WEBVTT

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 The passage is slightly longer, but I thought it was worth hearing the whole of John 9, which is where we are up to in the gospel.

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! So let's hear God's word.

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 As he passed by, 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?

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 Jesus answered, it was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

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 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.

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 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva.

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 Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which means sent.

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 So he went and washed and came back, seeing.

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 The neighbours and those who'd seen him before as a beggar were saying, is this not the man who used to sit and beg?

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 Some said, it is he. Others said, no, but he is like him.

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 He kept saying, I am the man.

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 So they said to him, then how are your eyes opened?

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 He answered, the man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, go to Siloam and wash.

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 So I went and washed and received my sight.

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 They said to him, where is he?

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 He said, I do not know.

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 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.

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 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

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 So the Pharisees again asked him how he'd received his sight.

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 And he said to them, he put mud on my eyes and I washed and I see.

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 Some of the Pharisees said, this man is not from God for he doesn't keep the Sabbath.

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 But others said, how can a man who is a sinner do such things?

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 And there was a division among them.

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 So they said again to the blind man, what do you say about him since he has opened your eyes?

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 He said, he is a prophet.

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 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,

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 Is this your son who you say was born blind?

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 How then does he now see?

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 His parents answered, we know that this is our son and that he was born blind.

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 But how he now sees we do not know.

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 Nor do we know who opened his eyes.

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 Ask him.

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 He is of age.

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 He'll speak for himself.

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 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews.

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 For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.

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 Therefore his parents said, he is of age.

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 Ask him.

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 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, give glory to God.

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 We know that this man is a sinner.

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 He answered, whether he is a sinner I do not know.

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 One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.

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 They said to him, what did he do to you?

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 How did he open your eyes?

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 He answered them, I told you already and you wouldn't listen.

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 Why do you want to hear it again?

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 Do you want to become his disciples?

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 And they reviled him, saying, you are his disciples but we are disciples of Moses.

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 We know that God has spoken to Moses.

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 But as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.

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 The man answered, why, this is an amazing thing.

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 You do not know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes.

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 We know that God does not listen to sinners.

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 But if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, God listens to him.

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 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.

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 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

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 They answered him, you were born in utter sin.

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 And would you teach us?

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 And they cast him out.

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 Jesus heard that they had cast him out.

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 And having found him, he said, do you believe in the son of man?

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 He answered, and who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?

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 Jesus said to him, you have seen him.

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 And it is he who is speaking to you.

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 He said, Lord, I believe.

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 And he worshipped him.

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 Jesus said, for judgment I came into this world, but those who do not see may see.

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 And those who see may become blind.

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 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, are we also blind?

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 Jesus said to them, if you were blind, you would have no guilt.

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 But now that you say we see, your guilt remains.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father in heaven, help us to see this afternoon.

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 To see who Jesus is.

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 And what it means to follow him.

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 And we pray in his name.

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 Amen.

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 It is very warm, isn't it?

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 So, thank you for being here.

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 And we'll try and get through as quick as we can.

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 The main thing that I want you to see in this passage this afternoon

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 is that behind discouraging opposition, there is an encouraging reality.

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 Behind discouraging opposition, there is an encouraging reality.

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 Now, if you're familiar with the Gospel of John,

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 as we read out the story in chapter 9,

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 and as we hear about this miracle that Jesus performs,

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 you might be getting a bit of a sense of déjà vu,

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 like we've been here before.

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 Because the account of this miracle of Jesus healing this blind man

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 is a bit like another miracle that has happened in John chapter 5,

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 four chapters earlier.

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 There is a similarity between two miracles.

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 There is a supernatural work of Jesus Christ.

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 There is a healing in both accounts.

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 There is a pool of water that is involved.

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 And the healing is done on the Sabbath,

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 both in chapter 5 and in chapter 9.

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 The first in chapter 5 was a lame man,

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 and this time it's a blind man.

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 Now, often when things are repeated in the Gospels,

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 we've got to see the significance of them

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 by looking at the differences.

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 Why is John 9 here?

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 What is different about this miracle

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 compared with the miracle in chapter 5?

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 And there is one crucial difference.

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 Back in chapter 5,

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 Jesus performs the miracle,

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 and he faces discouraging opposition.

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 He is interrogated by the religious leaders.

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 But in chapter 9,

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 that is not the case, is it?

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 It is not Jesus who is interrogated.

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 It is the man who receives the blessing and healing.

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 It is the blind man who is in the limelight.

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 In fact, for a long portion of John chapter 9,

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 Jesus is not in the scene at all, is he?

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 He's there until verse 7,

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 and then he sort of disappears,

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 and then he returns near the end in verse 35.

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 And so the narrative focuses on this man

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 who is blind and then receives his sight.

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 As the opposition ramps up to Jesus in the Gospel,

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 we see that it's not just Jesus himself

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 who faces the discouragement of the religious authorities,

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 it is Jesus' followers,

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 and those who are touched by him.

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 And that's the case today, isn't it?

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 More often than not,

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 in most opposition to Christian things,

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 Jesus is targeted through his followers.

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 And that is the case here.

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 This man, he is blind,

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 and he is bullied,

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 and he is barred from the temple.

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 He is badgered by the Pharisees.

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 And it seems like, doesn't it,

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 Jesus touches his life,

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 and then he is taken up in this whirlwind

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 of aggression and opposition against him.

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 As soon as he's associated with Jesus,

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 he is on the back foot.

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 And he doesn't know what's going on.

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 He's interrogated.

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 And it looks like he fumbles around for answers.

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 He says,

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 I don't know how Jesus did this.

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 All I know was that I was blind,

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 and now I can see.

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 And being a Christian,

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 being a follower of Jesus,

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 can look like that, can't it?

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 It can be very discouraging.

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 We can start to feel a little bit sorry for ourselves.

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 So much opposition.

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 So many questions.

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 So many accusations.

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 But what I think John wants us to see here,

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 is that there is another side to this man.

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 And there is another side

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 to the discouraging opposition

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 that follows with Jesus' face.

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 There is an encouraging reality underneath it all.

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 Because actually,

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 it is very easy to get this guy all wrong.

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 To just look at him at first glance

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 and feel sorry for him.

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 when really he is not who he appears to be.

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 There is more to be encouraged about with this man

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 than there is discouragement.

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 And that goes for the same in the Christian life.

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 Now, three things about him.

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 First of all,

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 he is the blind man who sees.

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 He is the blind man who sees.

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 And of course,

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 that's the great irony of the story, isn't it?

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 Of the passage.

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 He is the only man,

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 in this whole account,

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 whose eyes do not work properly.

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 And at the same time,

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 he is the only man in the story

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 who can see.

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 He can and has seen things

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 that the sighted people in the passage cannot.

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 That is why Jesus says about him in verse 39,

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 if you look there,

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 I'd come for people like this,

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 people who do not see,

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 that they may see.

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 Do you know,

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 in those days,

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 to be blind,

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 like this man,

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 to be blind from birth,

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 would have been a massive disadvantage

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 to you in life.

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 Maybe this man was sat outside the temple,

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 as often was the case,

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 waiting for handouts.

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 And to be disabled in your eyes

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 was as good as really an early death sentence.

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 And to all intents and purposes,

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 this guy is a lost cause,

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 isn't he?

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 He is the man with the worst prospects in the world.

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 He's got every reason to be discouraged.

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 He cannot see.

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 But the work of Jesus means

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 that this man is not what he seems.

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 He is surrounded by the fully sighted,

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 fully trained students of theology.

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 He looks like the loser, doesn't he?

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 But we're told, actually, it's the opposite.

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 Notice what Jesus says to him at the end in verse 37.

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 And these are really huge words.

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 He talks about the Son of Man.

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 That is a code for God's chosen king

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 sent into the world.

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 And he says to this man,

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 in verse 37,

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 you have seen him.

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 And it is he who is speaking to you.

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 And he said, Lord, I believe.

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 And he worshipped him.

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 Do you see, the physical healing of his eyes

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 is a demonstration of a deeper sight

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 that Jesus has given to this man.

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 To see who Jesus is.

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 And to believe in him.

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 And to worship him.

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 There is much to discourage this man.

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 But the encouraging reality

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 is that Jesus has given him vision

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 of something better than everyone else

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 is capable of seeing.

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 Going around on the tube,

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 I don't know if you've seen or heard

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 the guy who whistles on the underground.

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 Maybe you've heard about him before.

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 He's not an official busker.

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 He doesn't have one of those

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 designated busker patches.

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 But he's a really good whistler.

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 He's got a great tone.

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 And his thing is hymn tunes.

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 He whistles hymn tunes

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 about the Lord Jesus.

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 So you're in the stream of people

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 in the underground corridors.

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 And whistling over the kind of noise

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 is this music from this guy.

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 But as you get closer,

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 there is something else unique about him.

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 He is totally and utterly blind.

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 This guy can't see a thing.

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 And he sort of rhythmically

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 rocks backwards and forwards.

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 And he whistles hymns to Jesus.

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 And you know,

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 he couldn't care less.

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 And you realise that this blind man,

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 he can see something

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 that nobody else in the corridor can.

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 There is much to discourage him,

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 isn't there?

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 He is disadvantaged.

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 He's at the bottom of the pile.

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 Well,

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 this man is out of place in the world.

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 And you pity him

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 and you feel sorry for him.

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 But the blind man is not who he seems.

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 Last tune I heard him whistling

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 was,

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 crown him with many crowns.

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 The lamb upon his throne.

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 The blind man sees.

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 And followers of Jesus

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 are ridiculed and pitied and resented.

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 They're discouraged,

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 aren't they?

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 But they are not what they seem.

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 They are people who used to be blind,

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 but they've come to something more valuable.

00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.819
 They've come to see something

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:51.120
 that nobody else can see.

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:53.340
 They've come to see Jesus.

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:56.460
 Because he has met with them

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:58.019
 and opened their eyes to him.

00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:01.360
 So you're a follower of Jesus.

00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:04.040
 You get up in the morning,

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:06.180
 you switch the radio on,

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.680
 you listen to their conversation,

00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:09.879
 you go to work,

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:11.120
 you walk through healing,

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:12.139
 you go shopping,

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.000
 you wash your car,

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.680
 talk to the neighbours.

00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:18.259
 And all of the while,

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.639
 there is this sense, isn't there,

00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:23.139
 that you can see

00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:26.100
 more than meets the eye in the world.

00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:31.419
 That this world is ruled by King Jesus,

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.159
 the Son of Man.

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:37.100
 And I can see now that there is a God

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:40.159
 who sent him to bring me to himself

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.360
 and to give me sight.

00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:46.039
 And underneath the discouragement

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.960
 and opposition,

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.759
 there is a vision

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:52.439
 and a sight that transports believers

00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:54.020
 out of the difficulty,

00:15:54.180 --> 00:15:54.700
 in a sense,

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:57.220
 to see the Lord Jesus

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.820
 in his glory.

00:15:58.940 --> 00:16:00.440
 He is the blind man who sees.

00:16:01.900 --> 00:16:02.540
 Secondly, though,

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.240
 he is the bullied man

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.060
 who is strong.

00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.640
 He is the bullied man

00:16:06.640 --> 00:16:07.260
 who is strong.

00:16:07.380 --> 00:16:08.020
 Now, the other way

00:16:08.020 --> 00:16:09.520
 you can get this guy wrong

00:16:09.520 --> 00:16:11.860
 is that he just seems overwhelmed

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.780
 by the pressure, doesn't he?

00:16:13.780 --> 00:16:15.280
 He seems overwhelmed

00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:16.320
 by the discouragement.

00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:18.860
 And the middle section

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.860
 of John 9

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:22.600
 has a series of increasingly

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.800
 aggressive interrogations.

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.960
 So, in verse 8 to 12,

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.860
 it starts off with the neighbours.

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.820
 They get called in, don't they?

00:16:31.260 --> 00:16:32.440
 After he's given sight.

00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:34.260
 And they ask him,

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:35.620
 how were your eyes opened?

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:39.299
 And then the theological professionals

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:39.840
 jump in,

00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:40.700
 the Pharisees,

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.700
 and the questions

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:43.940
 get more and more aggressive.

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.539
 And then the parents

00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.340
 get brought in

00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:49.120
 and they're interrogated as well.

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.279
 And the vigour

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.320
 of the opposition

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:54.879
 gets more and more intense.

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.340
 And by the end of it,

00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.240
 the Pharisees,

00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:00.200
 all they've got is insults.

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.639
 In verse 34,

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.180
 you were born in utter sin,

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.059
 they say to him.

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:06.659
 You can scan through

00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:07.919
 some of the accusations

00:17:07.919 --> 00:17:08.940
 that they throw

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.480
 at one of Jesus' followers.

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:11.720
 Verse 16,

00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:13.639
 they say Jesus is not from God.

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.500
 Verse 19,

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.759
 they say that the miracle

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.720
 is not possible.

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.759
 Verse 24,

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.679
 Jesus is a sinner.

00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:24.179
 He's morally questionable.

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.599
 Verse 26,

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.480
 they ask him for more details

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.119
 to try and tie him up

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.940
 in a contradiction.

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.659
 Verse 29,

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:33.000
 they again ask about

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.700
 Jesus' origins,

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.799
 where he's come from.

00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:37.759
 They throw heresy

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.880
 after heresy

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.380
 after accusation

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.299
 after accusation

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:41.720
 at him.

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.259
 They attack

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.440
 Jesus' follower

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.119
 to try and discredit

00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:47.539
 Jesus.

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.180
 But what is interesting

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:53.480
 is that parallel

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.980
 to the increasing

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.660
 venom

00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:57.460
 of the opposition

00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:59.480
 is the increasing

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.279
 clarity

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.240
 of the man's

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.759
 answers.

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.539
 When the opposition

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.400
 was light,

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.079
 he's more vague,

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.720
 I think.

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.559
 But as it

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.259
 hots up,

00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.460
 he is more clear

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.840
 and more emphatic

00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.620
 in his answers.

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.840
 Now when the neighbours

00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:15.559
 ask him,

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.059
 he just tells them

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:17.519
 the facts,

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.000
 doesn't he?

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:18.960
 He says,

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:19.480
 look,

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.279
 this is what happened,

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.759
 he healed me.

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.700
 And they ask him,

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.840
 where's he gone now?

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.579
 And he says,

00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:25.699
 well,

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.480
 I don't know.

00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.519
 Slightly vague.

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.059
 But as the opposition

00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.659
 mounts,

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.740
 the blind man

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.419
 is given,

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:35.159
 he gives concise,

00:18:35.699 --> 00:18:36.199
 clear,

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.059
 confident answers.

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.859
 The Pharisees

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:40.519
 ask him

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.599
 later,

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.779
 what do you say

00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.299
 about him?

00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:43.819
 And he says

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.659
 in verse 19,

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:46.059
 he is a prophet.

00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:49.019
 And by the end,

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.899
 he is giving

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.939
 actually quite

00:18:50.939 --> 00:18:51.939
 sophisticated,

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.859
 confident answers.

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.939
 His defensiveness

00:18:55.939 --> 00:18:57.000
 and his fumbling

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.740
 has turned

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.500
 actually into

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.000
 an attack

00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.019
 on the Pharisees.

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.559
 Did you hear

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.099
 the tone

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.179
 in verse 27?

00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:05.059
 He says to them,

00:19:05.399 --> 00:19:05.980
 do you want

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.859
 to be his disciples

00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:07.480
 as well?

00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:09.500
 He's got them

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:09.919
 pegged,

00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.379
 hasn't he?

00:19:11.459 --> 00:19:12.759
 He's being sarcastic

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.079
 there.

00:19:13.179 --> 00:19:13.779
 Verse 31,

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:15.039
 it's an amazing

00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:15.839
 thing that you

00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.339
 don't know

00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:17.000
 where he comes

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.500
 from and yet

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.639
 he opened my eyes.

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.980
 He has

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.879
 an awareness

00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:23.120
 and a vision

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:24.380
 of what is

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:24.980
 going on

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.380
 and who

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.020
 they are.

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.260
 As the

00:19:28.260 --> 00:19:28.840
 opposition

00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:29.700
 increases,

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.420
 his insights

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.040
 into the

00:19:32.040 --> 00:19:32.580
 situation

00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:33.460
 improves

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:35.060
 and clarifies.

00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:37.300
 The bullied

00:19:37.300 --> 00:19:37.980
 man is

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.600
 strangely

00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.620
 strengthened,

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.000
 isn't he,

00:19:40.020 --> 00:19:40.800
 in his convictions.

00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:43.300
 It's as if

00:19:43.300 --> 00:19:43.800
 Jesus'

00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:44.640
 enemies

00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.900
 carry on

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:46.420
 the sort of

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.260
 eye-opening

00:19:47.260 --> 00:19:48.020
 work

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.879
 in his

00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.480
 absence,

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.200
 in opening

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.019
 his eyes

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.500
 to the

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:52.960
 truth.

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:54.599
 And by

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.400
 attacking him

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.879
 they actually

00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:56.839
 encourage and

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.440
 help him.

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:58.900
 You've got to

00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.500
 feel sorry for

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.079
 the Pharisees,

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.400
 haven't you?

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:00.980
 They just

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.639
 can't win.

00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.400
 Perhaps they

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:03.859
 think, you

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:03.960
 know,

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.619
 Jesus isn't

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:04.900
 here,

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.980
 this guy is

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.299
 an easy

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.960
 target now,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.359
 isn't he?

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.139
 And, you

00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:09.200
 know,

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.980
 we can pick

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.000
 off Jesus'

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.799
 followers like

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.299
 fish in a

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:12.599
 barrel.

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.339
 And all

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:14.920
 through church

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.500
 history it's

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:15.819
 kind of been

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.259
 the same,

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:16.759
 hasn't it?

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:18.019
 people have

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.140
 hurled heresy

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.140
 after heresy

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.359
 after false

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.240
 accusation

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.299
 after false

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.000
 accusation at

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.379
 the followers

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.900
 of Jesus.

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.900
 But I think

00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.599
 this passage

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.359
 teaches us,

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.259
 and I hope you

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.640
 know what I

00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.379
 mean when I

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:31.839
 say this,

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.599
 it teaches us

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.299
 to say thank

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.039
 you Lord for

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.619
 heretics.

00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.319
 Since many

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.500
 of the clear

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:40.319
 and glorious

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.240
 things that we

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.259
 understand about

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:44.200
 God and about

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.940
 the Lord Jesus

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.220
 and his work,

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.319
 and the

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:47.779
 Bible,

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.680
 the things

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.420
 that we've

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.920
 formulated over

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.579
 the centuries

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.319
 in the

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.440
 creeds and

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.200
 confessions,

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.740
 the great

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.859
 statements and

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.980
 doctrines of

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.539
 faith have

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.640
 been forged

00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.539
 and hammered

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.140
 out over

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:02.019
 centuries in

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.900
 response to

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.420
 what?

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.460
 Heresy

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:07.379
 and opposition.

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.099
 As opposition

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.900
 mounts,

00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.019
 clarity and

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:14.079
 confidence and

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.920
 strength comes

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.660
 to the church

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.180
 strangely.

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.259
 And so behind

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.120
 the discouragement

00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:20.580
 is the

00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:21.440
 underpinning

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:23.580
 reality of

00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:24.140
 God's

00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:25.940
 sharpening and

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.820
 blessing Jesus'

00:21:27.060 --> 00:21:27.720
 followers with

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:29.100
 clearer understanding

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.700
 of his word and

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.380
 his work.

00:21:33.060 --> 00:21:33.840
 The blind,

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.940
 discouraged man

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.700
 who sees,

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.360
 the bullied,

00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.360
 discouraged man

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:38.660
 who is

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.100
 strengthened.

00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.880
 And lastly and

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.640
 thirdly, he is

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.660
 the barred man

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.640
 who belongs.

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.100
 He is the

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.940
 barred man who

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.480
 belongs.

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.820
 One of the

00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.460
 other differences

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:51.140
 between this

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:52.180
 miracle and the

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:53.320
 similar miracle in

00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:55.480
 chapter 5 is

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.340
 that the guy who

00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:57.820
 is healed there,

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:58.980
 you'll notice,

00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.440
 he returns to

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.280
 the temple and

00:22:02.280 --> 00:22:03.480
 he praises God.

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:05.960
 He receives

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.599
 strength in his

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.200
 legs and he's

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.940
 able to go back

00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.579
 and worship.

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.759
 He can go back

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.299
 into the

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.120
 structures of

00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:13.819
 the organised

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.440
 religion.

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.839
 But this time

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.400
 that doesn't

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:18.099
 happen at all,

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.579
 does it?

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.240
 Look at verse

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.839
 34.

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.420
 They say to

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:23.960
 him, you were

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.579
 born in utter

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.279
 sin and would

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.039
 you teach us?

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.240
 And they cast

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.120
 him out.

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.880
 Now it shows

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.120
 again how brave

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.620
 he's become,

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.059
 doesn't it?

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.140
 He suffers the

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:36.640
 fate his parents

00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.620
 wanted to avoid

00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:40.599
 by not getting

00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:41.140
 involved.

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.240
 They knew that

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.380
 that could happen,

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:43.900
 that they might

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:45.240
 be thrown out of

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.799
 the synagogue,

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.720
 John tells us

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.360
 quite clearly.

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:49.980
 And so John is

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.819
 brilliant in his

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.460
 irony here,

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:51.779
 isn't he?

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.819
 The man is

00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:54.039
 excommunicated

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.299
 from the church

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.400
 for believing

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:56.940
 in Jesus.

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.940
 He is out.

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.039
 And that was

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.579
 a really,

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.720
 really big thing.

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.579
 To be thrown

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.140
 out of the

00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:05.500
 synagogue,

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.480
 it was to

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.059
 lose your

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.779
 standing in

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.319
 society,

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.200
 it was to

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.000
 lose the

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.000
 opportunity of

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.940
 corporate worship,

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.680
 it was to be

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.779
 outwardly cut off

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.319
 from God's

00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:16.700
 blessing.

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.779
 But the guy

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.579
 makes a choice

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:19.940
 here.

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.299
 It is a choice

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:22.960
 between the

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.200
 truth of who

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.299
 Jesus is

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.759
 and the

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.539
 structures of

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.420
 the church.

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:28.500
 church.

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.720
 Now normally

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.580
 those two

00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:32.580
 things should

00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:32.980
 be in

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.420
 harmony,

00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:33.860
 shouldn't

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.120
 they?

00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.000
 But sometimes

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.460
 they are

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.019
 not.

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.100
 And he's

00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:38.460
 got to make

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.920
 a decision

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.340
 here.

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.500
 Will he

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.140
 belong to

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:41.680
 the synagogue

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.480
 or will he

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:42.960
 belong to

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.259
 Jesus?

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.100
 Will he

00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:45.660
 keep his

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.420
 membership in

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.960
 a church

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.440
 that no

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.820
 longer

00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.420
 worships

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.400
 Jesus or

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.720
 will he

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.180
 leave?

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.900
 And I

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.220
 think he

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.580
 makes a

00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.180
 clear decision

00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.580
 here.

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.140
 And he

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.420
 could have

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:55.800
 been a bit

00:23:55.800 --> 00:23:56.640
 more strategic,

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.259
 couldn't he?

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.619
 he could

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.400
 have toned

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.180
 down his

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.980
 responses to

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.700
 the Pharisees,

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.279
 maybe been a

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.819
 little bit less

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.900
 sarcastic, a

00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.319
 little bit less

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.779
 offensive.

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.240
 He could have

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.039
 stayed in the

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.619
 synagogue and

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.460
 maybe changed

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.019
 it from the

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.579
 inside.

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.859
 But this was

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.859
 his gut reaction,

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.480
 wasn't it?

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:14.960
 And he

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.740
 pushes the

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.680
 Pharisees to

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.240
 the point where

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.180
 they bar him.

00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:20.640
 And it

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:20.900
 must have

00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.259
 been very

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.900
 discouraging

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:24.480
 to be

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.480
 thrown out

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.200
 of the

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.660
 place that

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.000
 he loved

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.279
 with the

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.799
 people that

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.220
 he loved

00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.720
 and wanted

00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.019
 to be

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.660
 part of.

00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.340
 But what

00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:34.340
 happens is

00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:35.000
 actually a

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.000
 very encouraging

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.080
 reality underneath

00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.720
 it all.

00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.840
 Because in the

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.660
 moment of his

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.720
 rejection and

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.559
 wrongful

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.900
 excommunication,

00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:45.240
 Jesus communicates

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:45.680
 with him.

00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:47.819
 And we get

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.360
 this lovely

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.500
 dialogue between

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.539
 the man and

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.680
 Jesus in the

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.539
 last section,

00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.100
 don't we?

00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.860
 Jesus hears

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.259
 that he's

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.819
 been thrown

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.259
 out and

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.679
 he seeks

00:24:57.679 --> 00:24:58.159
 him out

00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:59.500
 and he

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.119
 finds him

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.519
 and he

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.659
 confirms him

00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:02.259
 in belief

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.539
 and he

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.519
 consolidates

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.779
 him in

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.379
 his faith.

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.899
 When he

00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:08.099
 gets barred,

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.740
 Jesus says,

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.019
 you belong.

00:25:12.479 --> 00:25:13.519
 Jesus tells

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.159
 him who he

00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:14.699
 is and the

00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:15.240
 man believes

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.159
 and worships.

00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:18.339
 And that is

00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:19.099
 so often the

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.719
 case when there

00:25:19.719 --> 00:25:20.359
 are painful

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:21.219
 decisions that

00:25:21.219 --> 00:25:21.740
 need to be

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.200
 made.

00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.099
 When it's a

00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:25.259
 choice maybe

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:27.240
 between a

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.960
 church that

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.799
 is not true

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.180
 to the

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.859
 gospel that

00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:30.440
 we love

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.180
 being part

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.779
 of and we

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.200
 want to be

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.500
 in that

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:34.480
 community and

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.819
 choosing Jesus

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:37.519
 might mean

00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.319
 that we are

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:40.240
 barred or we

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.160
 bar ourselves

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.640
 from that

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:43.259
 church or

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.620
 from that

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:43.960
 religious

00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.620
 structure.

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.099
 And we've

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.559
 got to part

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.099
 ways.

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.140
 Just as we

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.480
 close up,

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:50.960
 I don't

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.240
 think they

00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.779
 mind me

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.200
 telling you

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.360
 this,

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:52.700
 but my

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.140
 wife's

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.440
 mum and

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:53.620
 dad,

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:53.900
 they were

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.099
 in a

00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.279
 really

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.599
 similar

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:55.299
 situation.

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.400
 They were

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.819
 members of

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.240
 a church

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.700
 for many,

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.440
 many years

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.180
 and they

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.039
 served there

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.680
 and worshipped

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.579
 there dutifully

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:04.299
 and humbly.

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.180
 But it just

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.240
 became increasingly

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.360
 clear that this

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.500
 church no longer

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.000
 taught the

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.360
 gospel.

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.079
 Ceremony and

00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.980
 outward religion

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.579
 had taken

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.460
 over and it

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.400
 was a very,

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:16.900
 very hard

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.519
 decision for

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.220
 them to make.

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:19.839
 They would

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.240
 be leaving

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.279
 friends and

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.559
 they would

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.059
 be leaving

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.699
 their place

00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:22.939
 in the

00:26:22.939 --> 00:26:23.419
 community.

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.199
 That was

00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:26.079
 nothing compared

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.659
 with what this

00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:27.240
 blind man

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:27.740
 faced.

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:28.799
 But in the

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.139
 end they

00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:29.659
 made their

00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.339
 decision to

00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:31.139
 move to a

00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:31.819
 good gospel

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.259
 preaching

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.859
 church.

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.779
 And at

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.419
 first it was

00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:36.179
 tremendously

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.939
 discouraging.

00:26:38.439 --> 00:26:38.759
 They'd

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.319
 effectively

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.959
 barred

00:26:39.959 --> 00:26:41.000
 themselves from

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.759
 the familiar

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.579
 things of the

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.240
 old church

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.579
 that they

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:43.899
 loved.

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.000
 church.

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.460
 But let me

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:46.980
 tell you that

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.940
 the difference

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.480
 for them

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.519
 spiritually has

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.180
 been night

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.820
 and day.

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.280
 Because now

00:26:53.280 --> 00:26:54.120
 they sit

00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:55.600
 under gospel

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.060
 preaching,

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.220
 they sit at

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.060
 Jesus' feet

00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:58.840
 every week,

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.759
 they were

00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.720
 barred but

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.900
 now they know

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.800
 they belong.

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:06.019
 They belong to

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.740
 Jesus and

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.280
 they've met

00:27:08.280 --> 00:27:08.840
 with him and

00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.360
 they've seen

00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.900
 him and they

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.500
 believe and

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.019
 they worship.

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:14.039
 as we

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.420
 close.

00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.259
 It is often

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.839
 isn't it in

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.579
 the moments of

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.500
 discouragement

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.539
 where Jesus'

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:20.539
 followers are

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.240
 attacked with

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.819
 the greatest

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:23.779
 venom and

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.559
 with the full

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.639
 variety of

00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:26.740
 problems and

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.200
 things that

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.980
 can come

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.559
 their way.

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.379
 It is often

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:30.940
 in those

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.619
 moments of

00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.220
 discouragement

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.000
 actually when

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.720
 the greatest

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:35.779
 vision and

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.279
 the greatest

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.480
 strength and

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:37.940
 the greatest

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.759
 sense of

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.759
 communion with

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.559
 God is

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:40.879
 given.

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:43.619
 Jesus'

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.240
 followers,

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.019
 if that is

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.539
 you this

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:45.920
 afternoon,

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.579
 you are

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.000
 going to

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.940
 be accused

00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.379
 and you

00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:48.700
 are going

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:48.960
 to be

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.599
 opposed.

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.279
 And heresies

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.259
 will come

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:55.039
 and they

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.519
 will go

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.240
 and you

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.599
 will be

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.400
 pitied and

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.839
 you will be

00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.180
 at the

00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.660
 bottom of

00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.220
 the pile.

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.059
 But the

00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.519
 reality is

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.879
 that the

00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.960
 blind have

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.519
 come to

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:06.980
 see.

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.559
 They've

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:08.920
 come to

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.299
 see who

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.079
 Jesus is.

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.779
 And with

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.619
 discouragement

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.759
 Jesus is

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.700
 sharpening

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:16.200
 and strengthening

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:17.119
 your faith.

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.619
 And he is

00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.859
 clarifying your

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.319
 vision.

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.299
 And especially

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.059
 when you are

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:24.099
 cast out

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:25.980
 of family,

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.480
 friendship groups

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:27.819
 and even

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.980
 of a bad

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.759
 church,

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.559
 in that

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.420
 moment you

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:32.960
 ought to

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.619
 know that

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.240
 you belong

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.799
 to him.

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:37.919
 Let's

00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.200
 pray.

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.319
 Let's

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.200
 pray.

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.319
 Let's

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.259
 pray.

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:38.319
 pray.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.039
 Let's

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.039


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