1,075.
Again, you're all very welcome this morning.
And as we gather, we open up God's Word and we hear it explained and preached.
And we look forward to Johnny coming in a moment to preach from the Word to our hearts and to our souls.
And we're going to be looking this morning, continuing our series in the Gospel of John.
We're going to be looking at chapter 9.
So we're going to read verses 1 to 12.
And then we're going to jump down and read 35 to 41.
So John chapter 9, verses 1 to 12 and then 35 to 41.
John chapter 9.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
And his disciples asked him,
Rabbi, who sinned?
This man or his parents that he was born blind?
Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus.
But this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
After saying this, he spat on the ground.
He made some mud with the saliva.
And he put it on the man's eyes.
Go, he told him.
Wash in the pool of Siloam.
This word means sent.
So the man went and he washed.
He came home seen.
His neighbors, no one who had formerly seen him begging, asked,
Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?
Some claimed that he was.
Others said, no, he only looks like him.
But he himself insisted, I am the man.
Now then, now how then were your eyes open, they asked.
He replied, the man they called Jesus.
He made some mud and he put it on my eyes.
He told me, go to Siloam and wash.
So I went and washed and then I could see.
Where is this man, they asked him.
I don't know, he said.
Verse 35.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him, that's the blind man who had been healed, 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.
Jesus said, you have now seen him.
In fact, he is the one speaking with you.
Then the man said, Lord, I believe.
And he worshipped him.
Jesus said, for judgment I have come into this world,
so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and they asked, what?
Are we blind too?
Well, Jesus said, if you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin.
But now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Good morning.
Nice to see you.
Thank you, Ralph, for leading and thanks to the music team as well.
And we do appreciate you so much.
So thank you for helping us this morning and for all who do week by week.
Let's keep our Bibles open.
We're going to look at John 9 together.
Let's pray.
Father God, by the power of your spirit,
open our eyes
that we may see wonderful truths and treasures in your word.
May we see Jesus clearly
in all his beauty and wonder.
And may we be satisfied
in him alone.
Help us, we pray.
Amen.
Well, when I've been abroad in more tropical climates,
something startling happens at night.
It may have been your experience too.
When you turn on the light,
the whole room moves.
Great moths come out and they fly towards the light.
And those dirty cockroaches,
they scurry into the darkness.
You see, light is not neutral.
It either attracts or it repels.
Look at verse 5.
See what Jesus says?
While I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.
Jesus is saying,
I've come to shine my light.
I have come to be the light in the darkness.
And Jesus is not neutral.
As his light shines,
we're either attracted to him
or we are repelled by him.
Let's see how this is true.
First, we're going to look at the shining of the light.
Shining the light.
In our text,
John records for us an extraordinary miracle.
A blind man receives his sight.
But you'll know through our studies
that in John's gospel,
the miracles are called signs.
So the miracle,
or the sign,
points beyond itself to something else.
In this case,
and here's a summary,
Jesus gives a blind man physical sight
to show us that he has come to give us
spiritual sight.
He gives a blind man physical sight.
That's the miracle.
The sign is pointing to the fact
that Jesus has come to give us
spiritual sight.
Look at verse 1.
As he went along,
he saw a blind man from birth.
His disciples asked him,
Teacher,
who sinned?
This man?
Or his parents?
That he was born blind?
To them,
there was only one logical conclusion.
Either his parents had done something
terribly wrong in their life,
and God is punishing them
for some sin in their life,
and their son is born blind.
Or,
maybe God knew that
as the man grew older,
he would do some terrible things
in his life,
and so,
he was punished with blindness
before he was even born.
Those are their thinkings.
What is it, Jesus?
It must be one or the other.
Who sinned?
Now, many people think like that.
If everything I do is going well,
then I must have done something good.
God is blessing me.
But if I'm suffering in some way,
I must have done something wrong.
God is punishing me.
Now, it's a common thought.
We can think like that.
But it's a terrible thought,
because it's not true.
Look at Jesus' response,
verse 3.
Neither this man
nor his parents
sinned.
Yes,
in a sense,
all the struggle
and all the suffering
in the world
is a result of the fall.
But we cannot draw
a direct line
from our suffering
to a particular sin
and say,
that was it.
No, Jesus says,
neither this man
nor his parents
sinned.
But this happened.
The man's blindness happened
so that the works of God
might be displayed
in him.
And what were the works
that were going to be displayed
through this blind man?
Well,
through the healing
of the blind man,
Jesus was going to shine
his light
to show his power
and to show
our spiritual condition.
So let's look
at this miracle
in a little bit
more detail.
First,
born blind.
Look at verse 1 again.
As Jesus went along,
he saw a man
blind
from birth.
So he never,
ever
had experienced sight.
Imagine,
he never got to see
his family.
He could smell
a flower,
but he never was able
to admire its beauty.
He could feel
the sunshine
beating down on him,
but he was never able
to gaze
at a sunset.
He was blind
from birth.
Darkness.
But yet,
born blind
and given sight.
Jump down
to verse 6.
After saying this,
after this discussion
with his disciples,
Jesus spat
on the ground,
made some mud
with the saliva
and put it
on the man's eyes.
Now,
what a strange
thing to do.
We know from
John chapter 5
that Jesus
could have simply
just spoken a word
and healed him
straight away,
just as he did.
Do you remember
to the man
who couldn't walk
by the pool?
He just said to him,
pick up your mat
and walk.
Well,
why didn't he say
the exact same thing
to the blind man?
Your eyes are open,
you can see.
But no,
Jesus,
look at what it says
there in verse 6,
he made mud.
He spits
on the ground
and then he makes
a paste
of mud
and then he takes it
and he presses it
into the man's eyes.
Why would he do that?
Well,
I think it's like creation,
isn't it?
Just as God
formed and
shaped
the world
and just as God
in the very beginning
of creation
spoke light
into the darkness,
so Jesus
spits
and he makes mud
and he forms
and shapes
that mud
and he
pastes it
into the man's eyes
and he speaks
light into the darkness,
verse 7.
Go,
he told him.
Wash
in the pool of Siloam.
So the man
went,
washed
and he came
home seeing.
You see,
through the sign,
through this miracle,
Jesus is shining
a light
on our
condition.
This man
didn't lose
his sight
or become
blind over time.
He never had sight.
He was born blind
and in the same way
we have been
born blind
to who Jesus
is
and our need
of him.
And the only way
we're ever going
to see
who Jesus
is,
is if he does
a creation
work
in our life.
He must
create
sight.
He must
give sight
where there
never was
any sight.
And just as
the blind man
couldn't give
himself
sight,
so we can
never make
ourselves
see our
need of Jesus.
Jesus must
do a miracle,
a new
creation
work
in our
life.
So Jesus
does a sign
shining his
light
on our
true
condition.
So how do we
respond
to this
shining light?
second,
remaining in
darkness.
This poor
man,
instead of
being able
to enjoy
this new
sight and
go to
different places
and explore
and look,
this poor
man is
thrown into
like a
courtroom.
He's having
to defend
and prove
that he
does have
sight.
it seems
that no
one wants
to believe
what happened
to him.
Look at
verse 8.
His neighbours
and those
who had
formerly
seen him
begging
asked,
isn't this
the man
who used
to sit
and beg?
Some
claimed,
yes,
that's the
man.
Others
said,
no,
it isn't.
You've
got it
all wrong.
He only
looks like
him.
But he
himself
insisted,
I am
the man.
Hello,
everyone.
Have you
ever thought
of asking
me?
Well,
how did
you get
to see?
Well,
the man
they called
Jesus,
he made
mud and
he put
it on
my eyes
and I
went and
washed
and I
could see.
Why don't
you believe
me?
Well,
if the
neighbours
weren't bad
enough,
next up
were the
Pharisees.
Verse 15.
Therefore,
the Pharisees
also asked
him how
he had
received
his sight.
Well,
he put
mud on
my eyes
and I
washed
and now
I can
see.
But they're
not convinced.
Verse 18.
They still
did not
believe that
he had
been blind
and that
he had
received
his sight
until they
sent for
the man's
parents.
So the
parents are
called in.
Is this
your son?
They asked.
Is this
the one
who you
say was
born blind?
How is it
now that
he can
see?
I mean,
don't be so
ridiculous.
Blind
and now
seeing.
We know
he is our
son,
the parents
answered.
And we
know he
was born
blind,
but how
he can
see now
or who
opened
his eyes,
we don't
know.
Ask him.
Now why
is it
that they
are having
such a
hard time
believing
what's
happened?
Well you
see,
if the
miracle is
true,
if what
the man
was saying
was true,
that means
Jesus is
God and
the Pharisees
would have
to accept
that and
believe in
Jesus.
But rather
than believe
the truth
about Jesus,
they now
turned to
try to
discredit
Jesus.
Verse 24.
A second
time they
summoned the
man who
had been
blind.
Give glory
to God by
telling the
truth,
they said.
We know
this man
is a
sinner.
In other
words,
just stop
all your
lies and
just say
Jesus is
a sinner.
He replied
whether he
is a sinner
or not,
I don't
know.
But one
thing I
do know,
I was
blind,
but now
I see.
Then they
asked him,
what did
he do
to you?
How did
he open
your eyes?
He
answered,
I've
told you
and you
will not
listen.
Do you
want to
become his
disciples too?
Skip down
to verse
32.
Nobody,
this is the
man speaking
again,
nobody has
ever heard
of opening
the eyes
of a man
born blind.
If this
man were
not from
God,
he could
do
nothing.
In other
words,
I can
now see,
so this
man must
be from
God.
To this
they replied,
you were
steeped in
sin at
birth,
how dare
you lecture
us?
And they
threw him
out.
Why is
there such
hostility?
And why
is there
such
unbelief?
well,
it seems
that these
Pharisees
are blinded
by pride.
You see,
to acknowledge
what Jesus
has done
and all
that he's
been saying
means,
well,
we must
believe that
he's God.
And if
Jesus is
God,
then I
must submit
my life to
him,
I must
turn and
trust him.
But pride
gets in the
way.
our pride
says,
I don't
need
Jesus.
I can
live my
own way.
Isn't
that how
often we
can be?
Jesus is
saying,
come to
me,
see who
I am.
I am
God,
I have
come to
bring life
in all
its
fullness.
Believe
me,
walk with
me.
But
pride,
pride says,
no,
I want
to do
it my
way.
I've
got my
own way
of living.
I have
my own
truth.
You see,
as Jesus
turns the
light on,
as Jesus
comes in
as the
light into
the world,
they remain
in darkness.
They're
repelled
by Jesus.
When
confronted
with who
he is,
they scurry
away deeper
into the
darkness.
But there's
another
response.
Not just
those who
remain in
darkness,
but those
who are
attracted
to Jesus.
You see,
while the
Pharisees
hide from
the light,
the former
blind man
is attracted
to the
light.
And it
seems all
the questioning
that he's
been facing
has caused
him to
question
himself.
Who is
this person?
And he's
being drawn
towards him
gradually.
Look at the
progression of
the man.
Let's go
back to
verse 11.
The
neighbours
have asked,
who opened
your eyes?
Verse 11,
the man
they call
Jesus.
He doesn't
know who
Jesus is.
He's just
that man,
that person
that is
called
Jesus.
That's all
he knows
him as.
But look
what happens
later on.
Verse 17,
the Pharisees
turned again
to the
blind man.
What have
you to say
about him?
It was
your eyes
he opened.
The man
replied,
he is
a prophet.
So he's
no longer
just that
man called
Jesus.
He's
thought about
it and
come to
the conclusion
that he's
something bigger,
he's more
important.
He must
be a
prophet.
Verse 31,
again as
he speaks
back to
the Pharisees,
we know
that God
does not
listen to
sinners.
God
listens to
the godly
person who
does his
will.
Nobody has
ever heard
of opening
the eyes
of a man
born blind.
If this
man were
not from
God,
he could
do
nothing.
He's
come to
the clear
conclusion
that this
man,
Jesus,
is a
prophet
and he
is not
a sinner.
He must
be
God.
You see,
the more
light that
this man
receives,
the closer
he is drawn
towards the
light.
The more
he understands
of Jesus,
the more
he is ready
to believe
in Jesus.
Verse 35,
Jesus had
heard that
they had
thrown him
out.
And when
Jesus found
him, he
said,
do you
believe in
the son
of man?
Jesus is
referring to
himself here
as the one
with absolute
power and
supreme authority.
Do you
believe in
the son
of man?
Now, the
man's answer
is remarkable.
Verse 36,
who is he,
sir?
The man
asked.
Tell me
so that I
may believe
in him.
Jesus said,
you have
now seen
him.
In fact,
he is the
one speaking
with you.
And the
man said,
Lord,
I believe.
And he
worshipped
him.
Yes, he
sees Jesus
physically for
the first
time.
But more
than that,
this former
blind man
has come
to see his
need of
Jesus and
he believes
in him.
He
worships.
Literally,
he bows
down in
honour,
and
submission
as he
sees the
greatness
and the
glory of
who Jesus
is.
How did
this happen?
How did
this change
come about
in this
man's
life?
Well,
the man
was enabled
to see.
Look at
verse 35.
Jesus
found
him.
Jesus
went
searching
him out.
The
light of
Jesus
had shone
into the
darkness
of his
life.
And as
he responded
to the
light,
and as
the light
got brighter,
not only
was his
physical
eyes
opened,
but something
greater,
his
spiritual
eyes have
been opened.
He's come
to see
his need
of Jesus.
You see,
that's what
Jesus does.
He gives
sight
where there
was no
sight.
So what
does that
all mean
for us?
Well,
Jesus
summarizes
his message
like this.
Look at
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.
It's
very simple
what Jesus
is saying.
I've
summarized it
like this,
you can see it
on the screen.
First,
there are
those who
know they
are blind,
and therefore
will see.
Those who
know that
they are
born spiritually
blind,
and that
without Jesus
they're lost,
they will be
given sight.
Jesus will
open up our
eyes and
enable us to
believe and
to worship
him.
But
second,
there are
those who
think they
can see,
but they're
actually blind.
Those who
think they're
enlightened,
and have the
knowledge,
and know
and think
that their
way is
right.
Jesus
says they
will become
blind.
Jesus
will shine
his light,
but they
will remain
in darkness.
verse 40,
some
Pharisees
who were
with him
heard him
say this
and asked,
what are
we blind
to?
Are you
talking about
us?
Jesus said,
if you
were blind,
you would
not be
guilty of
sin.
But now
that you
claim you
can see,
your guilt
remains.
you see,
he's saying,
look,
if you
knew how
spiritually
blind you
are,
if you
were able
to accept
your
lostness,
you would
come to
me.
But if you
insist on
going it
alone,
you will
live and
remain in
your guilt
and in
your shame,
and you
will face
judgment.
You see,
Jesus has
come to
shine his
light into
the darkness
of this
world.
Let's just
bring it
together,
just three
things to
close with.
If we
welcome the
light that
Jesus is
shining in
our life,
three things.
First,
you will
see your
sin,
in a
new
light.
You will
see how
utterly
blind and
lost you
are.
It's not
a little
glimpse of
light that
gives you
a little
way of
finding your
way out.
No,
you are
utterly
blind and
in desperate
need for
Jesus.
Like the
man in
this account,
you will
say,
I am
blind.
I need
sight.
And when
you do,
the light
of Jesus
will shine
his beauty
and his
magnificence
towards us.
He will
become more
attractive to
you.
And you
will run
to him
and you
will receive
from him
forgiveness
for all
your sin.
You will
become closer
to him
and your
relationship
to him
will deepen
and you
will become
more like
him.
You will
see your
sin in a
new light.
You will
see how
desperately
you need
Jesus.
But second,
you will
see yourself
in a new
light.
Go back
to chapter
8,
verse 12.
12.
You will
begin to
see yourself
in a new
light.
Chapter 8,
verse 12.
when Jesus
spoke again
to the
people,
he said,
I am
the light
of the
world.
Whoever
follows me
will never
walk in
darkness,
but will
have the
light
of life.
Jesus
is the
one who
satisfies
and fulfills.
He is the
one who
gives us
all that we
need.
He takes
us out
of darkness
and puts
us on a
path of
light that
is only
right and
best and
good for
us.
You will
see yourself
in a new
way.
And third,
you will
see your
suffering in
a new
light.
Just go
back with
me to
chapter 9
and verse
3.
You will
see your
suffering in
a new
light.
You see,
this man,
this blind
man was
suffering.
He was
blind for
years.
And I'm
sure the
question arose
in his
mind many,
many times.
Why?
Why this
suffering?
Why am I
having to
live with
this?
suffering?
And I
know that
some of
you here
today are
going through
your own
struggles and
facing your
own suffering.
And the
question comes
to mind,
why?
Why is this
happening to
me?
What's it
all for?
well, in
some ways,
there are
no answers.
There's a
mystery to
our
suffering.
We don't
always understand
why God
allows and
permits these
things to
happen in
our life.
But look at
verse 3,
because I
think there
is a
beginning of
an answer.
Look what he
says.
Jesus says,
neither this
man nor
his parents
sinned.
But this
happened.
This
suffering
happened so
that the
works of
God might
be displayed
in him.
Do you
believe and
trust that
God has his
plans and
purposes for
your life?
And that
he is
working
something
good in
and through
you that
you never
thought
possible
before.
If you
find that
hard to
work through,
think of
Jesus on
the cross,
the truly
innocent
man who
suffered,
who was
crucified,
who was
put to
death,
who suffered
hell.
Why did
this happen?
Why did
that suffering
happen?
so that
the works
of God
might be
displayed
through
Christ,
that people
might come
to salvation.
Now I
think that
helps us
and enables
us to
see our
suffering in
a new
light.
That God
would work
his power
in you.
maybe it's
a work
in you
that he
does so
that you
are drawn
closer and
deeper in
relationship
with him.
Maybe it's
so that you
can testify
to the
faithfulness and
goodness of
God in
the midst
of your
heartache.
Maybe it's
that you
receive comfort
in your
suffering so
that you can
comfort others
and in
time to be
able to
disciple and
help other
people who
are going
through their
suffering.
You see,
when the
light of
Jesus shines
into our
life, it
transforms us
completely.
We see our
sin in a new
light.
We see our
self in a new
light.
And we see our
sufferings in a
new light.
The light is
shining.
Are we being
attracted to the
light?
Or am I
hiding,
remaining in
darkness?
Let's just
take a moment
in the
quietness to
reflect on
that.
Let's just be
quiet before
the Lord.
Father God, thank you.
Thank you for sending Jesus the light of the world.
We pray that we would not reject that light,
but that we would be drawn closer and closer to the Lord,
the one who forgives us of all our sin,
the one who sets us on a new path, a life of light,
and the one who will help us and work good in and through our suffering for your glory.
Amen.