January 10, 2010
Evening Service

St. Jn. 9:12-41

 

This morning we saw Jesus heal the blind man that had been blind since birth.  When God does something wonderful for you there ain’t no devil in hell that can take that away from you.  We need to stand up, and give God all the glory for what He has done, and what He is continuing to do.

 

Let’s finish chapter 9 this evening.

 

The young man said this upon being questioned by his neighbors;

Joh 9:11  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

 

(12)  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.  (13)  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.  (14)  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.  (15)  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 

• Here we have a common beggar, had been blind all these years, and now he is before the same group of religious people that the Apostle Paul was from, being questioned.
• Maybe Paul was there I don’t know.  The first we hear of Paul, he is called Saul of Tarsus, in chapter 7 of the book of Acts.  This is the time of the stoning of Stephen, and men who stoned Stephen laid their coats at the feet on one, Saul of Tarsus.

Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

• This is the first time we hear about Paul.
• But back to our recently healed young man.  I don’t know about you, but I have been in his very seat, being questioned by the Pharisee’s.  These Pharisees knew the letter of the law, but not the workings of the Holy Ghost in a man’s life. 
• I was brought before the elders of this church to be told that I could not testify to other congregations on how God had changed my life.  I had preached for a year in a sister congregation before this happened. 
• They even ask me how it was that I understood the Scriptures the way I did.  I told them “do you not realize that you are saying to me, the exact same thing that the Pharisees said to Jesus?”  But I told them “through study, and allowing the Holy Ghost to open the Scriptures to me.”  I explained to them Jn. 2:27.  It blowed their minds, enough that it got me excommunicated from their fellowship.  I got kicked out of the Synagogue.

 

So let’s see what happens to this young man;

(16)  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 

• Normally it was a sin to do any work on the Sabbath, but listen to Jesus explain it.

Luk 14:1-6  And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.  (2)  And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.  (3)  And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?  (4)  And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;  (5)  And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?  (6)  And they could not answer him again to these things.

• Jesus is saying it is alright to do good on the Sabbath days.  Don’t make the Law a burden, it was meant to be a blessing.

 

 

 

(17)  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.  (18)  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.  (19)  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 

• Can you see the wonderful opportunities there are when you have a solid testimony for the Lord? 
• How is it Peggy Joyce that you once loved to drink, and dance, and enjoyed that atmosphere, but now you don’t do that anymore?  Ans;  I ask Jesus to come into my life, and deliver me from those things, and He did.  It still can be done!!!!!
• Well how is it Betty that you are a Christian?  Ans:  Well I was sitting in this revival, and the Holy Ghost told me to get up there and give my heart to Jesus, and I did.  Betty, are you telling me there is feeling in this religion?  YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.    TESTIMONIES!!!

(20)  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 

• This is my boy, and he use to love the wild life.

(21)  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.  (22)  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.  (23)  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.  (24)  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 

• Here’s something to tell all your friends, and enemies, all your Buddha friends, all your Muslim friends, anybody that will listen.

(25)  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.  All because of Jesus.

• Who He is I know not, all I know when I confessed Him as the Son of God, He gave me the strength, and desire to follow Him.

(26)  Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?  (27)  He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?  (28)  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.  (29)  We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.  (30)  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 

 (31)  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.  (32)  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.  (33)  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 

• A marvelous thing has just happened, and you don’t know who did it.  Only God can heal a blind man.

(34)  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.  (35)  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?  (36)  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?  (37)  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  (38)  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.  (39)  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 

• They that don’t understand, and are willing to be taught by God, will receive sight.
• And those that think they know it all, and are full of pride, will be blinded.

(40)  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said unto him, Are we blind also?  (41)  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

• If you were humble, and willing to be taught, you would have no sin;
• But because you are prideful, and think you know it all, your sin remains with you.

 

MAY GOD HELP US TO BE THAT HUMBLE FAITHFUL FOLLOWER, WITH A STRONG TESTIMONY FOR HIM.