Blind Man Healed

[0:00] Thank you for your prayers in terms of my own health. I took a break from my commitments the last nearly a month. I felt the Lord was saying, it's time you had a rest, pal.

[0:14] And so, took a rest. I was struggling to take a rest. Thanks for your prayers over that period.

[0:25] And thanks to the fellowship for the opportunity this morning to share with you. I believe the concern of Jesus is not so much about sin as the darkness that it brings.

[0:42] That's why he said, I am the light of the world. He's going to deal with sin. He's dealt with sin. He's removed the wrath of God. You come, humble, repentant.

[0:54] You'll be saved. But it's the darkness that sin brings that concerns Jesus. That's why he said, I am the light of the world.

[1:05] Whoever follows me will never or not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life within. It's the darkness that's the problem.

[1:19] We sang in the very first hymn that I chose for the service. There will be shadows. Every Christian will have shadows.

[1:30] But that's a different thing from darkness. Shadows flee away. You move out of the way. The shadow goes somewhere else. Darkness stays until the light comes.

[1:43] There's not degrees of darkness. It's either darkness or light. So we're going to read the first seven verses of John 9.

[1:56] Be useful if I went to the right book. John 9. Just the first seven verses. We won't read the whole chapter. It's obvious what's going on. But just capture the sense of what I'm saying to you.

[2:17] When they see the man born blind, he can't see them. But Jesus sees him. The first thing the disciples say.

[2:32] Here we go. Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Now I'm not going to go into that philosophical subject.

[2:43] Depending on how you look at it, it may be a theological subject. But the Jews believed a child could sin in the womb. They believed a child could sin in the mother's womb.

[2:56] And therefore, something in life would be bad for them. But I'm not going to go into that. And the reason why is Jesus didn't go into it. Notice what he does.

[3:09] His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither this man nor his parents sinned.

[3:20] Now that's not to say they weren't sinners. But there was nothing in particular in their life or the babies that meant that they should suffer. That's the end of it.

[3:33] And then he says, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Now, who caused the light to come into the darkness at the beginning of the world?

[3:48] God said, let there be light. Now, the book of Revelation tells us Jesus is the ruler of all creation.

[4:03] The ruler of all creation. The beginning of John tells us that there was nothing made that was made without him, the word of God. He was in the beginning with God.

[4:15] Then comes sin, three chapters later in the book of Genesis. And God has said, it is good.

[4:29] It is good. It is very good. Evening, morning, evening, morning. Very good. Till it comes to Adam and Eve. Then they're evicted because of their sin from Eden.

[4:40] They can't approach the tree of life. If they do, they will be light. They're left in the darkness. It's the darkness that's the problem.

[4:54] How does God, how do you remove the darkness from your mind? From your soul? From the darkness that sin causes in you? The hatred thoughts you have towards people?

[5:06] I don't know, many ordinary people I've heard say, I could, I could, I couldn't tell you the words they use. You maybe even thought of it yourself, if you were honest.

[5:23] The darkness is what brings that out. You don't see that in Jesus at all. Because he has no sin. He is the light of the world.

[5:37] Not just his exposition of scripture, but his example as the son of God. John's purpose for this gospel is in chapter 20, verse 31. There were other signs, but these ones are written that you might believe and in his name have eternal life.

[5:57] What does it say at the end of that? I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life. So let me ask you personally, whatever age you are, how many experiences you've had in life?

[6:15] Whether you've had a painless life or a painful life. Have you got an answer beside the promise of Jesus to dealing with the darkness in you?

[6:25] Don't lie to yourself. You do have darkness. The Bible is so precise about this. How many people have tried to change their ways, change their clothes, change their hair, change their style, change their country, change their house.

[6:46] The one thing you can't do is change your nature. But I know who can. Because if God doesn't, you're helpless.

[7:02] You're hopeless. I am the light of the world. So let me go down that, these seven verses.

[7:14] Just to read them. He says, verse 4. Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus.

[7:25] But this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in his life. That's the point of it all. So the man will be a new person.

[7:36] Not just be able to see physically, but spiritually. And he will say, the one God sent did it. It's very precise.

[7:50] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Jesus is going to die. Darkness will come. But he's going to die for those in the dark.

[8:02] As the light of the world. Then we're going to preach the gospel. And it's in every country on earth the last 2,000 years. It began with the Jewish nation.

[8:15] Millions of Jews believed in him. Still believe in him. Will believe in him. Then it went to the Gentiles. Still the light of the world. To all the dark Gentiles. And all the dark Jews.

[8:25] Even with the scriptures. Even with the Jewish nation. The Jewish religion. Even all the promises. The priests. The kings. The shepherds. The true prophets.

[8:36] The false prophets. Nobody can remove the darkness in human nature. Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

[8:51] There it is. Romans 3. It's the darkness. We're trying to get out of. And you can't.

[9:02] Get out of it. Because you're groping around in the dark. Is there a window? Is there a door? Is there anyone to help me? No. Because they're all in the same place.

[9:14] The ship is sinking. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. Now. I am.

[9:26] Verse 6. After saying this. He spit on the ground. Made some mud with the saliva. Put it on the man's eyes. Go. He told him. Wash in the pool of Siloam.

[9:38] This word means sent. So the man went and washed. And came home. Seeing. The man has never seen in his entire life.

[9:53] He was blind in his mother's womb. He was born blind. Whatever age he was. He's lived sightless his entire life.

[10:03] Who sinned? Who caused this? You know friends. I've heard Christians say things. I think. Have you ever read the Bible? I've heard Christians give an understanding.

[10:19] And I think. You've never read the Bible. They'll say things like. It's God's world. Everything that happens in the world. Is God's will.

[10:30] That's not what the Bible teaches. We're not fatalists. That's not what the Bible teaches. The Bible does not teach.

[10:42] That everything in the world. That's happening. Is God's will. There are many things happen in the world. God wishes wasn't happening in the world.

[10:54] But it's happening because. As the Bible says. The human race is a fallen race. Corrupted by sin. Practiced since we were children.

[11:08] Because. Of the darkness. Within. It's not biblical to tell people. That everything that happens in the world.

[11:19] Because it's God's world. Is God's will. That is not true. You're misleading people. If you tell them that. Please.

[11:32] Don't mislead sinners. Up the wrong pathway. The reason why things happen in the world. That's not God's will. Is because of the darkness.

[11:44] In us. I am the light of the world. The light of the world. The world is corrupt.

[12:03] Don't tell me you haven't used that phrase. Your Sunday morning paper. This world is corrupt.

[12:15] Many times have you said that yourself. Or thought it. What's the basis of that? The common denominator. Is spiritual darkness.

[12:29] No matter how many religions you make up. Jewish religion. Christian religion. And it's hundreds of denominations. And Jews cults. And everything else.

[12:40] That's just religion. Without Jesus. It has no power. It has no authority. It has no light. These are the thoughts of men.

[12:52] Even if it comes from the word of God. The Bible itself. You can turn the Bible to mean anything. If you're determined to develop a cult. But we're talking here about a person.

[13:11] A person. And John tells us. As the rest of the scripture does. This person.

[13:21] Is God's son. From the land of light. Is the light himself. And the only one. That can penetrate the darkness.

[13:33] How? How does he do it? Well he's not willing to go by men's traditional thinking. About a baby's parents. Or the baby themselves sinning.

[13:44] And that's what caused the problem. Forget it. Neither. It's darkness. That's caused by sin.

[13:59] How do you therefore get to the point where. You start to walk in the light. Well you have to have the spirit. How do you get the point where you have the spirit.

[14:13] When you're born again by the spirit. From above. In Jesus name. What does it take for that spirit to come into our life. And have us walking in the light. Free from the darkness.

[14:24] Oh there'll be shadows. But no darkness. Between us and God. Well God's son comes. And God so loves this world. That God gives his son.

[14:35] That whoever in the world believes in him. Will not. Perish. In the darkness. But have. The light. Of life.

[14:46] Eternal life. It makes total sense. When we've been going through the gospel of John.

[15:01] I've noticed. Something in particular. Which I don't think I've ever noticed it before. And I've lectured on the gospel of John. Never mind preached through it. How precise Jesus is.

[15:14] I am. Not I could be. In three years. I will be. No. I am.

[15:27] The bread of life. Hungry. You'll never be hungry again. I am the true vine. He tells the Jewish disciples. Israel's not the true vine. I am. You will bear fruit that will last forever.

[15:41] Because I. Precisely. I'm the true vine. I was telling brother David. And I mentioned it to Carl. Young Carl on Wednesday. I was reading about a man called John Rogerson.

[15:55] Sorry. John Rogers. John Rogers was a man whose. Life. Up until he became a Christian. Was not a model to follow. But he was very very intelligent.

[16:07] And he went to Cambridge University. And he had a benefactor. A patron. Because he couldn't afford. The bibliography. For the course. This man bought him his books.

[16:19] Three times. The three times. He sold them. And yet the man gave them twice more. Because he was convinced. And he prayed for him. While he had a third set of books.

[16:33] He was converted. He became a gospel preacher. One of the best known down in Essex. And he became so well known.

[16:44] One day he was in a meeting. There were bishops. In a kind of interdenominational meeting. And this bishop walked over to him. And he said to him. John I love your company.

[16:56] He said. But why are you so precise? He's a gospel preacher remember. This man's a Church of England bishop.

[17:08] And John Rogers said. I serve. I am precise.

[17:19] Because I serve. A precise God. I serve. Because. I am precise.

[17:31] Because I serve. A precise God. When I read the Gospel of John. And that's what we're looking at. I am.

[17:42] I am. I am. I am. He contrasts himself. With every single person. In the universe. The human universe. And then you read.

[17:53] God. Is. Light. I am. The light. Of the world. Whoever. Whoever.

[18:04] In the world. Follows me. They will never. Walk. In darkness. The darkness.

[18:15] Is dispensed with. They see him. For who he is. They will have. The light. Of life. We possess.

[18:27] What the darkness. Cannot. Fight against. Let me take you back. To John chapter 1. Just to read this. Listen to these opening verses. The prologue. To John's Gospel. I mean.

[18:37] It's a work of wonder. How he summarizes. What he's going to say. In the next 20 chapters. Just listen to this friends. This is the word of God. This is Jesus. Telling you.

[18:48] And this is the prologue. To the book. I'll read from verse. Three. Through him.

[19:00] All things were made. Without him. Nothing was made. That has been made. In him. Was life. Remember Jesus's promise. At the end of. I am the light of the world.

[19:11] They will have the light of life. In him. Was life. And that life. Was the light. Of all mankind. The light shines.

[19:22] In the darkness. And the darkness. Cannot. Overcome it. Now that Greek word.

[19:33] Means to grasp. That's why you'll find. In some translations. Will not. It does not. Understand it. The darkness. Does not understand it. Or will not overcome it.

[19:45] Means to grasp. Mentally. Or physically. The darkness. Can't deal with the light. Because when the light comes. Have you ever looked out. In your street.

[19:56] And somebody phones you up. And said. You know. In my street. The light hasn't come. The darkness is still there. And someone in another street. Says. No. The light's out. In my street. No.

[20:06] When the light comes. The darkness has to go. And that's. What Jesus is offering.

[20:19] I have all authority. In heaven and earth. He told the disciples. Now go. In my name. The light of the world. Preach the gospel. Will. Because the darkness.

[20:34] Out there. Will go. When I'm received. And believed on. And there's the sad part. Of this. When we read.

[20:44] To John 9. And how he puts it all. In its place. And his mind. Is on the darkness. In man. That a man. Will argue.

[20:54] With the son of God. And then he will say. Let's find a way. Of killing him. Then they will. Go to kill him. Because he's telling the truth. The preciseness.

[21:05] Of Jesus. They cannot. Get past this. Because he knows. Who he is. And they don't. He's offering.

[21:17] Freely. Not just to open the curtains. And let the light in. He's offering. By. His own.

[21:27] Sacrifice. To dispel. The wrath. Of God. From mankind. When someone. Comes to believe.

[21:38] In him. The light. Enters. Doesn't he just. Dawn. And a new life. In the light.

[21:48] Of God. Comes. Do you notice. Down in chapter. Chapter one. Of John. Of John. It says this. Four words. That rung in my head.

[21:59] I love that. I've got that little poetic turn. At times. Where things begin to rhyme. Even if they shouldn't. It says this. He came to that. Which was his own.

[22:10] But his own. Did not receive him. Verse 11. Israel. How sad. At the time. It must have broke his heart. Yet to all.

[22:21] Who did receive him. To those. Who believed. In his name. He gave the right. To become the children of God. Here are the four words. There's night. Then there's light.

[22:32] Then there's sight. And then there's a right. To become. The children of God. That's the order. That can't change. You can't have the right.

[22:45] Without the removal. And dealing of the night. You can't deal with the night. Unless you have the light. And you won't have any sight. Unless you remove the darkness. And enter the light.

[22:59] The night. Then the light. Then the sight. Yes you're right. You're now my child. John Rogers was right.

[23:16] When he spoke to the bishop. The preciseness of God. Does not allow. Any compromise. On who he is.

[23:28] Why he came. What he does. Who he does it for. Anyone. Be you religious. Or an atheist. You still need.

[23:41] You still need your eyes open. I was thinking. The Hank Williams song. I used to sing. When I was young. Even before I was a Christian. I saw the light. Banging out of country. The gospel song.

[23:55] I wandered so aimless. Life filled with sin. He lets Jesus in. I saw the light. I saw the light.

[24:09] See it's not. To me the evidence in the world today. Is as it's always been. But it's shameless now.

[24:19] In a way that. My father and mother. We never believed. My mother used to say. I would hate to be bringing up children today. You know. I was this size. Because I kicked my wee sister.

[24:32] Or because my wee sister told her. I kicked her. Nowadays. It's not kicking your wee sister. It's shameless. The darkness.

[24:43] Is obvious. In trying to change yourselves. People are hitting their head. Off a brick wall. And they are bleeding to death.

[24:54] And they don't see it. Because of the darkness. They don't know. That's a brick wall. It's actually sin. In the life. It's in here.

[25:06] It's not in your neighbour. Think of John Rogers. He went and drank. He actually sold the books. The man gave him.

[25:16] For his academic work. And he drank it three times. During the third time. A dear man. Found the Lord. Or the Lord found him. Wonderful.

[25:28] He became a gospel preacher. He never believed. He'd been a gospel preacher. When he did what he did. But the darkness. Was removed.

[25:40] Because he seen that the Lord. Was the light. Of the world. That included him. This is what Paul says.

[25:52] In 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Friends. Let me just get my text. 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Sorry. 2 Corinthians chapter 3.

[26:03] He wants to tell them.

[26:23] That the God who said. Let there be light. At the beginning. Has now. Shown to.

[26:34] Believers. Jesus. So that they see in Jesus. The glory of God. Let me just read from verse 12.

[26:46] Of chapter 3. Therefore since we have such a hope. We are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3. We are not like Moses. Who would put a veil over his face.

[26:57] To prevent the Israelites. From seeing the end. Of what was passing away. Notice that. The end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull.

[27:08] For to this day. The same veil remains. When the old covenant is read. The Jewish nation. The covenant. The scripture. The prophets.

[27:18] The priests. The kings. A veil over the mind. And. Religion. Religion. Doesn't remove the darkness. May even deepen it. Like coming to church.

[27:32] This doesn't remove the darkness. Coming into a building. Or into a synagogue. Verse 14.

[27:47] But their minds were made dull. For to this day. The same veil remains. When the old covenant is read. It has not been removed. Because only in Christ. Is it taken away.

[28:05] Even to this day. When Moses is read. A veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone. Turns to the Lord. The veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the spirit. And where the spirit of the Lord is.

[28:17] There is freedom. Freedom from the darkness. I am free. I am not under God's wrath.

[28:29] There is no condemnation. For those in Christ Jesus. Romans 8.1 And we all.

[28:40] Verse 18. With unveiled faces. Unveiled faces. Are being transformed. Are being transformed. Into his image. With ever increasing glory.

[28:52] Which comes from the Lord. Who is the spirit. Let me carry on. Therefore. Since through God's mercy. We have this ministry. We don't lose heart.

[29:05] Rather. We have renowned. Secret and shameful ways. Evidence. The darkness is gone. We do not use deception. Nor do we distort.

[29:15] The word of God. On the contrary. By setting forth. The truth plainly. We commend ourselves. To everyone's conscience. In the sight of God. And even if our gospel.

[29:27] Is veiled. It is veiled. To those who are perishing. Darkness. Perishing. Judgment. It is totally consistent. The Bible.

[29:37] In it is precision. And it is thinking. And the way it reveals. What God wants the apostles. To write. And teach to those young believers. And here is the next part.

[29:51] And even if our gospel. Is veiled. It is veiled. To those who are perishing. The God. Of this age. Right. The prince.

[30:02] Of darkness. The God of this age. Has blinded. Now that's easy to do. When somebody's in the dark. Just go that way. There's a big hole waiting for you.

[30:13] Down you go. I remember once. In Glasgow. With my dad. In the Gorbals. There was a fog. It was like a London fog. They called it. It was pitch black.

[30:26] And we were in this part. Of the area. Where we lived. It was. Pitch black. There were no lanterns. Lights or nothing. In the streets. I could not see.

[30:36] In front of me. Honestly. And he held my hand. As we made our way. Up the stair. Trying to remember. Where. It was pitch black. Not a light.

[30:48] In the house. Outside the house. In the street. No moon in the sky. The fog. I still remember it. I was probably. Maybe eight. Eight years old. The mind. The mind is blinded.

[31:01] The eyes are useless. So he says. The God of this age. Has blinded the minds. Of unbelievers. So that they cannot see.

[31:13] The light of the gospel. There we are. That's Jesus. That displays. The glory of Christ. Who is the image of God. For what we preach.

[31:24] Is not ourselves. But Jesus Christ. As Lord. And ourselves. For your sake. As servants. Here. Listen to this. Friends. Right back to Genesis 1.

[31:37] For God who said. Let light shine. Out of darkness. Here's the dispelling. Of the darkness. Made his light.

[31:49] To shine. In our hearts. To give us the light. Of the knowledge. Of God's glory. Displayed.

[32:00] The same word. As in John 9. Regarding the man. Who was made to see. Displayed. God's works. Displayed. In the face.

[32:12] Of Christ. So when you become a Christian. When I became a Christian. God's will for me. In this world.

[32:23] I didn't know it. Was that just like that blind man. Who was made to see. And to understand. It was the Lord God of heaven. The ruler of the universe.

[32:34] That recreated him. And gave him a new life. In his life. And mine. The works of God. Are to be displayed. To him.

[32:45] The glory goes. We're just humble servants. We're just humble servants. That's all. Just humble servants.

[33:02] God is very precise. My worry. And I've shared this a thousand times. My worry. Is always.

[33:13] About religion. I never was religious. Till I became a Christian. religion. I didn't need religion. I needed the gospel.

[33:24] And I got it. And the next minute. As it were. A call.

[33:36] To do what? How can I preach to religious people? I'm not religious. No. You're mine. Remember.

[33:48] Your saviour. Among the religious. How they had to have their eyes open. And as we've seen there.

[33:59] In John 9. If you'd read on. Almost every time. He. Gave one of the signs. Of who he was. There was a debate. Who does he think he is? Who do you think you are? Why do you say that?

[34:11] Why did you not say that? Who said you did? And Jesus must have been tired. Listening to it. But. With no sin. Every silence. Every slip away.

[34:22] Every answer. Was full of love. And light. Because he's the light. Of the world. And when they look back. They remember. The most perfect person.

[34:34] They'll ever meet. Was crucified. For them. A sinless lamb. Of God. Now I know.

[34:48] There are times. In all our life. When we all. Kind of shout. Eureka. I've seen it. I've never seen it before. Sometimes it's a job. Sometimes you're looking at. I never understood that.

[35:00] I understand it. Now I see it. Eureka. Yeah. We all get that kind of feeling. We all get. Ah. I never understood that before. And we think.

[35:11] How did I not see that before? It concerns me at times.

[35:21] When we forget. That. Why we are here this morning.

[35:37] Did you pray. As you entered this place. Did you ask God. To. Open.

[35:48] The eyes. Of the spiritually blind. Who are here. Or are we assuming. We're all the Lord's. No right to assume that. None of us.

[35:58] Very right to assume that. Did you ask that God. Would open the eyes. Spiritually open the eyes. To see. Christ.

[36:09] As the light of the world. You're in darkness. Until. You come to him. That's what we should be doing. When we enter this place. It's what we should be doing. Before we enter it.

[36:20] Knowing that the word of God. Is going to be preached. Never assume. Everybody in the room. Is the Lord's. That is wrong. Otherwise.

[36:39] We just treat. Our gathering. Is the religious gathering. In the Baptist church. In Belts Hill. Let's go home. We've had our service. That's not what we're for. If that's the case.

[36:53] Jesus is just a state in heaven. Let us carry on. With the religion. Before we sing our final hymn.

[37:08] Is the Lord. Is your unfailing love. In your light. We see light. From the Psalms. I'm going to ask you just be aware if you know yourself you have not entered into the walk of light and life with Jesus just think for a moment about pride ignorance arrogance conceit because these were all there in the people that crucified Jesus all of them and they thought they were doing the right thing and it was the worst thing they could ever do in the world and they were convinced they were right because of the darkness that sin brings and Satan reinforces all the time so before we sing that lovely song it's a lovely song straight out of the Psalms let's take a moment for prayer and I just ask that you yourself would be aware this could be your last service we all have shadows even the shadow of death but when you're the Lord's you don't have darkness you have light you're a sinner saved by grace through faith and I have some tracts here anyone wants one please help yourself and if it helps you then talk to anyone after or later on in the week you may feel the Lord speaking to you

[39:18] I had a friend who's who was on a motorbike with another man and he crashed on the Moray coast and his friend was killed outright he survived the crash on the motorbike Andrew's a free church minister today he got out of his bed the night before it happened the night after it happened and he just fell down on his knees at his bed he's been a free church minister he was one of my deacons in Alness just that click he was unsaved the light had dawned so let me pray for you again if you want a tract please I'll give you one but let's pray before we sing our final hymn our Father God remind us when we handle the Bible it's not a railway timetable it's not something where we can look and say oh the train leaves there and we'll be there by 5.30 oh and if it isn't then we can get this train and we know and it's all there when we read the Bible

[40:32] Father remind us it's not like a railway timetable you need to open the inner eyes of a person that's important and we pray that this prayer that we're praying together as believers will be a vital part of anyone in this room this morning who are still in the darkness who don't realize the burdens are lifted at Calvary we pray that their eyes inner eyes would be opened their spiritual eyes to see what they've never seen before so we thank you for reminding us it's the darkness Jesus came to remove by dealing with our sin and it gives us power over the enemy we're not under his dominion but Christ is Lord

[41:40] Christ is Lord and Master and who could ask for anything more thank you for your unfailing love as our brother said earlier in faithfulness to our world how we need to hear afresh thank you again for your grace to us we pray that you may remind us that even those of us who know you we're not in any disadvantage not seeing you Jesus said far more blessed are those who haven't seen me and believed we look forward to that day we bless you in Jesus name Amen