We've been preaching through this fourth gospel, the gospel written last of all four,
by probably the youngest of the apostles, John.
We're on track to pause in the gospel of John for a little bit over the summer,
and I have some different ideas of what series we'll do over the summer.
And then we'll come back, I think we'll be in John 14, which from 14 on, it's really the passion.
It's the prayer, the Last Supper, his final teaching, his time in the garden,
and then we'll finish the gospel of John around Christmas.
We'll finish the book of Ruth.
It's only four chapters, and we're already done with up to three.
And so after one or two more in Ruth, we'll be bringing in another short Old Testament book.
So that just gives you an idea of what to expect in the months ahead.
I have found myself different times just praying,
Lord, whatever happens, I would love the opportunity to preach through the whole book of John.
And I'm like, don't take me sooner if you'll let me, because it's so rich and so good.
And honestly, every week I feel like no matter how well we try to proclaim,
it falls so short of his glory.
But just as we sung, this is God himself took on flesh,
and he's fulfilling the mission the Father gave him to do,
and he's teaching and revealing that.
So as we hear this story, we're going to read all of John 9.
Just keep that in mind.
That's what we're hearing.
It is God taking on the flesh, fulfilling the mission for which he was sent.
As I read John 9, remember this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word.
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
And his disciples asked him,
Rabbi, who sent this man or his parents that he was born blind?
Jesus answered,
It was not this man who sent or his parents,
but that the work of God might be displayed in him.
We must work the works of him who sent me.
While it is day, night is coming,
when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.
Having said these things,
he spit on the ground
and made mud with the saliva.
Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud
and said to him,
Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,
which means scent.
So he went and washed
and came back seeing.
The neighbors and those who had seen him
before as a beggar were saying,
Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?
Some said,
It is he.
Others said,
No, but he is like him.
He kept saying,
I am the man.
So they said to him,
Then, how were your eyes opened?
He answered,
The man called Jesus,
made mud,
and anointed my eyes
and said to me,
Go to Siloam and wash.
So I went and washed
and received my sight.
They said to him,
Where is he?
He said,
I do not know.
They brought to the Pharisees
the man who had formerly been blind.
Now it was a Sabbath day
when Jesus made the mud
and opened his eyes.
So the Pharisees again asked him
how he had received his sight.
And he said to them,
He put mud on my eyes
and I washed
and I see.
Some of the Pharisees said,
This man is not from God
for he does not keep the Sabbath.
But others said,
How can a man who is a sinner
do such things?
And there was a division among them.
So they said again to the blind man,
What do you say about him
since he opened your eyes?
He said,
He is a prophet.
The Jews did not believe
that he had been blind
and had received his sight
until they called the parents
of the man
who had received his sight
and asked them,
Is this your son
who you say was born blind?
How then does he now see him?
His parents answered,
We know that this is our son
and that he was born blind.
But how he sees now
we do not know,
nor do we know
who opened his eyes.
Ask him,
ask him,
he is of age.
He will speak for himself.
His parents said these things
because they feared the Jews.
For the Jews
had already agreed
that if anyone
should confess Jesus
to be Christ,
he was to be put out
of the synagogue.
Therefore his parents said,
He is of age,
ask him.
Verse 24,
So for the second time
they called the man
who had been blind
and said to him,
Give glory to God.
We know that this man
is a sinner.
He answered,
Whether he is a sinner,
I do not know.
One thing I do know,
that though I was blind,
now I see.
They said to him,
What did he do to you?
And how did he open your eyes?
He answered them,
I have told you already
and you would not listen.
Do you want to hear it again?
Do you also want
to become his disciples?
And they reviled him,
saying,
You are his disciple,
but we are disciples of Moses.
We know that God
has spoken to Moses,
but as for this man,
we do not know
where he comes from.
The man answered,
Why,
this is an amazing thing.
You do not know
where he comes from,
and yet he opened my eyes.
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.
Never since the world began
has it been heard
that anyone
opened the eyes
of a man born blind.
If this man
were not from God,
he could do nothing.
They answered him,
You were born
in utter sin,
and would you teach us?
And they cast him out.
Jesus heard
that they had cast him out,
and having found him,
he said,
Do you believe
in the Son of Man?
He answered,
And who is he, sir,
that I may believe in him?
And Jesus said to him,
You have seen him,
and it is he
who is speaking to you.
He said,
Lord, I believe,
and he worshipped him.
Jesus said,
For judgment
I came into this world
that those who do not see
may see,
and those who see
may become blind.
Some of the Pharisees
near him
heard these things
and said to him,
Are we also blind?
Jesus said to them,
If you were blind,
you would have no guilt,
but now that you say
we see,
your sin remains.
This is the word
of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God,
indeed.
You may be seated.
Let's pray.
Amen.
Guide us, O God,
by your word.
O Holy Spirit,
by your light alone
can we see.
In your truth alone
can we find freedom
from sin.
And in your will alone
can we discover peace
through Jesus Christ,
our Lord?
Lord,
I ask now for your help.
I ask that the words
of my mouth
will be pleasing
in your sight
and that the meditations
of our hearts
will bring you joy.
We confess that you are
in heaven
at the right hand
of the Father
and you are interceding
for us.
And we pray,
Lord,
by your spirit,
through your word,
that you will speak
and that the seed of truth
will be planted
in our hearts
and that it will not
return void
but will bear much fruit
and be multiplied
in our lives
as the fruit of the Spirit.
We ask this for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Beloved congregation
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
in John chapter 9
we read the story
of a man
who was blind
from birth
and Jesus brought him
to see God
and to worship him.
So my question
for you today is
do you see him?
The story is a simple
and straightforward one.
The man is there
sitting in the dust.
Our Lord Jesus
approaches,
observes.
Jesus makes him to see.
The man sees Jesus.
Jesus,
the man is interrogated
by the Pharisees
and the man
confesses,
you are Christ.
You are the Son of Man,
the promised Messiah
that would come
and the man
worships Jesus
and those observing
are divided.
That's the story.
What I've tried to do
for today
is not to
walk through the story
but to really
see what is
it that we are
to learn here.
See John
told the story
in such a way
in the very language
he used.
He's teaching us
the gospel.
He's teaching us
the message
that Jesus proclaims
that I came for judgment
and he's using
these main characters
the blind man
and the Pharisees
and the dialogue
between Jesus
and each one of them
to reveal the gospel.
So I've just prayed
that the Lord
would help make
the gospel truth
very clear
and that you would
see how this theme
is evident.
It just emerges
off of these words
and that at the same time
I won't lose you.
So I'm going to focus
more on the people
and the dialogue
than the flow
of the story.
I'd like to begin
first by pointing out
how Jesus
saw that blind man
in his blindness,
in his darkness.
Jesus is reinforcing
what he's already
declared in the
Feast of Nations.
I am the light
of the world.
Now the feast is over.
He's still in Jerusalem.
We know this
because the man
goes to wash
in the pool of Siloam
right there in Jerusalem
but he's not in the temple.
Did you catch the setting?
Look down at verse 22.
The setting here
is the synagogue.
The Jews had threatened
that if anyone says
this man Jesus
who everybody's
starting to follow
and he's doing
these mighty signs
if you say he's the Messiah
you will be kicked out,
excommunicated
from the synagogue.
Well today archaeologists
have found the remains
of about four different
Roman Empire
time synagogues
and historical records
show there are probably
a synagogue
in every single city
in the whole Galilean region
and many synagogues
in Jerusalem
and because Jerusalem
is the big capital
some synagogues
were public
like this one.
Other synagogues
were more exclusive.
It almost became
like for our trade
we have our own synagogue
and certain rules
for membership.
This is a public synagogue.
Look at verse 1.
Jesus sees the man there.
In verse 1
as he passed by.
So this blind man
wasn't even necessarily
something the disciples
or the Pharisees
saw coming.
This is a man who
those neighbors
that lived there
they knew him
from childhood.
They knew this man
very well.
Maybe you've got
a route you run
to work
and you know
on that street corner
there's going to be
that person holding
that sign
and you can picture them.
And picture growing up
in Jerusalem
for all these years
you would know
very well this man.
And just notice
the words John uses here.
As Jesus passed by
the synagogue
he saw
a man
blind
from birth.
We don't have
any words
from Jesus
this early on
in the story.
But there's
the young disciple
John
the young apostle
observing his master
his rabbi
and it
it struck him
Jesus
saw
the man.
And you
you know
when your loved one
when something
grabs their attention
you might be
mid-sentence
in a conversation
whoop
something to suck
their attention
and they're
they're
fixated on that now.
The very next words
are the disciples
asking well
why did this happen?
Was it his sin
or his parents sin?
Verse 3
Jesus
didn't rebuke them
for asking that question.
Why?
In fact
he used that
to teach them.
In verse 3
Jesus says
it was not the sin
of this man
nor the sin
of his parents
but this man
is blind
that the works
of God
might be displayed
in him.
We all have things
that have happened
in our life
and as kids
we hear this
probably every week
what did I do
to deserve this?
You know
we have that same thought
we have things
that have happened
in our life
and as human beings
in a broken world
we have to ask
Lord
why
did this happen?
Jesus does not
rebuke the disciples
for asking him
Lord why?
Please teach me
because
the enemy
wants to slip in
in that moment
and he wants
to accuse Jesus
he wants to accuse
God to you
he wants to say
God is either
far away
and uncaring
or if God
is close enough
and aware
that he
is ignoring you
or that he's
powerless
to help you
we start every
service here
by reading
from Psalm 124
our help
is in the name
of the Lord
who made heaven
and earth
he is all powerful
he is most mighty
and he is
our help
he is near you
now he wants
to teach us
he wants to teach
us through all
the brokenness
that it's that
the work of God
might be displayed
and it's
it's trusting
his providence
to reveal that
and unfold it
in his time
there will be
things we will
never understand
or be able to
explain on earth
but there will
be one day
one day when
every knee will bow
and every tongue
will confess
and all will
declare
God has acted
justly
he has done
what is just
now
I also think
that
John is emphasizing
how Jesus
observed this man
and he's
he's talking
what's on Christ's mind
is I am the light
of the world
he's still teaching
that
so our Lord
has compassion
on this individual
sees him
but he also
sees the
the glorious
spiritual truth
of the gospel
in this man
because that's
the play
for the rest
of the chapters
that the Pharisees
have physical sight
but they're
spiritually blind
and this man
who was born
blind from birth
is given
spiritual sight
so that's
what's really
at play
throughout this
whole chapter
in verse 34
this man
is described
by the Pharisees
look at verse 34
they say
you were born
in utter
sin
that is true
but that's not
the reason
for this man's
blindness
Jesus says
what the Pharisees
refused to
confess
is that they too
were born
in utter sin
and you and I
we're the
we're the fruit
and the seed
of Adam and Eve
and the curse of sin
is upon all of us
we are all born
in utter sin
we are all born
spiritually
blind
as one Puritan
said
a Christless
and unregenerate
state is represented
as darkness
and blindness
in all of scripture
this is what
Jesus is opening
the eyes of his
disciples
and of the blind man
and of those
who would believe
to see just that
and this is so true
for us isn't it
Romans 1 21
before we had
Christ
and the Holy Spirit
opening our eyes
we knew God
and that
we know
we're created
there's a creator
but Romans 1
Paul writes
that we did not
honor him as God
nor give thanks to him
listen
we became
futile
in our thinking
and our foolish
hearts
were darkened
our hearts
were blind
to God
in our natural
unregenerate state
you and I
we would stumble
through life
and so
spiritual darkness
is no less real
than physical
darkness
or blindness
well these Pharisees
knew that a person
blind from birth
must
be
unacceptable
in the eyes
of a holy God
is so deeply
blemished
Deuteronomy 15
21 said this
of animals
how much would be true
how much more would it be true
of God's image bearers
if an animal
is lame
or blind
or has any
major blemish
whatsoever
you may not sacrifice
that animal
to the Lord
your God
can you picture
a little lamb
on a farm
and the shepherds
raising a lamb
and that lamb
just runs into trees
and can't make it around
that lamb
is never going to get
to be taken
to the temple
as a sacrifice
but God says
it's for lambs
like that
it's for blind men
like this
that I'm going to send
the perfect lamb
of God
without blemish
because God
will be glorified
when he justifies
sinners like that
it's so that
the works of God
will be displayed
can you already
start to see
in this amazing
little story
the glory of God
in the face
of Jesus
Jesus saw the man
who was born blind
and Jesus sees you
Psalm 33
verse 13
says this
the Lord
looks down
from heaven
he sees
all the children
of men
Jesus saw
the man
in his blindness
and Jesus sees
you
in your situation
right now
while our Lord
did not only see
this man
our Lord then
spoke to him
and prepared him
for healing
prepared him
to be saved
with his words
while the man
was blind
his word
came to this man
I want to draw
that second point
for us as well
that God
prepares you
for healing
by speaking
he prepares you
through his word
see our apostle here
apostle John
stresses how
you can't see Jesus
until he first
speaks
the blind man
sitting there
in the dust
he would have heard
Jesus say those words
in verse 3
it's not his sin
that made him blind
this would have been
the first time
he heard that notion
and nor was it
the sin of his parents
and he may actually
have more information
to know
well I know my parents
did this and this and this
while I was in my mother's womb
you're saying it wasn't
their sin
he's heard this good news
now
the Lord is preparing him
the blind man
would have next heard
Jesus say
in verse 4
we
speaking to his disciples
we
must do the works
of him
who sent me
while it is still
day
can you see the blind man
almost sitting up
a little straighter
hold on
he said it wasn't my sin
now he said
we must do the works
to display the glory
of God
something good
is going to happen
the blind man
would not have known
what Jesus meant
by the next thing
he said in verse 4
the night is coming
and think about it
to the blind man
you can't really tell
the difference
between day and night
it's all darkness
but what Jesus
was about to do next
would teach him
and teach his disciples
and teach all those
that had gathered
around
because the next words
that Jesus speaks
are revealing
before he speaks
though
look in verse 6
the blind man
sitting there
would not have seen
Jesus spit on the ground
or make mud
with the saliva
he would have heard
Jesus speak
then he would have felt
he would have felt
Jesus touching his eyes
putting mud
on his eyes
and then the Lord
addresses the blind man
for the first time
one on one
speaking to him
and it's a command
the Lord commands
the blind man
to obey him
look at verse 7
go wash
in the pool
of Siloam
do you see
the significance here
the pool of Siloam
this is where
the waters came
in that underground
aqueduct
to protect Jerusalem
from ever
being without water
if it were
surrounded by the enemy
and besieged
Siloam
our text says here
means
what does it mean
sent
Jesus told this man
get up
wash off the mud
that I put on your eyes
in the waters
of scent
the waters
of the scent one
let them cleanse you
and you will be healed
the blind man knew
in verse 32
that never
since the world
began
has it been heard
that anyone
opened the eyes
of a man
born
blind
and now
Jesus is speaking
this glorious news
to him
we read
that the man
obeyed
and he came back
seen
is that your testimony
as well
there you were
in utter darkness
and sin
the Lord
spoke to you
through his word
the Lord
addressed you
he touched
your eyes
he caused you
to behold him
have you seen
the Lord
in this way
do you see him
now
you can't see
Jesus
until you first
hear him
speak to you
and he will
speak to you
in any way
that he want
I'm reminded
of a contrast
here with
Saul of Tarsus
who Jesus
renamed Paul
you know
he was physically
able to see
he was like
the Pharisees
the Lord
wants to heal
them as well
and the Lord
spoke to him
and made him
blind physically
but in speaking
he opened
the eyes
of his heart
see it's almost
like Saul
Paul
and this blind
man
they're almost
the foil
of each other
and one
just sheds
the light
on the other
so God
can speak
in any way
that he wants
but I think
there's a third
point we need
to see here
that we should
expect our Lord
to speak
in the ways
that he's
ordained
the ways
that he's
promised
to speak
so yes
he can speak
to you
in the wilderness
in the mountains
a lot of places
but what has
God ordained
look at verse 14
the apostle
John highlights
how it was
the Sabbath day
when Jesus
made the mud
and opened
his eyes
well we've seen
this pattern
haven't we
our Lord loves
to heal people
on the Sabbath
and I believe
that's still true
he loves to bring
healing
on the Lord's
day
Jesus
made the blind
man to see
and he's used
a lot of different
methods to do this
in Matthew
chapter 8
Jesus
spat
on the man's
eyes
in Matthew
chapter 9
Jesus
simply touched
the eyes
of two blind
men
and made
them to see
theologians
help me
to observe
the reason
Jesus
varies up
and changes
up the
methods
of healing
the blind
he didn't
want anyone
being stuck
on this
is the way
we can go
out and heal
the blind
now
he didn't
want you
to be
stuck
on his
methods
he wants
to highlight
the message
behind that
he didn't
heal all
the physically
blind
but the
message
is that
he is
the light
of the
world
and you
can be
you can
be blind
you can
be blind
spiritually
even if
your eyes
see you
you need
him to
open the
eyes
of your
heart
that's
the message
that he
wants to
highlight
now look
at verse 4
Jesus says
we must
work
we must
work the
works
of him
who sent
me
while it
is
day
I believe
he's
he's referring
now to
the day
of the
Lord
that's been
long prophesied
the day
of the
Messiah
Zephaniah
chapter 1
verse 7
is one
such prophecy
which reads
that the day
of the Lord
is near
Zephaniah was
saying it's
near
you've been
waiting all
this time
for the
promised
Messiah
now his
day is
dawning
the Lord
has prepared
a sacrifice
that's the
Lord Jesus
the unblemished
lamb
and he has
consecrated
his guests
so our
Lord Jesus
is inaugurating
the kingdom
the day
is here
he's
at work
and he's
still at
work
now
his
kingdom
is
inaugurated
spiritually
we are
the church
militant
not the
church
yet
victorious
as the
reformers
would talk
about it
one day
we'll be
with Christ
in glory
that's the
church
victorious
right now
we are
literally
underground
we are
scrappy
we are
the church
militant
but his
spiritual
kingdom
is real
and he
says we
we disciples
we church
must do
the works
of the
Lord
now
while it
is day
we sweep
in here
we set
up chairs
we prepare
meals
we host
one another
we will
be handing
out the
gospel
and little
cards
we're doing
the works
while it
is day
because the
Holy Spirit
is still
regenerating
the gospel
is still
going out
but in
verse 4
he also
gives a
warning
that night
is coming
when no
one can
work
see
Jesus
is bringing
the judgment
of the
kingdom
of heaven
all those
who oppose
God
all those
who hate
the gospel
they will
be receiving
the judgment
of God
when night
arrives
when the
Holy Spirit
is no longer
regenerating
when the
gospel
has been
fully
accomplished
when all
those who
have rejected
God now
will have
no more
hope
of salvation
the night
is coming
Zephaniah
1.8
prophesied
that as
well
on that
day
I will
punish
those
who fill
their
master's
house
with
fraud
the
great
day
of the
Lord
is near
near
and hastening
fast
night
is coming
Jesus
said
Zephaniah
it's a
day of
darkness
and gloom
a day
of clouds
and thick
darkness
they shall
walk like
the blind
they are
the ones
who will
walk like
the blind
because they
have sinned
against
the Lord
see the
result
of Jesus
coming
the light
of the
world
is that
those who
reject him
they are
getting
condemnation
that's the
result
so we
must expect
to hear
Jesus
right now
through his
word
in the means
he's ordained
his gospel
goes out
from churches
around the
globe
every
Lord's
day
and his
people go
out into
the world
proclaiming
the gospel
personal evangelism
listening to
friends and
family members
and relatives
preaching the
gospel
his light
is going
out
we say
in our
church documents
that
this is real
we believe
Jesus is
spiritually present
with us
with his
church
and our
souls delight
in the presence
of Christ
he is the
way the
truth and
the life
and we
believe that
we are fed
our souls
our spirits
are fed
through his
ordained means
of grace
and it's so
ordinary
it's as we
read
we pray
we sing
we preach
we taste
and see
the gospel
of Jesus
isn't that
so ordinary
but that's
what our
king has
commanded us
to do
and that's
what we
can expect
that's how
we should
serve him
that's the
way in which
he wants
to speak
to us
every
Lord's
day
that's the
pattern set
up by
the apostles
so even
John
witnessing
this
writing it
down
in Acts
2
he was
part of
that early
church
that devoted
themselves
to the
apostles
teaching
into the
fellowship
and the
breaking
of bread
in prayers
you see
how ordinary
it is
but we do
expect
Christ
to be
extraordinary
in our
ordinary
we do
the simple
work with
him
while it's
day
and we
let God
be
extraordinary
in our
midst
I want
to shift
next to
the Pharisees
because a
big part
of this
chapter
is the
dialogue
the
confrontation
with
them
see
they
investigate
this
miracle
that's
happened
and Jesus
gives this
word of
judgment
to those
who will
reject
them
reject
Christ
they
studied
his
miracle
in such
detail
which is
actually
further
proof
that it
really
happened
it was
four
different
times
that the
Pharisees
pulled
this
blind
man
aside
and
you
heard
by the
time
we
get
to
the
final
one
he's
like
how
many
times
do you
want me
to keep
telling
you
the same
story
do you
want to
become
his
disciple
also
when
we
read
in
verse
24
they
say
give
glory
to
God
it's
like
saying
come
here
man
you
can
see
you
can
walk
around
now
are
you
pretending
to be
the
beggar
that
was
blind
out
there
and
when
they
say
give
glory
to
God
it's
like
swear
an
oath
it's
promise
that
you're
going
to
tell
the
truth
it
was
a
Jewish
swearing
into
court
in
Joshua
chapter
7
verse
19
this
was
commanded
that
if
a
person
is
going
to
bear
witness
more
than
one
witness
bring
them
all
in
and
let
them
give
glory
to
God
in
everything
that
they're
going
to
say
so
they're
trying
to
uphold
this
as
they
do
this
interrogation
but
these
judges
are
biased
they use
faulty
weights
and they
prejudice
the
entire
court
beforehand
by
saying
we
know
this
man
Jesus
is
a
sinner
before
what
happened
they're
already
trying
to
taint
everybody's
thoughts
that
Jesus
is a
sinner
clearly
so
whatever
he's
going
to
say
here
just
keep
that
in
mind
well
the
blind
man
he
could
not
deny
what
the
Lord
had
done
to
him
he
knew
what
was
at
stake
that
was
his
spot
that
was
his
spot
on
that
piece
of
dust
right
outside
the
synagogue
where
you
get
a
lot
of
foot
traffic
what
a
shock
his
life
is
never
going
to
be
the
same
and
they've
already
threatened
his
parents
everyone
you
will
be
excommunicated
in
their
community
this
would
mean
everything
in
your
life
is
going
to
change
now
economically
financially
you
are
going
to
be
hit
so
hard
it's
like
one
nation
putting
military
sanctions
on
another
but
this
blind
man
was
made
of
tougher
stuff
because
now
it
was
the
Holy
Spirit
that
conviction
Jesus
is
the
man
he
worshipped
him
he
believed
he
was
a
disciple
of
his
the
Pharisees
were
so
blind
look
the
Pharisees
knew
verse
16
that
a
sinner
could
not
do
the
type
of
signs
that
Jesus
was
doing
they
knew
that
and
in
verse
31
they
also
knew
that
God
does
not
listen
to
sinners
and
only
God
could
heal
a
man
born
blind
from
birth
the
Pharisees
knew
that
if
anyone
is
a
worshipper
of
God
verse
31
and
does
the
will
of
God
that
God
does
listen
to
him
see
how
much
the
Pharisees
knew
listen
to the
testimony
of the
blind
man
after
he's
been
interrogated
look
at
verse
11
he
said
the
man
called
Jesus
made
mud
and
anointed
my
eyes
and
said
to
me
go
to
Siloam
and
wash
so
I
went
and
wash
and
received
my
sight
the
conclusion
is
verse
33
Jesus
therefore
must
be
from
God
he
has
clearly
performed
this
miracle
he
has
healed
a
man
born
blind
from
birth
but
Jesus
says
in
verse
39
this
is
his
mini
sermon
at
the
end
of
this
story
verse
39
you
want
to
see
this
one
for
yourself
for
judgment
I
came
into
this
world
that
those
who
do
not
see
may
see
and
that
those
who
see
may
become
blind
the
Pharisees
picked
up on
what
he's
getting
at
here
look
at
verse
40
the
Pharisees
said
are
you
calling
us
blind
Jesus
his
answer
is
if
you
were
physically
blind
you
would
not
be
able
to
have
just
witnessed
all of
this
you
talked
to
his
parents
you
saw
this
man
sitting
here
over
and
over
you
talked
to
him
four
times
now
if
you
were
physically
blind
at
least
you
would
have
an
excuse
now
what
does
Jesus
mean
in
verse
39
when
he
says
for
judgment
I
came
into
this
world
because
remember
back
in
John
chapter
3
verse
17
Jesus
said
God
did
not
send
his
son
into
the
world
to
condemn
the
world
but
in
order
that
the
world
might
be
saved
through
him
are
those
two
verses
contradicting
themselves
how do
we make
sense
of this
so
did
Jesus
come
to
bring
judgment
or
did
he
come
to
save
I
think
this
is a
wonderful
way
to
clarify
the
balance
here
the
reason
for
Jesus
coming
to
the
earth
is
exactly
what
he
said
in
John
3
it
was
to
seek
and
save
the
lost
his
reason
for
coming
was
salvation
but
the
result
the
result
of
his
coming
for
all
those
who
refuse
Christ
is
condemnation
our
confession
of
faith
is also
helpful
the
question
is
simply
this
how
do
I
know
if
I'm
going
to
be
saved
by
the
coming
of
Christ
or
how
do
I
know
if
I'm
going
to
be
condemned
as
a
result
of
his
coming
so
the
confession
asks
like
this
what
does
God
require
of
us
because
I
know
I'm
no
better
than
a
person
that's
saved
or
condemned
we're
all
the
same
we're
all
sinners
in
the
eyes
of
God
what
do
I
God
requires
of
us
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
what
does
that
faith
look
like
it's
repentance
unto
life
with
the
diligent
use
of
all
the
outward
and
ordinary
means
whereby
Christ
communicates
to
us
the
benefits
of
redemption
do
you
understand
what
we're
saying
the
only
thing
God
requires
is
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
and
you
will
be
saved
what
does
that
look
like
it
looks
like
ongoing
repentance
and
wanting
more
and
more
and
more
for
him
to
be
Lord
of
your
life
and
to
use
everything
he's
promised
to
bless
to
speak
to
you
and
change
you
and
grow
you
and
sanctify
you
and
prepare
you
for
heaven
that's
it
now
if
you're
if
you're
refusing
Christ
you're
trying
to earn
your
salvation
by
your
own
good
works
and
you're
doing
all
these
things
to
try
to earn
God's
favor
for
yourself
you're
going
to
stand
deserving
condemnation
you have
faith in
your own
good works
not faith
in Jesus
who came
as your
savior
and that's
what the
Pharisees
had fallen
into
I won't
mention
any names
I want
to share
this
though
I believe
God has
brought
every single
one of
you here
because
of this
truth
you want
more
of God
and God
has promised
to speak
this way
there was
someone who
was part
of our
Bible study
years ago
a couple
years ago
and
after a
very simple
lesson on
the gospel
he wanted
to talk
just one
on one
and he
said no
tell me
what do I
really need
to do
and I
said well
we can go
back to
Romans
what we
were just
looking
at
no
I
just
mean
like
do I
need
to
sell
everything
give
all my
money
what do
I
need
to
do
I
said
you
need
to
have
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
alone
for
your
salvation
and
that
man
would
not
accept
it
and
he
stopped
coming
to
our
Bible
studies
and
he
was
one
that
originally
had
asked
and
even
wanting
to
see
if
a
church
would
be
planted
and
that's
why
I
look
at
you
look
you
know
you're
saved
by
faith
you
know
it's
God's
work
in
your
life
and
you
want
more
and
more
and
more
of
God
discipling
you
bringing
you
along
opening
your
eyes
to see
more
and
more
of
his
grace
and
glory
so
find
comfort
in
that
Jesus
sees
you
he
has
brought
you
to
hear
his
word
and
he
will
keep
you
to
your
very
last
day
well
shifting
our
focus
away
from
the
Pharisees
and
the
interrogation
back
to
the
blind
man
I
want
to
illustrate
this
exact
same
truth
that
we
talked
about
by
pointing
out
how
in
verse
7
if
the
man
had
simply
sat
in
the
dust
with
mud
on
his
eyes
he
would
not
have
been
healed
see
Jesus
gave
him
a
command
and
those
who
will
be
healed
those
who
will
be
a
true
disciple
of
Jesus
will
obey
Jesus
as
their
king
look
in
verse
7
the
blind
man
obeyed
verse
7
says
he
went
and
he
washed
just
as
Jesus
told
him
and
he
came
back
seeing
it
was
grace
that
taught
my
heart
to
fear
as
we'll
sing
here
in
a
moment
in
grace
my
fears
relieved
I
once
was
lost
but
now
I'm
found
was
blind
but
now
I
see
can
you
sing
that
song
it's
only
if
you've
obeyed
Jesus
those
with
physical
sight
disobeyed
God
look
at
verse
34
they
say
you
were
born
in
utter
sin
in
other
words
we
weren't
we
weren't
born
in
utter
sin
like
you
would
you
think
you
could
teach
us
you
see
their
pride
so
blind
to
the
gospel
and
they
cast
him
out
when
Jesus
confronted
Saul
and
made
him
physically
blind
but
opened
his
eyes
of
his
heart
he
says
Saul
why
do
you
persecute
me
well
here
the
Pharisees
are
persecuting
the man
who's
called
the man
who was
blind
and
Jesus
says
you
persecute
my
disciples
you
are
persecuting
me
before
healing
him
the
Lord
smeared
mud
on
his
eyes
kids
you
have
probably
thrown
snowballs
at
your
siblings
faces
this
winter
you
have
probably
thrown
sand
at
each
other
and
just
one
little
grain
of
sand
it
gets
in
your
eye
it
irritates
doesn't
it
it's
so
uncomfortable
and
our
Lord
Jesus
took
mud
and
smeared
it
on
the
eyes
of
this
man
I
think
the
reason
he
did
this
is
because
he's
trying
to
illustrate
another
spiritual
truth
remember
it's
not so
much
about
the
method
it's
the
message
and
John
wrote
this
detail
because
it
signifies
something
it
points
to
a
truth
he
wants
this
man
to
feel
the
need
to
obey
pilgrim's
progress
there's
a poetic
version
of it
that's
so
wonderful
to
hear
and
I
want
to
read
to
you
this
scene
to
illustrate
the
same
truth
there's
a man
called
interpreter
and
this
is an
allegory
so
interpreter
knows
the
Hebrew
and
the
Greek
and
the
Bible
and
Christian
you know
this
pilgrim
on the
journey
he's
being
discipled
and
interpreter
just
keeps
showing
him
scenes
from
the
Bible
and
interpreting
what
it
means
to
him
so
interpreter
calls
Christian
he says
follow
me
and I
will
show
you
many
things
of
more
worth
than
a thousand
gold
rings
when the
door was
open
Christian
saw
an
old
man
who
was
working
hard
to
sweep
up
all
the
room's
dust
into
a
pan
but
as
he
swept
up
all
the
heavy
dust
on
the
ground
a
dark
cloud
of
dust
filled
the
room's
air
all
around
oh
this
dust
is
so
thick
I
can't
catch
my
breath
this
room
interpreter
says
full
of
dust
you
can't
even
breathe
in
there
it's
clouded
and
dark
this
room
is
a
heart
that
has
never
been
cleansed
by
the
grace
of
God
from
the
filth
of
its
sins
just
as
this
room
is
full
of
filthy
dark
dust
so
the
heart
of
the
man
is
full
of
pride
hate
and
lust
the
broom
only
filled
the
room
with
dust
as
you
saw
to
show
you
that
the
hearts
can't
be
cleansed
by
the
law
the
law
will
expose
sin
but
it
can't
make
us
clean
it
stirs
up
and
increases
our
sin
as
you've
seen
have
you
experienced
that
as
well
when
you
hear
the
law
of
God
the
rebellion
in
your
heart
you
are
unsettled
God
the
law
of
God
it
stirs
up
the
rebellion
in
us
and
it
exposes
our
sin
God's
law
first
irritates
you
so
that
you
will
quickly
move
to
being
cleansed
by
grace
when
the
Holy
Spirit
convicts
you
of
God's
law
he
causes
you
quickly
to
repent
to
believe
and
to
obey
in
verse
15
this
blind
man
said
Jesus
put
mud
on
my
eyes
I
washed
and
I
seen
and
in
Pilgrim's
Progress
goes
on
to
describe
what
happened
next
that
room
full
of
dust
well
then
a
damsel
was
called
in
who
had
water
to
pour
over
all
the
dust
on
the
dusty
musty
floor
see
it's
the
grace
of
God
alone
that
makes
you
see
in
the
thick
cloud
of
dust
by
her
water
was
stopped
and
the
filth
was
cleaned
up
as she
joyfully
mopped
the
water
is the
good
news
of the
cross
of
God's
grace
which
has
power
over
sin
to
cleanse
and
erase
only
by the
blood
of
Jesus
can
your
heart
like
this
floor
be
cleansed
put
in
order
and
made
perfectly
pure
the
man
was
cleansed
by
the
grace
of
God
and
he
became
a
disciple
of
Jesus
we
read
in
verse
24
so
when
you
repent
of
sin
when
the
grace
washes
you
and
causes
you
to
behold
the
goodness
and
the
glory
of
God
that's
represented
by the
waters
of
baptism
it's
the
Holy
Spirit
regenerated
you
given
you
eyes
to
see
the
goodness
of
God
in
the
sacrifice
and
the
love
of
Jesus
for
you
and
you
don't
go
off
to
live
now
a
life
of
licentiousness
a
life
of
sin
because
you're
not
a
slave
to
sin
you
are
cleansed
and
Jesus
is
your
Lord
and
you
walk
with
him
as
your
master
what
is
repentance
unto
life
our
catechism
asks
it's
when
a
sinner
out
of
a
true
sense
of
grief
and
hatred
of
sin
is
brought
to
grasp
the
mercy
of
Christ
he
turns
from
sin
unto
God
with
full
purpose
of
in
endeavoring
after
new
obedience
repentance
to
salvation
is
ongoing
repentance
to
life
first
we
repent
against
the
law
condemning
our
sin
but
then
later
the
law
becomes
the
guide
it's
the
rules
for
living
in
the
house
of
God
as
an
adopted
child
of
God
so
then
we
love
the
ten
commandments
because
we're
not
blind
anymore
he
shows
us
this
is
what
pleases
me
your
loving
father
and
so
as
Christians
we
still
make
use
of
the
law
in
that
third
use
not
only
does
it
restrain
all
the
evil
in
the
world
not
only
does
it
expose
our
sin
it
becomes
now
a
rule
of
life
for
us
the
blind
man
obeyed
and
became
a
disciple
let
me
try
to
wrap
this
up
this
way
what
was
true
for
the
blind
man
is
true
for
me
and
you
that
when
you
see
Jesus
truly
by
faith
there
is
only
one
way
to
respond
to
him
we're
given
one
last
sentence
on
this
blind
man
and
then
he
vanishes
from
the
pages
of
the
Bible
and
of
history
but
he
gets
one
last
sentence
he's
described
leading up
to
that
in
verse
13
the
man
who
was
formerly
blind
verse
35
Jesus
heard
that
they
had
cast
him
out
and
just
as
Jesus
saw
him
there
in
the
dust
alone
a
beggar
when
Jesus
heard
that
they
cast
this
man
out
excommunicated
him
Jesus
went
and
found
that
man
see
if
the
world
is
persecuting
Jesus
goes
after
you
are
one
of
his
lambs
and
he
found
that
man
and
he
said
do
you
Daniel
it's
the
long
awaited
the
prophesied
the
last
days
God
man
taking
on
the
flesh
Jesus
tells
the
man
you
have
seen
him
it
is
he
who
is
speaking
to
you
now
look
at
verse
38
this
is
the
blind
man's
last
sentence
Lord
I
believe
and
he
worshipped
him
Ephesians
1
17
21
tells
us
that
the
father
sends
the
spirit
so
that
you
may
see
what
is
the
immeasurable
greatness
of his
power
toward
us
who
believe
notice
how
the
man
truly
believed
his
spiritual
sight
was
given
to
him
just
as
his
physical
sight
was
given
in
the
healing
and
what
was
his
reaction
he
worshipped
Christ
John
Piper
says
that
missions
to the
ends
of the
earth
Bible
translation
church
planting
missions
exist
because
worship
does
not
so
the
end
goal
of
ministry
the
end
goal
of
missions
is
not
missions
it's
worship
so
that
all
those
that
Christ
came
to
save
would
worship
him
just
like
this
blind
man
what
a
great
way
to
be
described
as
one
who
believed
and
worshipped
so
his
first
desire
was
not
to go
explore
all
the
sights
of the
world
and to
become
a
world
traveler
but it
was to
worship
Jesus
Christ
the
son
of
God
and
the
son
of
man
do you
see how
the
works
of
God
were
displayed
through
this
blind
man
Hebrews
1
3
says
see
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
he
is
the
radiance
of
the
glory
of
God
and
the
exact
imprint
of
his
nature
and
he
upholds
the
universe
by
the
word
of
his
power
after
making
purification
for
sins
he
sat
down
at
the
right
hand
of
the
majesty
on
high
do
you
see
him
I
only
know
one
person
who
was
born
blind
from
birth
that
I
really
know
and
you
know
her
too
and
you
love
her
and
I
was
thinking
about
I
couldn't
could
not
think
about
faith
in
this
story
was
it
not
the
sins
of
her
parents
why
she
was
born
blind
and
I
think
what
God
has
just
shown
me
with
this
chapter
and
this
story
is
that
the
works
of
God
are
displayed
and
when
the
sins
of
others
causes
injury
God
has
set
his
sovereign
purpose
over
all
creation
and
he
uses
even
uses
wicked
sinful
secondary
causes
think
of
Joseph
and
his
brothers
God
was
displeased
by the
way
they
treated
their
younger
brother
it
was
sinful
what
they
did
to
him
and
sin
does
not
please
God
but
God
taught
Joseph
that
same
thing
what
these
men
intended
for
evil
God
intended
for
good
and
so
even
when
it
is
sin
that
causes
pain
and
sin
that
causes
injury
and
hurt
God
works
it
out
for
the
glory
of
Christ
even
in
our
midst
so
our
reaction
should
be
the
reaction
that
all
will
have
in
Revelation
14
7
we
will
fear
God
we
give
him
glory
one
day
his
hour
of
judgment
will
come
and
all
who
he
has
saved
will
worship
him
forever
so
worship
him
now
if
you
see
him
let's
pray
Lord
there
would
be
no
better
sentence
to put
on a
gravestone
than
to say
here is
one who
believed
in
Jesus
and
who
worshiped
him
with
his
life
like
the hymn
says
oh for a
thousand
eyes
to
see
my
great
redeemer
raised
the
glories
of my
God
and
king
the
triumphs
of
his
grace
Lord
cause us
to see
Jesus
we
want to
see
him
we
pray
from
scripture
in
Ephesians
1
that
your
spirit
of
wisdom
and
revelation
and
the
knowledge
of
Christ
will
enlighten
the
eyes
of our
hearts
that
we
may
know
the
hope
to
which
Jesus
has
called
us
the
riches
of
his
glorious
inheritance
for
Christ's
sake
alone
we
pray
amen