WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.799 So John chapter 9 verses 1 to 8 and then verses 24 to 41 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.400 As he passed by 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:13.359 He saw a man blind from birth and 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.199 His disciples asked him Rabbi who sinned 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:23.080 This man or his parents that he was born blind and Jesus answered 00:00:23.080 --> 00:00:26.320 It was not that this man sinned or his parents 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:30.280 But that the works of God might be displayed in him 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:38.240 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day night is coming when no one can work as 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:40.640 Long as I am in the world 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.719 I am the light of the world 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:47.400 And having said these things he spat on the ground and he made mud with the saliva 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:53.760 And then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and he said to him go wash in the pool of Siloam 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.679 Which means sent 00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:02.560 So he went and washed and he came back seeing and the neighbors and those who had sent him before 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:09.200 Seen him before as a beggar were saying is this not the man who used to sit and beg? 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:12.200 in the verse 24 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:18.439 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him give glory to God 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:20.439 We know that this man is a sinner 00:01:21.039 --> 00:01:22.400 He answered 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:28.160 Whether he's a sinner I do not know one thing I do know that though. I was blind now. I see 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:31.040 They said to him what did he do to you? 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:33.920 How did he open your eyes and he answered them? 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:38.600 I've told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? 00:01:38.960 --> 00:01:41.160 Do you also want to become his disciples? 00:01:41.160 --> 00:01:47.360 And they reviled him saying you are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:53.319 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from 00:01:54.039 --> 00:02:01.359 The man answered why this is an amazing thing. You do not know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:09.120 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will God listens to him 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:16.000 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.759 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:26.400 They answered him you were born in Utterson and would you teach us and they cast him out? 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:32.920 Jesus heard that they had cast him out and having found him. He said do you believe in the Son of man? 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:37.360 He answered and who is he sir that I may believe in him 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:42.800 Jesus said to him you have seen him and it is he who is speaking to you 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:47.760 He said Lord, I believe and he worshipped him Jesus said for judgment 00:02:47.760 --> 00:02:53.760 I came into this world that those who do not see may see and that those who see may become blind 00:02:54.760 --> 00:02:59.880 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him are we also blind? 00:03:00.720 --> 00:03:04.520 Jesus said to them if you were blind you would have no guilt 00:03:05.160 --> 00:03:10.160 But now that you say we see your guilt remains. This is God's holy word 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:15.000 Tonight we are looking at the story of Jesus healing the blind man and John 9 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:21.479 The man born blind I think is someone even if we've read this for the first time someone that we 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:27.919 Instinctively cheer for Jesus heals him off his blindness 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:34.919 He comes back from washing his face in the pool and then almost the whole chapter from then on is filled with him being interrogated 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:40.759 by his neighbors by the Jews by the Pharisees and we didn't read it but his parents are 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:46.759 off-scared hiding and as the audience we just read it we're watching it all go down the elite 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:52.759 you know they back him into a corner and he just shrugs his shoulders speaks his mind 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.759 and it's a pretty lively guy and 00:03:56.759 --> 00:04:02.759 I you know we I think we call them comebacks today if someone's having a go at you you've got a quick way to reply 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:09.759 And either they leave you alone or they get more wound up and the man born blind is full of comebacks and he carries the story 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:13.759 Through this interrogation which gets more and more intense 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:22.759 until the very end when Jesus returns and speaks to the man and the Pharisees and it's when Jesus returns right at the end of the story 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.759 and he says something absolutely central 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:29.759 to why we celebrate Christmas 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:31.759 to why we celebrate Christmas 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:38.759 this huge discussion takes up the whole chapter and that the very end Jesus comes back and he says this is why I came 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:43.759 this is why I came you know I think we work out 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:51.759 quite quickly in the story is that physical blindness has very little to do with the story at all 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:55.759 we do have it we do have this blind man 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:59.759 but blindness isn't really seen in him it's seen in the Pharisees 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:03.759 the problem is not a tall physical blindness 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.759 but spiritual blindness 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:14.759 that becomes clearer and clearer until eventually Jesus returns at the end of the story and he says this in verse 39 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.759 for judgment I came into this world 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:20.759 that those who do not see may see 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:24.759 and those who see may become blind 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:29.759 why was Jesus born why do we celebrate Christmas 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:35.759 because he came so that those who do not see may see 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:39.759 he came to give sight to the blind 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:43.759 so we have three main ideas to think about tonight in relation to that 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:46.759 Jesus was born to give sight to the blind 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.759 just three things to think about 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:55.759 firstly something about suffering and judgment 00:05:56.759 --> 00:06:00.759 two huge ideas and the book end this chapter 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:07.759 in verses 2 and 3 the disciples ask if it was specifically because of this man's sin 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:11.759 that he was born blind and Jesus says no no not at all 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.759 it was so that the works of God might be done in him 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:20.759 this chapter raises a lot of questions about suffering 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:23.759 too many to ask an answer tonight 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:27.759 one takeaway when Jesus says that 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:34.759 is the fact that God values human life very very highly 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:38.759 here you've got this man born blind 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:43.759 which in his day meant complete separation from the rest of society 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:47.759 there's no cure there's no relief whatsoever 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:53.759 and it puts you in the margins in a way that it doesn't really today 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:55.759 or not as much at least 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.759 Jesus in another scene he's at a feast and he tells his host that 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:02.759 he shouldn't be inviting just the rich and the prominent people 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:08.759 but he should be inviting the poor the crippled and the blind 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:13.759 blindness was so common and so serious that you were marginalized by your society 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:17.759 and the only choice for many like for this blind man in verse 8 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:21.759 is to sit at the side of the street and beg 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:27.759 and not only that but the people think he deserves it 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:31.759 the religious view of the day was that 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:38.759 specific sin will absolutely lead to specific suffering 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:43.759 if you do this then you will suffer in this way 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.759 the disciples wonder just maybe if it's because of this man's sin 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:53.759 that he was born blind did he somehow sin in the womb 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:57.759 and that's why he's born with this condition did his parents do something 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.759 and he's been punished for it ever since 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:06.759 they're only wondering that the Pharisees come on the scene in verse 34 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:09.759 and say you were steeped in sin from birth 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:16.759 that's the cultural view you've got a man who's cut off from the rest of society 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:18.759 and society looks at him and says you deserve it 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:21.759 you deserve it 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:24.759 Jesus is leaving the temple 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.759 he sees him he goes to him and he says no that's not the case at all 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:34.759 but it's so that the works of God might be displayed 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:40.759 and when he's saying that one thing he is saying is that human life is valuable 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:44.759 this man is valuable he might have been born blind 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:48.759 he might be on the side of a street begging the people might think he deserves it 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:53.759 but what does God say what does Jesus say his life as a purpose 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:56.759 his life is valuable 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.759 and you know God looks at you 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:04.759 and he says that your life is valuable 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:11.759 we've been thinking about that recently in the mornings looking at creation in Genesis 1 and 2 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:17.759 it's not your ability to reason and work and plan for the future 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:19.759 that makes your life valuable 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.759 it's not any of that that gives life value 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:31.759 life is valuable because God thought and knew you and created you 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:34.759 God says that much to Jeremiah 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:36.759 before I formed you in the womb I knew you 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:43.759 life is valuable because the one God father son and spirit spoke about you before time 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:50.759 he loved humanity he loved you before you even made Robert Jensen 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:57.759 he's an American theologian or he was and he helps us picture this when he says that 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:03.759 we exist because before time God spoke about us 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:10.759 I exist and you exist because God spoke to himself about us 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:16.759 and called us valuable is it suffering that determines the value of this blind man's life 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.759 no life is valuable your life is valuable because God says it is 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.759 because God the maker of the universe loves the people that he has made 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:36.759 at the same time Jesus comes in verse 39 and says that he came for judgment 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.759 what does he mean? 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:44.759 alarm bells should be ringing if you've read the rest of John's Gospel 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.759 in John chapter 3 Jesus says I did not come for judgment 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.759 and here he says for judgment I came 00:10:52.759 --> 00:11:00.759 Jesus did not come to judge specifically he didn't come to point the finger 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:06.759 but he enters into history and becomes one of us and begins to tell the world 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.759 he begins to tell us that there is something wrong with our hearts 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:20.759 he tells us that we're blind and he has stepped into humanity to make it right 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:25.759 and humanity is divided that's what judgment means 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:32.759 Jesus came to show what life is meant to be and humans have said ever since that day 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.759 that they're either compelled by him or against him 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:43.759 history is divided God values and loves every person that he has made 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:49.759 he knew us before time began he sent his son to fix our blindness and we are divided 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.759 we don't want to be told that we are blind so secondly 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:02.759 see here our spiritual blindness the point of this chapter 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:08.759 what does it mean that we are blind? Jesus says he came to give sight to the blind 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:15.759 what about that has been causing division ever since he said it 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:24.759 the Bible speaks about sight and it doesn't always mean physical sight 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.759 very often it doesn't mean physical sight and nor do we 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:32.759 this past week Spotify Wrapped came out 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:38.759 something that we all look forward to at this time of the year now it's become a bit of a tradition 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:43.759 Spotify will keep track of the artists, the albums, the genres that you listen to 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:48.759 for the whole year and then at the end of the year it will create this remontage 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.759 and it will tell you all about your listening habits 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:57.759 and well we listen to music based on how we feel 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:00.759 we listen to music based on what we're going through 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:05.759 and it can be a bit surprising maybe for some of us when Spotify says 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.759 you listen to this one song hundreds of times 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:16.759 you were in the top 0.5% of listeners for this one album or for this one band or singer 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:23.759 or that July was your synth pop phase and October was your classical concert phase 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.759 you're surprised at first maybe and then you think about it and you say 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:36.759 oh I see, I understand, it makes sense, that's how I was feeling at that time in the year 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.759 six months ago that's why I listened to that type of music so much 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:49.759 I see, well you don't see anything but you realize you understand why for me I understand 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:53.759 or I understood the way I was feeling or thinking six months ago 00:13:53.759 --> 00:14:00.759 and you say I see now, I understand what has been true of me this past year 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:04.759 the Bible speaks of sight in the same way very often 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:10.759 and when it speaks about sight as knowledge it speaks about spiritual sight 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:17.759 and it says we don't have it as the theme all the way through the Bible 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:22.759 we don't have spiritual sight but we are spiritually blind 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.759 what is spiritual blindness? 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:29.759 what does it mean to be spiritually blind? 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:39.759 it means to not see, to not know, it means to be blind to the seriousness of your sin on one hand 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:46.759 and at the same time be blind to the fact that you need someone to save you from it 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:53.759 Cody mentioned this morning that he'd been trying to find a clear definition for boredom 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:58.759 and what it means and I had been doing something similar with spirituality 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:04.759 there is a rise in spirituality, more and more people today say that they are spiritual 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:10.759 but it comes with a lot of questions, what does that mean to be spiritual? 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.759 people say many different things, is it religious? 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.759 is it not religious? 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.759 am I a body with a soul? 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.759 am I a soul with a body? 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:31.759 one theme or idea from what I find out, one theme or idea that runs through every definition 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:39.759 is the idea of turning inward and seeking the depths of your existence 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:44.759 and finding ways to help you understand your existence more and more 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:51.759 you can go on Google Maps and type in spirituality into the limits of Edinburgh 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:56.759 and you find crystal shops and palm readers and meditation centers all over the sea 00:15:56.759 --> 00:16:00.759 you can buy or experience something that's going to tell you more about your inner self 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:15.759 Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians says that spirituality is not firstly about growing in yourself 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:19.759 or loving yourself or healing yourself 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:32.759 not in any way, in chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians he says firstly that spirituality is about knowing the gospel of the glory of Christ 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:42.759 spirituality is about knowing and seeing what God has said in the gospel about who you are 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:49.759 and more importantly who he is 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:54.759 spiritual blindness is not knowing what has always been true of us 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.759 we are far worse sinners than we think we are 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:04.759 we are not as good as we think we are 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:09.759 we are broken and on top of that we need to be saved 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.759 so look at how that's seen in this chapter 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.759 Jesus heals this man of his physical blindness 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:24.759 we didn't read the middle of the chapter but the man's neighbors are sure that this can't be the same man 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.759 is this really the man that was blind that we knew? 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.759 yes it's me he says 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.759 how do you see them? this man Jesus he healed me 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.759 and then the pharisees appear 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:39.759 did this man Jesus really heal you on the Sabbath? 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.759 he must be a sinner what did he do to you? 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.759 I've told you already you want to hear that again? 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:51.759 you want to become his disciples? no no we are disciples of Moses 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:58.759 well if this man wasn't from God he wouldn't have been able to do it 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.759 how dare you they say 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.759 how dare you 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:04.759 you were born in utter sin and would you teach us? 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.759 what is spiritual sin here? 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.759 or spiritual blindness here 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.759 it's to ask why Jesus healed him on the Sabbath 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:16.759 it's to claim to be disciples of Moses 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:21.759 it's to say that this man is a sinner and you are not 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:26.759 in other words it's to think that you're better or safer than you are 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:30.759 Tim Keller on this chapter he says it's a question of pride 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:34.759 and you see that in the pharisees they obey the Sabbath 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:38.759 they are disciples of Moses they obey the law they live well 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:42.759 they're not a sinner like this man clearly is he was born blind 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.759 they think they're better than they are 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:52.759 spiritual blindness is not just knowing that you're a sinner 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:55.759 you're a sinner or that you sin 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.759 and leaving it out of that 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.759 we can acknowledge all of us can acknowledge that we sin 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:07.759 we talk behind each other's backs we lie we put people down 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.759 we make out that we are better than other people 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.759 the list goes on we know that we act in a way 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.759 that strikes the conscience that says man I shouldn't have said that 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.759 I shouldn't have done that 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.759 we all do that 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:25.759 spiritual blindness is understanding that and not seeing that you need to be saved from it 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:35.759 spiritual blindness is the pride of the pharisees to believe that you are better than you are 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:39.759 and to believe that you don't need to be saved 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:47.759 do you see the importance of coming tonight and saying very simply 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.759 I am a sinner 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:55.759 I have put my hands up to God and said no thank you 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:04.759 I have run away from him and no amount of being good is going to fix that 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.759 however hard I tried to convince myself 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.759 Jesus came so that you would see who you really are 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:20.759 he came to tell you you are blind you are not as good as you think you are 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.759 and actually you need grace 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:28.759 that's what spiritual sight is to see who you are apart from God 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.759 and know that you need grace 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:34.759 Jesus was born to tell you that 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:45.759 so lastly see Jesus in this chapter who seeks out the spiritually blind 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:49.759 God highly values the people he has made 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:53.759 we reject him in our spiritual blindness 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:58.759 and yet Jesus was born and he came to seek out the blind 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:03.759 Jesus we have already made clear 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:10.759 he said that this man's suffering is not specifically because of this man's sin 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:16.759 in a more general sense it is the result of living in a fallen world 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.759 things not being as they should be 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.759 he is not blind as a consequence of something he has done 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:26.759 he is blind simply because he and everyone else around him 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:30.759 and everyone that has ever existed apart from Jesus is a sinner 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:36.759 he is suffering in a fallen world and that is clear the more we read into this chapter 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.759 the man he doesn't know who Jesus is 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:43.759 the Pharisees say in verse 24 give glory to God 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:47.759 in other words whatever you say next better be the truth 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.759 we know this man was a sinner 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.759 and he says I don't know 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.759 I don't know if he is a sinner or not 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:59.759 the man born blind on his own he doesn't know what to say 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:02.759 he doesn't go after Jesus 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:09.759 what is the significance of Jesus being the one who finds the man 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.759 at the end of the story 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:15.759 at the start it makes sense that the man can't see 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.759 of course Jesus approaches him 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:22.759 but why at the end does John make the point of saying that Jesus finds him 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.759 in verse 35 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:29.759 it is just to say that spiritual blindness 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.759 can only be turned to spiritual sight 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.759 because Jesus is the one who comes after us 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:43.759 spiritual blindness is not knowing how damaging our sin is not understanding 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.759 that we need to be saved from it 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:49.759 and Jesus is the one who comes and opens our eyes 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:53.759 he says here is what has always been true about you 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.759 what is the significance of Jesus 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:02.759 seeking out the blind man 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.759 seeking out the spiritually blind 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.759 you can never know him if he didn't do it 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:13.759 at the start of the chapter Jesus calls himself 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.759 the light of the world 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:20.759 and when he is saying that he is just repeating and summing up what he has been saying 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.759 for the past three chapters in John 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.759 in chapter 8 he speaks to the crowd and he says 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.759 I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.759 but will have the light of life 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:37.759 darkness, spiritual blindness 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.759 is healed 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:44.759 because the light stepped into the darkness 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:49.759 not because we reach our hand out of the darkness 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.759 life as it was meant to be 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.759 a relationship experiencing the grace of God now 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:58.759 and in eternity the light of life he calls it 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:02.759 can only be known because he stepped into the darkness 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.759 why do we put Christmas lights up 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:08.759 at this time in the year some of us far too early I think 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.759 why do we put Christmas lights up 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:15.759 because we know that we need light in the darkness 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.759 inside ourselves 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:24.759 we know there is something in us that says we need light to shine in the darkness 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.759 how can you receive spiritual sight 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:32.759 how can your blindness be healed 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:35.759 because the light stepped into the darkness 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.759 and became a man 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.759 and because he fell every part of that darkness 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.759 when he hung on the cross 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:46.759 Mark in his gospel says this about Jesus' death 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.759 and when the sick thawed had come 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.759 there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.759 and Jesus cried out 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.759 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.759 Jesus seeks the same thing 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:02.759 Jesus seeks the spiritually blind 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.759 we are given sight 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.759 we are given life as it is meant to be 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.759 not by reaching out 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:13.759 but because the Son experienced such darkness for us 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.759 that he had to ask his own Father 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.759 why have you forsaken me 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.759 the blind are found 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:27.759 we are found because Jesus came into the darkness 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:30.759 and experienced every part of it for us 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.759 God loves His creation 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:37.759 He values it far more than we know 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:41.759 we reject Him because we are spiritually blind 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:45.759 and yet Jesus came to give sight to the blind 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.759 He stepped into the darkness 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.759 and experienced it himself 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.759 what can you do 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.759 what can you do 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.759 what can you do 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.759 Jesus asks one thing to this man at the end 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.759 do you believe in the Son of Man 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:11.759 do you believe that the God of Heaven who you can never reach 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.759 came down and was born to suffer 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.759 so that you would see 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.759 that's what Jesus is asking 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:22.759 He calls himself the Son of Man 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.759 do you believe that 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.759 the blind man gives the right response 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.759 Lord, I believe 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.759 and He worshiped him 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:37.759 Jesus needs to be the object of your faith 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.759 if you're going to have life as it's meant to be 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:44.759 if you're going to see life as it's meant to be 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.759 we're going to sing in a minute 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:48.759 I think we've sung it before 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.759 but it's all about Jesus' life 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.759 from his birth to his death 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.759 and it says this about him on the cross 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.759 he fights for breath, he fights for me 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:01.759 losing sinners from the claims of hell 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:04.759 and with a shout, our souls are free 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.759 death defeated by Emmanuel 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.759 our souls are freed 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:14.759 we see life as it is meant to be 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:17.759 when we say with the blind man, I believe 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.759 just to end 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:29.759 one more thing to know in this chapter 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:32.759 each time the blind man speaks to Jesus 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.759 he gives him a different title 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:37.759 so in verse 11 he's getting asked about Jesus 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.759 and he calls him a man 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.759 then in verse 17 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.759 they ask why he thinks about Jesus 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.759 and he calls him a prophet 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:48.759 and in verse 35 when he's speaking to Jesus 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.759 he calls him sir and then finally 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.759 he can say nothing but Lord 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.759 he calls him Lord 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:57.759 and when he moves from man to prophet to sir to lord 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.759 these titles are becoming more and more reverent 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.759 more and more honourable 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:05.759 it seems that his insight into who Jesus is 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.759 is growing and growing and growing 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.759 his affection for Jesus 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.759 is growing in these moments 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.759 and at the same time 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:17.759 the Pharisees become more and more stuck 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.759 in their unbelief 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.759 they go from questioning Jesus 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.759 and disagreeing with each other 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.759 to finally telling this blind man 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.759 he's completely wrong and they throw him out 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:33.759 Jesus came to give sight to the blind 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.759 that's divisive in this story 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:38.759 and it's divisive tonight 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.759 do you believe 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.759 and if you do 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:48.759 is your affection growing 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:53.759 like the blind man moving from man to prophet 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.759 to sir to lord 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.759 are you approaching Christmas 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:03.759 with a growing love for Jesus 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.759 are you approaching Christmas 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.759 with a growing love for the one 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.759 who stepped into the darkness 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.759 who rose again 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:17.759 and who now intercedes and prays for you 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.759 every day 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.759 for your sight to grow 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.759 let's pray 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.759 Lord we thank you for 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:28.759 the story of you healing this man born blind 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.759 and Lord we pray 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.759 that in our own hearts tonight 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.759 we would reckon with ourselves 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:39.759 do we believe that the son of God came 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.759 and was born to give us sight 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.759 and if we do believe that 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.759 is our love, is our affection 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.759 growing more and more 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.759 we pray that it will 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.759 and we ask these things in Jesus' name 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:54.759 Amen