All right, well, this morning we come to the finale of this story in John that we've been
looking at over the past couple weeks.
We heard of how Jesus healed a man who was born blind, and it was an amazing sign that
Jesus is indeed the light of the world, the one who enables us to see, the revealer of
truth.
And we heard about the various reactions of people to this miracle.
Some of those who knew him when he was blind and was a beggar were astounded.
Others simply couldn't believe that this was the same guy.
And then last Sunday we heard how they finally took this man who had been blind to the Pharisees,
and we heard their reaction to all this.
We're in John chapter 9.
They were divided.
Some of them were trying to make a case that Jesus can't be from God because he made mud
to heal this man's eyes.
He made mud on the Sabbath, and that's work.
Others thought differently.
Why would God work this great sign through Jesus if Jesus was not a righteous man, if
he was sinning even in the act of doing it?
And the Pharisees questioned the man's parents, and then they questioned the man himself again
and again and again.
They were just looking for some way to invalidate this miracle or to discredit Jesus.
And we heard last Sunday how finally the man had enough, and he let the Pharisees know
what he was really thinking.
And then we heard how the Pharisees let him have it and kicked him out of the synagogue.
Well, let's hear the rest of the story this morning from John chapter 9, verse 35.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said,
Do you believe in the Son of Man?
Who is he, sir?
The man asked.
Tell me so that I may believe in him.
So Jesus actually goes and finds this man, and when he finds him, he asks him this question,
Do you believe in the Son of Man?
And I think to really appreciate this question, we kind of have to put ourselves back there
in the story.
This man is a Jewish man living in a Jewish place.
And so this question probably hit him differently than it hits us.
He probably already has some ideas, some things that he's heard about what the Son of Man was.
Not only that, but Jesus probably knew what this man already understood of the Son of Man.
Either he knew it how he knew all sorts of things about people, or he knew it simply by talking to him
before he came to ask this question.
And we don't know exactly what the man understood,
but he probably understood the Son of Man at the very least to refer to the Messiah.
Most people back then and there had some conception of who the Messiah would be,
or at least what he would be like when he came.
We saw that with the woman at the well in John chapter 4.
Maybe this man even knew of the words of the prophet Daniel, spoken hundreds of years before.
Daniel chapter 7, verse 13 and 14.
In that passage, Daniel describes a vision that he received from God.
He says,
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man,
coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power.
All nations and peoples of every language worshipped him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away.
And his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
What an amazing vision that was.
I don't know whether the man was thinking of this particular passage,
but probably at the least he thought that the Son of Man was the Messiah.
God's promised, chosen king.
The great one that many in Israel had been longing for to finally come.
So Jesus says to him,
Do you believe in the Son of Man?
And Jesus probably isn't asking him if he believes in the idea of the Son of Man.
This is not like the question that we often hear directed to children.
You know, do you believe in Santa Claus?
Or do you believe in the tooth fairy?
Jesus doesn't mean it like that.
He's not saying,
Do you believe that the Son of Man is real?
Of course he's real.
Jesus has already referred to himself many times as the Son of Man.
Probably what Jesus means is something more like,
Do you have faith in the Son of Man?
Do you trust the Son of Man?
And the man says in response,
Who is he, sir?
Tell me, so that I may believe in him.
So this man already believes that there is a Son of Man,
there is a special one, a Messiah,
and, judging by his answer, that he's already come.
He probably believes that the one who opened his eyes is that one,
the Son of Man, the Messiah.
No doubt he's probably learned a few things about Jesus secondhand
through his interrogation by the Pharisees.
But let's remember that in this man's last encounter with Jesus,
he was blind.
And so at this point,
he is probably not even certain about just who he's talking to.
And so he asked Jesus,
Well, who is the Son of Man?
Tell me, so that I may believe in him.
It's like he's saying,
Well, if you're talking to Jesus,
he doesn't know his name,
if you're talking about who I think you're talking about,
the one who opened my eyes,
I'm ready to put my faith in him.
I'm ready to put my trust in him.
I'm ready to become one of his followers.
You remember, that's what the Pharisees had said to this man.
They accused him of being one of this man's followers.
And probably he was thinking after that,
Well, yes, he opened my eyes.
I want to become one of his followers.
So who is he?
Do you know him?
Jesus says to him,
You have now seen him.
He is the one speaking with you.
Now, I don't know why Jesus refers to himself in the third person like this.
It's kind of climactic.
But he does.
And he's basically saying,
Where is you before?
You hadn't seen him.
Right now, you have.
He's the one speaking with you right now.
I am the Son of Man.
I am the one who opened your eyes.
Verse 38.
Then the man said,
Lord, I believe.
And he worshipped him.
I wish I could just hear what was going on in this man's thoughts in this moment.
Maybe he already suspected that this guy was the one who had opened his eyes.
Maybe he thought he recognized his voice a little bit.
But maybe wasn't certain.
But as soon as Jesus tells him,
I am the one.
I am the Son of Man.
This man knows that he is the Messiah.
He says,
Lord,
I believe.
And he hits the deck.
The word translated worshipped here
is literally,
he fell to the ground before him.
There's some debate over whether he was worshipping Jesus
as though Jesus was God,
divine,
or whether he fell down before him
bowing in deep reverence
as though Jesus is
that great king
of God's choosing,
the Messiah.
And it's kind of a tricky decision
because
whenever that word
translated worshipped here
is used with reference to God,
it means worshipped.
And whenever it's used of earthly men,
it means to bow reverently before them
or to pay homage
to them.
And in this case,
Jesus is both God
and man.
But the man who was blind
probably does not yet understand
the full extent
of who Jesus is,
that he is,
in fact,
God
here in front of him
in human flesh.
So he falls down
on the ground before him
and he confesses,
my Lord,
my King,
not just any king,
but God's king,
as he told the Pharisees.
I know that this man
came from God.
Look at what he did.
Verse 39,
Jesus said,
for judgment
I have come into this world
so that the blind will see
and those who see
will become blind.
Now,
I don't know about you,
but I have to admit
that this is not
what I expected Jesus
to say next.
I mean,
this is kind of a
joyful moment.
Here's Jesus
with this man
on the ground
before him.
This man has come
to realize the truth
and confess,
yes,
you are the Lord.
You are my Messiah.
And then Jesus says,
for judgment
I have come into this world
so that those
who are blind
will see.
and those who see
will become blind.
If we just take a part
of what Jesus says here,
I mean,
it kind of makes sense
and it's joyful.
I have come into this world
so that the blind
will see.
That's good news.
That's exactly
what Jesus did.
He gave this blind man
sight,
the ability to see.
But then we keep
listening to Jesus
and he says,
in the same breath,
I have also come
so that those
who see
will become blind.
What's going on here?
And for judgment
I have come into this world.
Why does Jesus say that?
Well,
as we'll see in a minute,
there were also
some Pharisees
standing nearby
watching all of this.
and by now
it should be
hopefully clear
that Jesus
is no longer
talking simply
about physical sight
and physical blindness.
He has a point
to make
that's deeper
than that.
For judgment
I have come
into this world
so that the blind
will see
and those who see
will become blind.
That's what's just
happened in this moment
for the man.
It wasn't earlier,
I mean earlier
he was blind
and he came to see
physically
but what just happened
for him now
is that he was blind
spiritually
and came to see
the truth
about Jesus.
And we know
Jesus is speaking
figuratively.
Did Jesus
just come into the world
to give
physical sight?
to the physical blind?
Physically blind?
Well if we've been
listening to Jesus
over the past months
we know that
that falls way short
of what Jesus
has been saying.
He has come
to give life
eternal life
so that people
would not perish
so that they would not
face
the just
wrath of God
and be condemned
but instead
have life.
Another way
to bring this out
is just simply
to ask
what's the greater
miracle here?
What's the greater
healing here?
Is it that the man
who is physically blind
can now see
with his physical eyes
and now in some sense
has a new life?
Or is it that the man
who was
spiritually lost
and walking
in darkness
has now come
to see
and believe
the truth
that gives him
eternal life?
We should celebrate
that this man
received one of the
greatest miracles
ever done.
Sight after having
lived his entire
life blind
but I hope
that our celebration
of that
pales
in comparison
to what just
happened to this man
now.
he has just
received something
far greater
something far
more
wonderful
the ability
to see
spiritually
and it's made
all the difference
in his life
and in his
eternity.
I wonder
do we have
more excitement
over someone
being miraculously
healed
than over
someone
coming to
repent
and believe
in Jesus
and be
saved?
Which is the
greater miracle?
Which part of
this story
should move
us
more deeply?
The part
where the man
says
I can see
at the
pool of
Siloam
or this
part here
where he
says
Lord
I believe
and hits
the ground
in front
of Jesus.
Jesus
came not
simply to
alleviate
physical
suffering
and cure
bodily
ailments
he came
primarily
to open
the eyes
of people
who are
spiritually
blind
and
spiritually
lost
in darkness.
Jesus
came to
make this
moment
that's
just
happened
for this
man
as he
says
Lord
I believe
he came
to make
that same
moment
happen
not just
for him
but for
many
for you
for me
and for
some in
our community
here in
Davidson
who right
now are
walking in
spiritual
darkness
is that
the miracle
that you're
asking God
for
these days
let's
consider
now the
other half
of Jesus
statement
verse 39
for judgment
I have
come into
this world
so that
the blind
will see
and
those who
see
will become
blind
it's difficult
to know
just what
Jesus means
here when
he says
for judgment
he doesn't
mean punishment
because that
doesn't make
sense
for punishment
I have
come into
this world
so that
the blind
will see
well that
doesn't make
sense
and he's
not talking
about the
final judgment
I mean we
know from
the rest
of the story
we know
from other
passages
this isn't
the final
judgment
that's coming
so what
does he
mean
well my
best guess
if I had to
take a guess
at it I
would say
that a part
of judgment
involves
separating
truth
from lies
separating
the sheep
from the
goats
those who
are true
from the
imposters
we make
judgments
about things
all the time
and when we
do it
involves
separation
we approve
this news
article as
representing
the truth
and not
this one
separation
and here
we see a
similar kind
of thing
there's an
element of
separation
everyone is
being exposed
to Jesus
to his
teaching
to his
miracles
and yet
by God's
sovereign
purpose
and plan
this
exposure
is having
a different
result
for different
people
it's the
separating
or the
dividing
of people
and as
Jesus
ministry
does this
some
like this
man
who are
spiritually
blind
are coming
to see
and believe
and know
the truth
but others
are having
a different
result
others
who are
seeing
all that
Jesus
is doing
hearing
all that
he's saying
are becoming
spiritually
blind
they're becoming
more lost
more guilty
of sin
because they're
choosing to
reject
and turn
away
from the
light
of Jesus
I think
what Jesus
says here
is very
similar
to what
he said
to his
disciples
when he
explained
why he
spoke to
the crowds
in parables
maybe you
remember
that
what Jesus
said
Matthew
chapter
13
this is
in the
midst of
the parable
of the
sower
they asked
him about
why he
speaks
in parables
and he
said
this is
why I
speak
to them
in parables
though
seeing
they do
not
see
he's
quoting
Isaiah
here
though
hearing
they do
not
hear
or
understand
in them
is fulfilled
the prophecy
of Isaiah
you will
be ever
hearing
but never
understanding
you will
be ever
seeing
but never
perceiving
and we
might wonder
well how
can you
be ever
seeing
and never
seeing
never
getting
it
how can
you be
continuously
hearing
what Jesus
is saying
and not
understanding
it
how is
that
possible
Jesus
tells us
the answer
still quoting
Isaiah
in the next
verse
he says
for this
people's
heart
has become
calloused
they hardly
hear with
their ears
and they
have closed
their eyes
there it
is
they have
closed
their eyes
there is
a voluntary
decision
made on
the part
of the
people
that are
seeing
to close
their
eyes
Jesus
still
quoting
Isaiah
says
otherwise
they
might
see
with
their
eyes
and
hear
with
their
ears
and
understand
with
their
hearts
and
turn
and I
would
heal
them
Jesus
had a
distinct
purpose
in using
parables
in fact
I think
what he's
telling us
here is
that his
whole
ministry
has a
distinct
purpose
these
Pharisees
have just
seen
what
Jesus
did
in
healing
this
blind
man
and they
can't
deny
it
they
brought
his
parents
in
yes
he
is
our
son
yes
he
was
born
blind
how
does
he
see
we
don't
know
Jesus
did
it
is
what
the
man
said
and yet
even
with
this
sign
clearly
in
front
of
them
they
are
seeing
it
they're
choosing
to
close
their
eyes
I'm
not
going
to
accept
the
truth
that
this
points
to
the
seeing
are
becoming
blind
this
is
what's
happening
with
the
Pharisees
right
now
I'm
reminded
of one
of
Jesus
favorite
passages
to
bring
up
in
discussion
with
the
Pharisees
you
probably
know
this
one
first
Peter
it's
mentioned
there
the
stone
the
builders
rejected
has
become
the
corner
stone
said
Jesus
it's
also
a
stone
that
causes
some
to
stumble
said
Isaiah
some
trip
over
it
they
refuse
to
acknowledge
Jesus
as
the
Messiah
they
reject
him
but
the
very
same
Jesus
is
also
the
corner
stone
the
one
on
whom
God
has
chosen
to
build
his
house
his
people
and
again
we
see
that
idea
of
separation
people
having
an
opposite
reaction
and
response
to
Jesus
and
his
ministry
and
this
is all
happening
in
accordance
with
the
ultimate
plan
of
God
for
judgment
for
the
purpose
of
judgment
I
have
come
into
this
world
says
Jesus
so
that
in
order
that
these
outcomes
would
happen
now
it's
not
because
God
desires
in
his
heart
that
some
would
be
lost
that
some
would
become
blind
in
his
heart
of
hearts
God
does
not
desire
that
as
we
heard
back
in
Matthew
I
want
them
to
turn
and
I
would
heal
them
if
they
did
they
close
their
eyes
no
this
happens
according
to
the
plan
of
God
because
God
desires
that
people
should
be
separated
and
sifted
out
as
they
should
be
Jesus
is
like
the
sieve
of
God
that
has
been
sent
to
separate
and
sift
out
the
people
he
is
the
stone
put
before
them
that
will
reveal
one
or
the
other
outcome
he
is
the
light
shining
in
the
darkness
that
they
will
either
come
into
the
light
or
they
will
close
their
eyes
and
turn
away
from
the
light
no
I
don't
want
that
in
other
words
I
think
what
Jesus
is
really
saying
here
is
that
at
the
end
of
the
story
when
he
the
son
of
man
is
revealed
in
glory
how
people
responded
to
Jesus
when
they
had
the
opportunity
that
will
be
the
basis
for
separating
them
out
in
the
final
judgment
the
separation
is
beginning
even
now
as
Jesus
is
here
giving
his
words
now
we
might
wonder
why
does
it
have
to
be
this
way
truthfully
God
has
many
purposes
in
all
that
he
does
and
all
of
them
good
all
of
them
right
all
of
them
just
lots
of
them
are
beyond
our
understanding
one
of
the
things
he
spoke
through
Paul
is
that
part
of
the
reason
he
sent
Jesus
in
this
way
to
save
us
in
this
way
is
to
humble
the
proud
to
shame
the
arrogant
those
who
are
wise
in
their
own
eyes
to
take
away
all
opportunity
for
human
boasting
basically
to put
us
all
in
our
rightful
place
as
creatures
before
him
our
creator
that's
at least
one
purpose
so
this
is
the
moment
of
decision
to
those
who
humble
themselves
now
before
Jesus
admit
that
yes
I
am
blind
I
can't
see
I
am
in
need
I
am
lost
I
have
sinned
against
you
God
will
you
forgive
me
I
believe
in
you
Lord
those
who
do
will
be
saved
but
those
who
refuse
to
humble
themselves
those
who
persist
in
pride
those
who
say
no
I
can
see
just
fine
I
am
not
lost
I
don't
need
you
Jesus
they
will
perish
justly
because
they
did
see
and
yet
closed
their
eyes
verse
40
some
Pharisees
who
were
with
him
heard
him
say
this
and
asked
what
are
we
blind
too
a
rhetorical
question
you
can
just
hear
the
tone
of
mockery
in
it
like
are
we
blind
too
no
I
don't
think
so
and
Jesus
responds
with
this
he
says
if
you
were
blind
you
would
not
be
guilty
of
sin
but
now
that
you
claim
you
can
see
your
guilt
remains
it's
a loaded
response
this is
one of
those
noodle
busters
you
kind
of
just
got
to
sit
and
think
over
this
and
meditate
on
it
for
a
while
in
the
same
breath
Jesus
says
no
you're
not
blind
and
so
you
are
guilty
of
sin
and
he
says
yes
you
are
blind
and
so
you
are
guilty
of
sin
I
know
that
sounds
like
a
contradiction
but
it's
there
Jesus
is
speaking
at
a
different
level
probably
in
riddle
or
kind
of
like
a
mini
parable
here
let's
unpack
it
briefly
if
you
were
blind
in the
original
language
based
on
the
grammar
here
we
can
know
the
way
that
this
if
then
statement
works
we
know
that
it's
if
you
were
blind
and
you're
not
you
would
not
be
guilty
of
sin
what
does
Jesus
mean
by
this
I
think
what
he
means
is
if
you
were
truly
blind
if
you
were
truly
ignorant
of
what's
going
on
here
the
reality
of
who
I
am
then
you
would
not
be
guilty
of
sin
but
you're
not
you
do
know
what's
going
on
here
you
have
seen
clearly
enough
to
be
responsible
for
your
actions
and
with
what
you've
seen
and
what
you
are
doing
you
are
guilty
you
don't
want
to
hear
the
truth
I'm
speaking
in fact
you're
trying
to
do
away
with
me
you've
seen
enough
to be
responsible
for
what
you've
seen
and
how
you've
responded
to
what
you've
seen
makes
you
guilty
of
sin
because
they
refuse
to
accept
the
only
way
to
be
forgiven
which
is
to
come
humbly
to
Jesus
there
are
many
ways
that
this
passage
touches
real
life
I
mentioned
some
of
them
already
but
I
want
to end
this
morning
simply
by
encouraging
you
to
put
yourself
in
the
story
imagine
that
Jesus
comes
and
finds
you
and
says
to
you
do
you
believe
in
the
son
of
man
what's
your
answer
to
him
this
man
said
I
believe
and
he
bowed
before
him
on
the
ground
do
you
believe
that
Jesus
is
the
son
of
man
like
that
the
Messiah
like
that
the
one
who
someday
will
bust
through
the
clouds
in
glory
and
come
to
reign
over
this
never
ending
kingdom
that
God
has
promised
what's
your
answer
to
Jesus
do
you
have
faith
in
the
son
of
man
this
matters
everything
coming
to
the
place
that
this
man
came
to
on
his
face
on
the
ground
before
Jesus
and
saying
I
believe
is
the
only
way
to
have
eternal
life
it's
the
only
way
to
have
your
guilt
taken
away
I
also
want
to
encourage
you
to
imagine
for
a
moment
that
you're
one
of
the
Pharisees
I
know
that's
not
something
we
naturally
want
to
do
but
I
think
we
can
learn
from
them
too
the
problem
with
them
was
pride
an
unwillingness
to
listen
they
thought
they
knew
better
maybe
you
don't
have
that
struggle
in
your
heart
but
maybe
you
do
maybe
you
are
thinking
I've
kind
of
got
this
figured
out
I've
got
I've
had
enough
of
Jesus
already
I'm
good
enough
I'm
good
to
go
or
maybe
I'll
take
a
little
bit
of
Jesus
but
not
too
much
I
hope
from
Jesus
himself
this
morning
that
you
hear
and
understand
that
he
has
come
for
judgment
to
sift
and
to
separate
and
your
response
to
him
will
make
all
the
difference
in
the
world
for
the
rest
of
eternity
he's
either
going
to
be
the
stone
that
you
stumble
over
or
the
precious
corner
stone
there's
no
in
between
you'll
either
be
guilty
or
forgiven
by
God's
grace
there's
no
in
between
I
want to
end
with the
words
of
Jesus
which
we
haven't
come
to
yet
but
Jesus
simply
said
this
he
said
I
am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
life
no
one
comes
to
the
father
except
through
me
let's
pray
father
in
heaven
thank
you
so
much
for
sending
your
son
lord
Jesus
thank
you
for
coming
as
we're
about
to
sing
we
celebrate
we
praise
you
that
you
have
given
sight
to
the
blind
and
that
that's
your
desire
not
that
we
should
perish
but
that
we
should
come
to
you
and
be
saved
thank
you
for
the
miracle
that
is
when
it
happens
and
lord
it's
happened
for
many
of
us
here
in
this
room
but
our
desire
is
to
see
that
happen
to
many
more
in
this
community
and
so
we
pray
and
ask
that
you
would
work
in
the
hearts
of
people
here
in
Davidson
work
in
our
friends
our
neighbors
those
we
bump
into
as
we
work
give
us
words
to
speak
help
us
to
share
you
well
with
them
lord
and
bring
more
people
to
see
the
truth
of
who
you
are
we
ask
this
for
your
glory
for
your
name
Jesus
amen