter. |
| But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. (John 9:18 NKJ) | They are in denial and refused to accept what Jesus did and who He is. | |
| So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” (John 9:24 NKJ) | He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25 NKJ) | They insisted that Jesus is a sinner but the blind man is not letting that darkness penetrate him. |
| Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” (John 9:26 NKJ) | He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” (John 9:27 NKJ) | The blind man answered sarcastically because they asked for the 3rd time. |
| Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. (John 9:28 NKJ) | Is being Jesus’ disciple or Moses’ disciple better? | |
| “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” (John 9:29 NKJ) | The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! (John 9:30 NKJ) | The blind man is telling them they’re missing the point. |
| “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (John 9:31-33 NKJ) | He defends Jesus and says that Jesus is from God. | |
| They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. (John 9:34 NKJ) | ||
| Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” (John 9:35 NKJ) | Jesus comes to check on his faith. | |
| He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” (John 9:36 NKJ) | Now blind man calls Jesus “Lord” and expresses his desire to believe. | |
| And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” (John 9:37 NKJ) | ||
| Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. (John 9:38 NKJ) | He came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and worshipped Him. This is the work of the light. | |
Conclusion:
The History of Redemption in the Bible is the history of the light. Let us learn from this blind man, to always progress in our faith, and to not let the darkness swallow up the light! The world is full of darkness, let it not swallow up the light in us. As long as we let Father’s words into our hearts, His light will swallow up our darkness! Amen!
There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5 NKJ)
AMEN.
