WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.719 Well, if you would, please take your Bibles and open them up to the Gospel of John this 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:08.040 morning. 00:00:08.099 --> 00:00:09.000 The Gospel of John. 00:00:09.099 --> 00:00:12.599 We are continuing our series through John's Gospel. 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:18.500 We've made our way to John chapter 9 this morning, and when you found that in your Bible, 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:23.460 if you would stand and follow along with me as I read John chapter 9. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:26.000 Let's stand together out of reverence for the Word of God. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.700 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth, and his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, 00:00:40.700 --> 00:00:43.719 this man or his parents, that he was born blind? 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:51.340 Jesus answered, It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:53.000 be displayed in him. 00:00:53.980 --> 00:00:57.060 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. 00:00:57.060 --> 00:00:59.880 Night is coming when no one can work. 00:01:00.620 --> 00:01:04.079 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 00:01:04.939 --> 00:01:09.560 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:16.060 Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, Go wash in the pool of Siloam, 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:17.140 which means sent. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:20.920 So he went and washed and came back seeing. 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:27.700 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, Is this not the man 00:01:27.700 --> 00:01:29.060 who used to sit and beg? 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:31.240 Some said, It is he. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.620 Others said, No, but he is like him. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:35.980 He kept saying, I am the man. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:40.180 So they called to him, Then how were your eyes opened? 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:47.060 He answered, The man called Jesus, made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to 00:01:47.060 --> 00:01:48.040 Siloam and wash. 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:51.040 So I went and washed and received my sight. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:53.460 They said to him, Where is he? 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:55.379 He said, I do not know. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.980 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:04.620 Now, it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:08.699 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.819 And he said to them, He put mud on my eyes and I washed and I see. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:18.859 Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. 00:02:19.799 --> 00:02:23.259 But others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:25.299 And there was a division among them. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:31.219 So they said again to the blind man, What do you say about him, since he has opened your 00:02:31.219 --> 00:02:31.659 eyes? 00:02:32.459 --> 00:02:34.539 He said, He is a prophet. 00:02:35.519 --> 00:02:40.039 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:45.120 called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, Is this your son 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.479 who you say was born blind? 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:48.180 How then does he now see? 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:54.340 His parents answered, We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:58.959 But how he now sees, we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. 00:02:59.019 --> 00:02:59.519 Ask him. 00:02:59.739 --> 00:03:00.340 He is of age. 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:01.859 He will speak for himself. 00:03:02.399 --> 00:03:05.699 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews. 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:11.539 For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be the Christ, he was 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:12.859 to be put out of the synagogue. 00:03:14.119 --> 00:03:15.939 Therefore, his parents said, He is of age. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:16.459 Ask him. 00:03:17.679 --> 00:03:22.079 So for the second time, they called the man who had been blind and said to him, Give glory 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:22.699 to God. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.019 We know that this man is a sinner. 00:03:25.979 --> 00:03:29.199 He answered, Whether he's a sinner, I do not know. 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:33.519 One thing I do know, though I was blind, now I see. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:36.860 They said to him, What did he do to you? 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:38.439 How did he open your eyes? 00:03:39.260 --> 00:03:43.320 He answered them, I have told you already, and you would not listen. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:45.100 Why do you want to hear it again? 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:47.439 Do you also want to become his disciples? 00:03:48.420 --> 00:03:54.520 And they reviled him, saying, You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:59.400 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes 00:03:59.400 --> 00:03:59.760 from. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:04.439 The man answered, Why, this is an amazing thing. 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:08.500 You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:13.899 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does 00:04:13.899 --> 00:04:15.679 his will, God listens to him. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:21.719 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 00:04:22.159 --> 00:04:24.819 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:30.240 They answered him, You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us? 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.219 And they cast him out. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:38.779 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him, he said, Do you believe in 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:39.439 the Son of Man? 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:44.579 He answered, And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him? 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:51.819 Jesus said to him, You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:54.859 He said, Lord, I believe. 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:56.419 And he worshipped him. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:03.240 Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world that those who do not see may see, and 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:06.500 those who see may become blind. 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:12.680 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, Are we also blind? 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:16.980 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no guilt. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:21.740 But now that you say we see, your guilt remains. 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:24.160 This is God's word. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.920 Please be seated and let's pray together. 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:35.800 Father, Lord, we pray now, even thanking you for your work of salvation and the gift 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:39.580 of spiritual sight, we thank you that you have opened up our eyes. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:44.220 We pray now again for clear sight as we look to Christ and his word. 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:45.340 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:46.580 Amen. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:51.020 How clearly do you see the worth of Jesus? 00:05:51.019 --> 00:06:01.339 One of the most popular hymns over the past 350 years is no doubt John Newton's work, Amazing 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:02.079 Grace. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:06.399 I'd be willing to bet most of us know probably all of the words to that song, at least the 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.339 first line. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:12.539 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.479 I once was lost, but now I'm found was what? 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:16.959 Help me. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:22.279 I was blind, but now I see. 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:26.439 John Newton, he was not physically blind. 00:06:26.539 --> 00:06:28.779 In fact, his eyes, they worked just fine. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.019 But something had drastically changed in his life. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:36.399 Before his conversion, he was a slave trader. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:40.639 He spent most of his life out at sea as a sailor. 00:06:40.719 --> 00:06:42.740 And by all accounts, he was mean. 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:44.079 He was foul. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.060 He was nasty. 00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:48.240 He acted and talked and lived like a sailor. 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:55.240 But by the amazing grace of God, the Lord opened up his eyes, not physically, but spiritually, 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:00.740 opened up his eyes to see his sin and to see the beauty of the Savior. 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:02.360 And he believed. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:10.660 So he wrote a famous hymn alongside many others that proclaimed the amazing grace of God. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:15.420 I once was lost, now I'm found, was blind, but now I see. 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:20.340 We resonate with that song because that's the testimony of every single believer. 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:27.800 Well, this morning, we see a story of God's amazing grace. 00:07:29.020 --> 00:07:31.460 This is a story of the lost being found. 00:07:31.580 --> 00:07:34.300 It's a story of the blind being given sight. 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:39.840 But in fact, we actually, it's two stories here this morning that run in parallel. 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:43.400 It's a story of blindness in sight. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:47.280 One is physical and the other is spiritual. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:55.120 So first, let's look at the physical miracle of blindness to sight. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:08:02.540 This is a beautiful picture, a beautiful lesson of sin, suffering, and God's mercy towards sinners. 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:07.920 Last chapter, John chapter 8, Jesus had just escaped death. 00:08:08.019 --> 00:08:11.959 If you remember, he made this proclamation, before Abraham was, I am. 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:15.899 And the Jews understood that he was claiming to be equal with God. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.480 So they picked up stones to throw at him. 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:21.660 And somehow, we're not told how, somehow he escaped. 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:27.960 And we don't know how much time has elapsed here between the end of chapter 8 and the beginning of chapter 9. 00:08:28.520 --> 00:08:36.779 But chapter 9 says that as he passed by, he saw a man who had been blind from the time he was born. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:43.779 This man, he was born with a life-altering disability. 00:08:45.300 --> 00:08:49.220 And we're not told really anything more about this man's life before this point. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:57.379 But you can imagine the difficulty of being born blind, of going through your life, not able to see any part of God's creation. 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:01.740 And not being able to see anything that's going on around you. 00:09:01.820 --> 00:09:04.279 Having no awareness of your surroundings physically. 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:07.860 Not being able to see where you're going, what's ahead of you. 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:12.540 His entire life was marked by dependence and vulnerability. 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:18.799 And here we see in verse 8 that apparently he had taken to begging. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:26.240 We'll encounter his parents later on, but I just want to say now, I'm not too impressed with this man's parents. 00:09:26.939 --> 00:09:29.419 Apparently, he was cast out. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:31.379 They were no longer providing for him. 00:09:31.459 --> 00:09:38.939 He was on his own, on the street, begging, hoping that someone might see him and care for him. 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:41.820 But it's a sad picture, isn't it? 00:09:43.140 --> 00:09:50.420 And when you think about that sad description of this man's life, you might wonder, what kind of life is that? 00:09:51.800 --> 00:09:54.240 What went wrong here? 00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:56.480 Whose fault is it? 00:09:56.520 --> 00:09:59.140 What did he do to deserve this? 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.660 And I wonder if you ever think that way. 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:05.459 Maybe when you drive into downtown and you see someone on the side of the road begging. 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:07.860 Someone who's homeless. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:10.639 Someone whose life has fallen apart. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:11.679 Begging for money. 00:10:11.819 --> 00:10:12.480 Begging for food. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:15.579 I wonder, do you ever wonder what happened here? 00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:19.219 What went wrong in their life? 00:10:19.299 --> 00:10:20.659 Whose fault is this? 00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:24.579 Because as far as we can tell to our limited understanding, 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:29.459 this looks, visibly looks, like the judgment of God. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:34.079 That's exactly what the disciples thought. 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:36.419 So they asked Jesus, look there to verse 2. 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:38.539 They said, Rabbi, who sinned? 00:10:39.339 --> 00:10:42.319 This man or his parents? 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:44.480 That he was born blind. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.519 Whose fault is it? 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.059 Who sin caused this blindness? 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:55.480 Either the parents or somehow this man had sinned in the womb because he'd been blind his whole life. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:56.379 Whose fault is it? 00:10:56.439 --> 00:10:59.059 The parents or this man? 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:08.279 The disciples, I believe the disciples had a faulty and incomplete, maybe an underdeveloped theology of sin and suffering. 00:11:08.479 --> 00:11:15.759 So we need to address this because all of us live in a world that is marked by sin and suffering. 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:21.979 All of us individually are marked by sin and suffering. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:27.320 We need to understand and think about this biblically and understand what God says about these things. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:33.539 Well, the truth is that generally speaking, all suffering is a result of sin. 00:11:34.420 --> 00:11:34.680 Right? 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:41.019 All suffering, physical or otherwise, is a direct consequence of sin. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:49.980 Sin is the explanation for all of the disease, all of the sickness, all of the suffering in the world. 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:54.580 If there were no sin in the world, there would be no suffering in the world. 00:11:55.580 --> 00:12:02.300 And we should know that sometimes suffering is a direct consequence of our sin. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.120 Personal sin in our life. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.159 We know this, don't we? 00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:13.139 If we choose to drink ourselves drunk and then get behind the wheel of a car and we drive our car into a ditch, 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:16.699 that is directly a consequence of our sinful actions. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:21.500 If we choose to cheat on our spouse and our marriage falls apart, 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:25.919 that is directly a consequence of our sinful actions. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:30.539 Sometimes suffering is directly a consequence of sin. 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:33.679 We see that throughout the scriptures as well, though. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:43.259 Sometimes throughout the scriptures we see God will inflict judgment on particular individuals for specific sins in their life. 00:12:43.339 --> 00:12:49.279 You think of Uzzah who touches the ark and immediately he's struck down on the spot. 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:54.000 Or you think of Ananias and Sapphira who sold their field. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:56.419 They kept some of the money back to themselves. 00:12:56.599 --> 00:13:00.879 They lied about it and immediately struck down on the spot. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:05.000 You think of the prophets over and over and over and over throughout the prophets in the Old Testament. 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:09.840 They say you're going into exile because of your sin. 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:11.879 There's a connection here. 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:16.759 Because of your sin, God is bringing judgment on your life. 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:26.860 We should know sometimes God does bring affliction directly as a result of particular sin in our life. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:38.800 But more often, most often, I would say, that correlation between sin and consequence is not always clear. 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:43.180 The truth is that sin is messy. 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.960 It's unclear. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.860 We want things to be black and white. 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:49.379 We want to understand why. 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:57.379 But the reality of living in a sin-cursed world is that we deal with the effects and the consequences of sin often without understanding. 00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:02.720 Often without a clear explanation of why things are happening the way they are. 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:07.240 We know that suffering generally is a result of sin. 00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:11.100 But we often are left wondering, well, why me? 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.059 Why this person? 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.059 Why this way? 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:15.659 Why like this? 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.139 Why right now? 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:19.039 Why this difficult? 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:28.720 And experience would tell us that sometimes, oftentimes, it's the most righteous people that seem to suffer most, 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:32.639 while those who are wicked seem to be doing just fine. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:37.720 I just got back yesterday from my grandmother's funeral. 00:14:38.939 --> 00:14:43.620 And I want to say I appreciate so much your prayers for us, for our family. 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:48.259 I appreciate your support during this time. 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:52.419 She was, without a doubt, she was one of the most godly people I know. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.279 She was a saint. 00:14:55.700 --> 00:15:01.080 And over the past few years, as she suffered, cancer was eating her up. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.440 She suffered greatly. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:06.899 Whenever I would speak with her on the phone or go to visit her, 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:11.939 she would say to me, I just don't know why I'm suffering like this. 00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:18.679 I don't know why God has chosen to have me endure this pain, this suffering. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.379 I don't know why. 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:21.319 I just can't seem to get well. 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:29.460 But what I do know is that God is good and that God has a purpose in this. 00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:31.879 That's what she said to me. 00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:38.400 Now, we have to approach suffering and sickness with humility. 00:15:38.640 --> 00:15:42.160 That often we don't know specific answers that we want to know. 00:15:42.260 --> 00:15:45.580 We don't know specific reasons that we want to know. 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:52.580 But rather than dwelling on what we don't know, we ought to cling to what we do know. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:55.379 Namely, that God knows. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.840 That God is good. 00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.580 That God is wise. 00:16:00.280 --> 00:16:01.639 That God is sovereign. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:03.940 That God is worthy of our trust. 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:11.060 That God is at work even in what we often deem to be meaningless, empty suffering. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:15.200 This is exactly what Jesus teaches the disciples. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.840 Here, in verse 3. 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.780 Look there with me. 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.000 Jesus says, 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:24.940 It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but there's a purpose here. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:29.940 There's a God-ordained purpose in this man's disability and suffering. 00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:30.540 What is it? 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:35.820 That the works of God might be displayed in him. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.759 Think about that for a moment. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:48.819 That, I think, it's transformative for how we understand suffering and sickness and disability. 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:52.360 Why was this man born blind? 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.240 That's the question. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.820 Jesus says, 00:16:54.820 --> 00:17:02.659 His disability was given to him by God so that God's works might be displayed through him. 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:06.640 Could it be that we often spend so much time asking, 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.839 Why God? 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.120 Why me? 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.319 When the biggest why has already been answered. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:17.720 In some way, we know God is at work in our suffering. 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:21.079 He's at work in our disability. 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:25.079 He's at work in our difficulty, in our pain. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:29.000 In some way, to display his glory. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.220 Instead of asking why, we ought to ask God, 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:32.680 How? 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.519 How can you use this, even this, to demonstrate your works? 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:41.920 How can you use this to demonstrate your glory? 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:49.019 As we know, the fact is that God delights to make his glory known in weakness, doesn't he? 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:55.279 God loves to demonstrate his works in what the rest of the world deems unworthy. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:01.920 I think of several in our own congregation. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:06.859 I hesitate to say your names because I don't want to embarrass you, 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:11.279 but I know that so many of you are facing different effects of sin. 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:19.220 Whether mentally, sin has come in and clouded your thoughts and made thinking very difficult for you. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:23.940 Or maybe physically, you're dealing physically with the effects, the weights of sin. 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:29.840 When you're struggling emotionally, you're struggling with loss, with sadness, with grief. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:33.420 And you often ask, What's the reason for this? 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:36.279 Why am I going through this pain? 00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:42.500 This passage teaches us, doesn't it, that none of it is wasted. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:48.480 For the non-believer, our suffering is a warning light. 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:51.340 It's a warning sign that something is not right here. 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:55.519 You are bearing the effects of sin, the consequence of sin. 00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:57.859 Things are not as they should be. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:05.119 But for the non-believer, this suffering in this world is just a tip of the iceberg for those who don't trust in the Lord. 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:09.039 For the believer, though, we can take comfort, can't we? 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:17.379 In knowing that in some way, now or in eternity, the glory of God will be displayed through our suffering. 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:18.879 How? 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:22.920 Now, let's think about some ways how here. 00:19:23.020 --> 00:19:26.820 For one, we know that suffering shapes godly character. 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:30.200 Romans chapter 5, Paul says, 00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:32.060 We rejoice in our sufferings. 00:19:32.080 --> 00:19:37.180 We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:39.020 Endurance produces character. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.720 Character produces hope. 00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:47.340 There's an explosive chain reaction of godliness that begins with the spark of suffering. 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:55.159 And God is glorified as we're made more like him, as we're made more like Jesus through suffering. 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:59.920 We know that suffering deepens dependence. 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:08.759 And the fact is, when everything's going well, when we're healthy, happy, and all is right in our world, 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:13.319 we are much more likely to say, well, I think I got this. 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:17.039 I think that I'm okay on my own. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:25.700 But God is glorified when we turn from our own self of sense of self-sufficiency and call out to him. 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.819 Lean on him. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.960 Lean on him and depend on him and his strength in our suffering. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.440 And as we do, you know what happens? 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:38.579 Our suffering becomes a powerful witness to the glory of God. 00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:44.079 The world doesn't understand suffering with joy. 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:48.600 The world doesn't understand suffering with hope. 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:56.719 But we do suffer in hope because we know that ultimately, those who trust in the Lord, 00:20:56.819 --> 00:21:03.359 our suffering will glorify God when we are miraculously delivered. 00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.539 Maybe now. 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:15.219 Maybe in this life we pray, we long, we want, we desire to be healed here and now in this life. 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:23.700 But our hope ultimately is for all who trust in the Lord that we will certainly be delivered in eternity. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:30.220 And when we get there, we'll know that all of our suffering, no matter how deep, no matter how difficult, 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:36.660 no matter how painful, all of it was light and momentary in light of eternity. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.600 How many believers? 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:48.199 How many suffering infirmities, suffering disabilities, suffering sickness and weakness, 00:21:48.439 --> 00:21:53.459 like this man who the world has laughed at, scoffed at, tossed aside, rejected. 00:21:54.740 --> 00:22:01.859 How many of them will stand and shout and rejoice and worship our God 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:05.859 in the presence of those who ridiculed them here on earth 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:08.779 when the Lord returns and makes them well? 00:22:10.439 --> 00:22:12.819 And ultimately, that's our hope. 00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:17.919 That's when God's redeeming power will be demonstrated in full. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:24.000 Well, this man, this man was healed of his physical blindness. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.699 Jesus said in verse 4, 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:31.200 For we must work the works of him who sent me while it is day, night is coming, 00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:32.660 when no one can work. 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:35.880 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.279 I'm here to bring light. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:40.640 I'm here to work the work of God. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:43.299 I'm here to bear witness to the glory of God. 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:48.700 And this man has suffered for years for this very purpose. 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:54.580 And then he did something very strange in verse 6. 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:54.919 It says, 00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:58.419 He spit on the ground and made mud with his saliva. 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:03.399 And he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and sent him away to go wash his eyes in the pool. 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:05.099 And a miracle happened. 00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:08.159 He did as Jesus asked. 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:11.179 He went and washed and he came back seeing. 00:23:11.399 --> 00:23:14.480 He was blind, but now he sees. 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:19.119 It's an incredible display of the saving mercy of Christ. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:28.859 For the rest of this passage, I think it shows us that this physical healing was just a small picture of something much, much bigger. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:33.500 It's representative of a much bigger healing for those who trust in the Lord. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:39.119 The rest of this passage, it shows us that this man is being brought to spiritual sight, 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:43.819 while others around him are still stuck in blindness. 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:46.359 This is our second point this morning. 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:52.919 The rest of our passage is a display of spiritual blindness and spiritual sight. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.299 Look there at verse 8. 00:23:56.519 --> 00:24:02.000 Verse 8 says that the neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, they were all confused. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:04.859 Is this the man who used to sit here and beg? 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:10.579 These neighbors, you might imagine, they likely passed by this man almost daily. 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:13.240 They would see him there begging on the street. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:17.159 They were deeply familiar with his life before this encounter with Christ. 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:20.339 And now they see him after this encounter with Christ. 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:23.119 They see him and he sees them. 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.599 And they see that he sees them. 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:31.779 And they're trying to wrap their minds around what's happening here because they saw his condition before and after. 00:24:31.939 --> 00:24:34.819 So he spoke up and said, yes, it's me. 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.439 I see you looking at me. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.919 I hear you talking about me. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.380 I am the man. 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:44.920 And they asked him, well, how were your eyes opened? 00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:47.019 Look what happens. 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.600 He tells them. 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:53.380 He bore witness to the saving mercy of Jesus. 00:24:53.560 --> 00:24:55.980 He said, this man called Jesus, he came to me. 00:24:56.060 --> 00:24:56.940 I didn't come to him. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.240 He saw me. 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:59.259 I didn't see him. 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.300 He saw me and came to me. 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:03.600 And he did this crazy thing with mud in my eyes. 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:05.660 And I did exactly what he told me to do. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.640 And now I see. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:18.160 This is, I think, the simple, irrefutable power of a personal transformation. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:28.800 It's a simple, undeniable witness of what God has done in this person's life. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.460 What's yours? 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:33.039 One thing's for sure. 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:36.380 When something supernatural like this happens, the world takes note. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.700 You can't ignore this. 00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:39.420 A miracle has happened. 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:45.019 And this was an opportunity now for this man, this healed man, to bear witness. 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:51.059 Now, you should know as we read this, that if you have been brought from spiritual blindness 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:57.259 to spiritual sight, you should know that just like this man, you now have a story to tell. 00:25:58.299 --> 00:26:01.940 You have a testimony of personal transformation. 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:07.519 You have an opportunity to bear witness to the work of God in you. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:15.420 You know, those who know you best, those who saw the before and now see the after, they will ask you, 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.639 what's happened to you? 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:21.799 And if ever your friends or your family, they ask you, 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:25.299 well, isn't this the same person who used to join us in our sin? 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:31.720 Isn't that the same person who used to get angry at us and chew us out and cuss us out? 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:36.299 Isn't this the same person that used to go out and party with us and drink with us? 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:39.480 Isn't this the same person that used to go sleep around and walk around town? 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:44.019 That's an opportunity for you to say, I am that person. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.720 That's me. 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:49.299 But I have been changed. 00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.659 I didn't see Jesus. 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:52.559 Jesus saw me. 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:54.000 I didn't come to Jesus. 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.019 Jesus came to me. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.940 I was blind. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.659 I was poor. 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.299 I was rejected. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:27:00.059 But Jesus has changed all of that. 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:02.099 Jesus has opened up my eyes. 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:06.319 So now I see his glory and everything is different for me now. 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:13.139 It's an opportunity to say, this man, Jesus, sought me out and opened up my eyes. 00:27:13.219 --> 00:27:15.459 That's what this man is doing here. 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:19.719 He's bearing witness to the transformation that's happened in his life. 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:23.980 Well, that answer apparently wasn't quite good enough, was it? 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:27.720 So these neighbors, they took him to the Pharisees. 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:33.880 The Pharisees, rather than glorifying God for the miracle that's been done, they began an interrogation. 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:39.559 Because this miracle happened on the Sabbath day. 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:43.180 And we've seen this crop up before, haven't we? 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:46.799 Jesus, he healed the paralytic man on the Sabbath day. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:49.140 That didn't sit well with the authorities then either. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.940 And here we go again. 00:27:51.720 --> 00:28:02.000 In their oral law, not the written word of God, not the law of God, in their oral tradition, healing was forbidden on the Sabbath day. 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:06.660 And the rule was, unless the person was near death, it could wait a day. 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.900 So that's strike number one. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:11.259 Jesus healed this blind man. 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.180 He'd been blind from birth. 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.160 He could wait another day. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.140 That's strike number one. 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:20.120 Strike number two, they thought, some of them thought that anointing of the eyes was forbidden on the Sabbath day. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:23.980 So the way that he went about this healing was strike number two. 00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:26.200 Strike number three is hilarious to me. 00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:31.299 Some of them thought that the kneading of dough was forbidden on the Sabbath day. 00:28:32.320 --> 00:28:36.740 And so the argument went, well, the way that he spat on the ground and made this kind of, 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:39.860 he was kneading this cake-like mixture with the mud, 00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:43.000 that didn't sit well with them. 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:45.899 Strike number three is too far for some of the Pharisees. 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:48.859 So they began to argue amongst themselves. 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.899 There's a division brewing. 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.859 Some said, well, he can't be from God. 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:53.979 He doesn't keep the Sabbath. 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:56.659 Others said, well, but he's doing these amazing things. 00:28:56.719 --> 00:28:59.259 How can a sinner do such signs? 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:01.899 They argued back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:06.160 before they finally looked to the man who actually experienced the miracle. 00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:11.120 And you can imagine, here he is, probably just sitting back enjoying everything he's seen. 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.580 He's never seen an argument before. 00:29:13.080 --> 00:29:16.700 And they asked him, what do you say about him? 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:19.940 He said, well, he is a prophet. 00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:23.900 That answer didn't sit well with them either. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:27.519 So they called him the parents of the man who had been born blind. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:30.160 I already told you I'm not a big fan of these parents. 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:33.720 And they give me another reason why, right here. 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:36.519 The Pharisees asked his parents, well, is this your son? 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.980 How can he now see? 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:41.680 Help us understand what's happening here. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:45.599 And his parents now, rather than rejoicing that their son has been healed, 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:50.259 you'd think that'd be an opportunity to celebrate, to rejoice, to praise God. 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:54.859 Rather than backing him up, his parents plead the fifth. 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:57.079 They say, we don't know. 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.819 Yes, that's our son. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.579 Yes, he was blind. 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:04.000 But how he sees now, I don't know. 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.619 He's old enough. 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.440 Go talk to him. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:13.160 John tells us they did this because they were watching their words very, very carefully. 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:19.940 Because at this point, the Jews had decided anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:22.500 would be removed from the synagogue. 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:30.079 They were protecting themselves from the dangers and the consequence of social exclusion. 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.380 So they said, well, have you talked to our son? 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:40.880 Ironically, I think the irony of this account is that I don't think either of these two parties could see clearly. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:46.920 The Pharisees and the parents, both of them are spiritually blind. 00:30:47.040 --> 00:30:50.060 So they called back into the room the only one who could see. 00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:55.600 It said in verse 24, give glory to God. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:57.679 We know that this man is a sinner. 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.759 See, they've already drawn their conclusion, haven't they? 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:02.799 And they're just looking for someone to back it up. 00:31:03.659 --> 00:31:07.219 At this point, the blind man, he's probably a little tired from all the questioning. 00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:10.839 He's ready to go out and enjoy his new sight, go ready to see the world. 00:31:10.939 --> 00:31:12.679 And so he, again, bears witness. 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:14.899 He says, I don't know what you're talking about. 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:17.319 And whether he's a sinner, I don't know. 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.219 How am I supposed to know? 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:22.100 All I know is that I was blind and now I see. 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:25.600 And they said, well, tell us how that happened again. 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.980 And he said, well, I've already told you. 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.220 And you wouldn't listen. 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.779 Why do you want to hear it again? 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:35.400 Do you also want to become his disciples? 00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:38.299 And here's where things start to heat up. 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:43.039 They reviled him and they mocked him. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.600 They laughed at him. 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:47.259 It was a laughable thought for them. 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.920 Us, his disciples. 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:54.180 And you should know that that's what the blind do. 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:57.319 It's a joke to them. 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.680 Us, follow Jesus. 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:04.200 Don't be surprised when you bear witness to what Jesus has done to you 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:06.240 that you get laughed out of the room. 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:14.339 And what we need as we go and proclaim the miracle that God's done in our life through Christ, 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:17.019 what we need more than anything, what we have to have, 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:22.220 is boldness from God to declare the glory of God. 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:27.900 We need boldness from God to bear witness in the face of opposition. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.519 That's exactly what happens. 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:29.900 Look here. 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:33.359 They said, why would we become disciples of this man? 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.559 We're disciples of Moses. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.519 We know God's spoken to Moses. 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:41.099 As for this man, we don't even know where he comes from. 00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:43.899 So now, the blind man is fed up. 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:46.659 He said, well, isn't this amazing? 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:50.179 You don't even know where he came from? 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:55.420 Aren't you supposed to be the experts here on the works of God? 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:58.700 Aren't you supposed to be the authorities here? 00:32:58.779 --> 00:33:02.980 But you don't even know where this man came from and he opened up my eyes? 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:06.519 We know that God does not listen to sinners, 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:10.460 but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:15.759 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 00:33:15.840 --> 00:33:19.220 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. 00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:22.880 Now, I think there's some questionable theology in his lesson. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.440 Right? 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:27.539 He's a new believer, fresh believer. 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:30.859 Well, we've got to appreciate his boldness. 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:34.079 Do you feel his boldness here? 00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:38.799 This is the boldness of new sight. 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:44.379 Here's this man who has been rejected and despised and ostracized his whole life, 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:50.359 suddenly standing up and bearing witness to the religious elite at all costs, 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:53.319 knowing he was going to be ostracized again. 00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:58.720 This nobody is suddenly filled with boldness to proclaim the gospel. 00:33:58.939 --> 00:34:03.220 Something has happened in him, not just physically, externally, 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:07.279 but internally, spiritually, to change who he is 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:11.079 and give him boldness to proclaim God's glory at all costs. 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:16.779 The world just can't quite understand this. 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:21.559 You might think of Peter and John in Acts chapter 4. 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:24.500 We talked about this in our men's Bible study this week. 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:26.019 Acts chapter 4, verse 13. 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:26.500 It says, 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:31.019 When the Pharisees saw the boldness of Peter and John 00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:35.320 and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, 00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:37.320 they were astonished, 00:34:37.799 --> 00:34:42.259 and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:47.059 That's the key to boldness, isn't it? 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:51.139 They had been with Jesus. 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:57.500 You may remember some of the zeal that you had when you first became a Christian. 00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:03.139 When your eyes were first opened up to see the glory of Christ, 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:09.699 and I'd be willing to bet you were eager, zealous, excited to talk about what God has done for you. 00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:12.039 I had a friend who told me when he became a believer, 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:16.400 he was walking in darkness, and the Lord saved him radically. 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:16.719 He said, 00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:20.360 I couldn't even stand in the line at a grocery store 00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:23.219 without bothering the people around me about Jesus. 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:26.199 And we laugh at that, 00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:28.900 but oh, to bottle that up 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:31.980 and to keep that zeal 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.960 and that boldness 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:37.199 to bear witness to what Christ has done for you. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:42.219 The miracle of new sight is no less amazing 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:46.159 and no less worth proclaiming now than it was when you first believed. 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:46.839 Church. 00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:51.419 But of course, the Pharisees wouldn't have it. 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:51.939 They said, 00:35:52.299 --> 00:35:54.599 you were born in utter sin, 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.699 and would you teach us? 00:35:56.819 --> 00:35:57.919 And they cast him out. 00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.179 Once again, 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.839 he was rejected, 00:36:02.439 --> 00:36:03.599 thrown out of the synagogue, 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:05.500 discarded and rejected 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:07.519 almost by everyone, 00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:09.679 but not by everyone. 00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:11.259 Look there to verse 35. 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:15.199 Jesus heard that they had cast him out. 00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:17.619 And having found him, 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:19.460 he asked him an unusual question, 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.519 not what happened, 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:22.699 not even how are you. 00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.380 He asked him, 00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:27.539 do you believe in the Son of Man? 00:36:28.699 --> 00:36:29.339 And he said, 00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:30.259 well, who is he, sir, 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:32.299 that I may believe in him? 00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:33.320 And Jesus said to him, 00:36:33.680 --> 00:36:34.820 you have seen him. 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:37.660 You have seen him. 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.980 Not just physically, 00:36:40.180 --> 00:36:42.340 but you have seen him. 00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:45.560 And it is he who is speaking to you. 00:36:45.640 --> 00:36:46.060 And he said, 00:36:46.140 --> 00:36:47.140 Lord, I believe. 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:49.260 And he worshiped him. 00:36:50.640 --> 00:36:53.880 This is spiritual sight. 00:36:55.100 --> 00:36:57.019 This is the point of the story. 00:36:57.120 --> 00:36:59.300 Do you see the progression here for this man? 00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.880 Jesus, 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:01.740 Jesus sees him. 00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:03.439 Jesus approaches him. 00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:05.179 Jesus heals him. 00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:07.939 Something is different about this man. 00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:09.479 His neighbors question him. 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:10.699 At first, he says, 00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:12.339 well, this man named Jesus, 00:37:12.459 --> 00:37:13.099 he healed me. 00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.819 He's questioned again. 00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:15.599 He says, 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:16.079 this man, 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:17.179 he must be a prophet. 00:37:17.939 --> 00:37:18.959 He's questioned again. 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.399 He says, 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.639 I'm his disciple. 00:37:20.759 --> 00:37:21.879 Do you want to be his disciple? 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:24.019 He's questioned now again 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:25.419 by Jesus himself, 00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.419 face to face. 00:37:26.459 --> 00:37:26.919 And he says, 00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:27.260 Lord, 00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:31.400 I believe you are the son of man. 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.639 He was lost, 00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:34.619 but now he's found. 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.480 He was blind, 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:38.519 but now he sees. 00:37:38.619 --> 00:37:38.880 And you know, 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:42.340 that same work has happened in you, 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:43.000 Christian. 00:37:43.700 --> 00:37:46.400 All of us who know the Lord. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:46.720 So, 00:37:47.720 --> 00:37:50.860 how should we respond to this? 00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:54.579 How should we respond to this? 00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:56.400 For one, 00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.160 we should, 00:37:57.220 --> 00:38:00.900 we should rejoice in the amazing grace of God. 00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:05.240 We should worship him, 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:06.559 enjoy him, 00:38:06.680 --> 00:38:07.639 delight in him, 00:38:07.740 --> 00:38:09.980 rejoice that by God's grace, 00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.500 you have been sought out 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:13.400 and given eyes to see. 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:13.880 We should, 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:17.340 we should rejoice with the joy of a new believer 00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:20.260 at the grace of God in our life. 00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:20.840 And then, 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:25.260 we should go and bear witness, 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:28.920 boldly and broadly, 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:31.300 telling everyone we know, 00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.539 everyone we see, 00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:34.579 about the grace of God 00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:37.240 found only in Jesus Christ. 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.400 You know, 00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:40.780 our standards of worthiness 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:42.820 are not Jesus' standards. 00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:44.300 You know that? 00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:48.039 And Jesus did not come to heal those 00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:49.700 who think they are well. 00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:51.760 Jesus came to heal those who know 00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:53.300 they are sick. 00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:56.019 He did not come for those who think 00:38:56.019 --> 00:38:57.639 that they are worthy of him, 00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:59.199 but those who have realized by, 00:38:59.299 --> 00:39:00.420 by his grace, 00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:02.139 that they are nothing apart from him. 00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:04.420 He didn't come for those who, 00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.779 who think they know it all, 00:39:05.859 --> 00:39:06.679 think they understand, 00:39:06.799 --> 00:39:08.139 think they see clearly, 00:39:08.139 --> 00:39:10.639 but for those who are blind. 00:39:11.819 --> 00:39:13.239 This is what he says here 00:39:13.239 --> 00:39:14.839 at the end of the passage. 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.579 For judgment, 00:39:15.719 --> 00:39:16.940 I came into this world, 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.519 he says, 00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:20.019 that those who do not see, 00:39:20.859 --> 00:39:21.839 may see. 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:24.240 And those who see, 00:39:25.220 --> 00:39:26.360 may become blind. 00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:28.220 Apparently, 00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:29.420 he said this in the earshot 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.559 of some of the Pharisees. 00:39:31.620 --> 00:39:32.559 Verse 40 says, 00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:34.680 some of them heard these things 00:39:34.680 --> 00:39:34.980 and said, 00:39:35.059 --> 00:39:36.380 are we also blind? 00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:38.720 Jesus said to them, 00:39:38.780 --> 00:39:39.700 if you were blind, 00:39:39.780 --> 00:39:40.740 you would have no guilt. 00:39:42.160 --> 00:39:42.960 But now that you say, 00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:43.519 we see, 00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:46.720 your guilt remains. 00:39:48.220 --> 00:39:49.300 And that's the key verse 00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:50.760 for this whole story, 00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:51.600 isn't it? 00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:54.120 None of this ultimately 00:39:54.120 --> 00:39:56.420 is about physical sight. 00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:58.960 He healed a physically blind man, 00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.400 yes, 00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:01.160 but that physical blindness 00:40:01.160 --> 00:40:03.600 is an object lesson for us 00:40:03.600 --> 00:40:07.039 about a deeper spiritual condition 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:08.720 that all of us face 00:40:08.720 --> 00:40:09.740 outside of Christ. 00:40:10.860 --> 00:40:12.940 Every single one of us 00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:15.660 was born spiritually blind. 00:40:17.060 --> 00:40:18.240 The God of this world 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:19.339 has blinded the minds 00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:20.159 of the unbelievers 00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:21.619 to keep them from seeing 00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:23.139 the light of the gospel 00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:24.419 of the glory of Christ, 00:40:24.859 --> 00:40:26.119 who is the image of God, 00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:27.239 2 Corinthians 4. 00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:29.599 Sin is blinding. 00:40:30.799 --> 00:40:32.279 But the good news 00:40:32.279 --> 00:40:33.279 of the gospel 00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:36.039 is that Jesus came 00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:38.759 to heal the spiritually blind. 00:40:39.959 --> 00:40:42.119 Jesus came to find 00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:43.359 those who are lost 00:40:43.359 --> 00:40:44.359 and to give sight 00:40:44.359 --> 00:40:46.339 to those who are blind 00:40:46.340 --> 00:40:47.160 so that 00:40:47.160 --> 00:40:50.440 all who turn their eyes 00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:51.280 upon Christ 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:52.760 may look Him in the face 00:40:52.760 --> 00:40:53.440 and know that 00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:55.840 this is the Son of Man 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:56.600 come to seek 00:40:56.600 --> 00:40:58.480 and to save the lost. 00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:00.840 Have your eyes been opened 00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:01.940 by the grace of God? 00:41:03.720 --> 00:41:04.500 If so, 00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:05.480 are you bearing witness 00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:06.340 to the work 00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:07.579 that He's done? 00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:09.140 Let's pray. 00:41:09.140 --> 00:41:09.220 Amen. 00:41:09.220 --> 00:41:09.240 Amen. 00:41:09.239 --> 00:41:14.739 Lord, 00:41:14.819 --> 00:41:15.739 apart from Your grace, 00:41:15.839 --> 00:41:17.000 we would still be blind. 00:41:18.539 --> 00:41:20.339 And if we see You at all, 00:41:20.439 --> 00:41:22.500 if we recognize Your goodness, 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.199 Your greatness, 00:41:23.359 --> 00:41:24.959 if we love You at all, 00:41:25.019 --> 00:41:26.979 if there's any part of us 00:41:26.979 --> 00:41:29.979 that desires to know You 00:41:29.979 --> 00:41:30.839 and to be with You, 00:41:30.939 --> 00:41:31.699 to cling to You, 00:41:31.759 --> 00:41:32.539 to trust in You, 00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:32.819 Father, 00:41:32.879 --> 00:41:34.019 that's from You 00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:35.399 and Your grace. 00:41:35.559 --> 00:41:36.259 We thank You 00:41:36.260 --> 00:41:37.520 for the work that You've done 00:41:37.520 --> 00:41:39.020 to give us spiritual sight. 00:41:39.120 --> 00:41:40.280 And now we pray, 00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:42.480 now we pray 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:45.320 that You would use us 00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:47.200 to bring the gospel 00:41:47.200 --> 00:41:48.460 to those who still walk 00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:48.940 in darkness. 00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:50.900 Lord, 00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:52.280 use us to open the eyes 00:41:52.280 --> 00:41:52.820 of the blind 00:41:52.820 --> 00:41:54.220 as we proclaim Christ 00:41:54.220 --> 00:41:55.000 to those around us. 00:41:55.040 --> 00:41:55.940 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:57.280 Amen. 00:41:57.280 --> 00:41:57.420 Amen.