March 11, 2018
Morning Service

Chapter 8 revealed to us a glimpse into our Savior’s heart.  He did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery to be stoned, but forgave her and encouraged her to sin no more.  Later in the chapter He said; “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”  We are no longer slaves to our sins because Jesus has forgiven them and already paid the price for them.  In I Jn. 1:9 we are told that if we confess our sins, He will be faithful to forgive us of them.  We are not expected to be perfect only perfectly honest about our shortcomings.  It is not IF we sin it is WHEN we will sin and then whether we confront it and confess or ignore it and try to make excuses.  God is pleased with the first scenario and not the second.  Isaiah 35:1-6

 John 9:1-5 And passing by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.  (2)  And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  (3)  Jesus answered, “Neither has this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be revealed in him.  (4)  I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day. Night comes when no man can work.  (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

·        It was a common belief in Jewish culture that calamity or suffering was a result of some great sin.  This of course as Jesus explains is not true.  This man’s suffering was used to teach about faith and to glorify God.  God is in control of everything and each of us may suffer from some disease, calamity, tragedy or disability.  Try not to ask “Why me?” but ask God to give you strength for the trial and eyes to see what He is trying to do in your life.  He will work it out for good (Romans 8:28).

 

John 9:6-11 And when He had spoken these things, He spat on the ground and made clay from the spittle. And He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.  (7)  And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which translated is Sent). Therefore he went and washed and came seeing.  (8)  Then the neighbors and those who had seen him before, that he was blind, said, “Is this not he who was sitting and begging?”  (9)  Some said, “This is he; others said, He is like him.” He said, “I am he.”  (10)  Then they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”  (11)  He answered and said, “A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, “Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.” And going and washing, I received sight.”

·        The healing act here is just full of symbolism.  By using the clay, Jesus is pronouncing that He is the Potter.  By sending him to the water to wash symbolizes that He is the Living Water.  That he received his sight proves His proclamation that He is the Light of the world.

 

John 9:12-17 Then they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”  (13)  They brought him who once was blind to the Pharisees.  (14)  And it was a Sabbath 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 to them, “He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”  (16)  Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man, a sinner, do such miracles?” And there was a division among them.  (17)  They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about him, for he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

·        The Pharisees quickly get involved and again Jesus has healed on the Sabbath so that again becomes an issue with them.  Some feel that automatically removes Him from being from God, while others ask how a sinner could do this miracle.

 

John 9:18-23  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him having received sight.  (19)  And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”  (20)  His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.  (21)  But by what means he now sees, we do not know. Or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age, ask him. He will speak for himself.”  (22)  His parents spoke these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.  (23)  Therefore his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.”

·        The Pharisees actually follow a good protocol in asking his parents if this healing was a hoax or a true miracle.  All they could do was to affirm that their son was blind, but now he can see.  They feared taking a stand with Jesus against these leaders.

 

 John 9:24-29 Then a second time they called the man who was blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”  (25)  He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (26)  Then they said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”  (27)  He answered them, “I have told you already, and you did not hear. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also desire to be His disciples?”  (28)  Then they reviled him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples.  (29) We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know from where this man is.”

·        The Pharisees push the man to give God the glory, by telling the truth and he finally tires of their questions and states the facts.  “I was blind, but now I see.”  Isn’t that the perfect testimony; simply telling where you were before meeting Jesus and where you are after an encounter with your Savior.  We all have our own stories to tell about the journey God has led us on; the highs and the lows with Him by our side always.  We don’t have to know all the answers to be able to share Christ.  Just simply share your own testimony of how He changed your life.  When was the last time you shared yours?

·        The man even prods them a little asking them if they also desire to be Jesus’ disciples.  They quickly snap back that they are Moses’ disciple and are not sure about Jesus.  He tries to open their eyes by reasoning with them as we see his faith growing.

 

John 9:30-34 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know from where He is, and He has opened my eyes.  (31)  But we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.  (32)  From everlasting it was not heard that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.  (33) If this One were not of God, He could do nothing.”  (34) They answered and said to him,” You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” And they cast him out.

·        This man again simply brings out the simple truth in his reasoning.  God would not do this through a sinner, so Jesus must be sent from God.  His works testify of who He is.  No one had ever healed a blind man before that day, and the Pharisees were blind to God’s involvement.  Do you ever get so focused in on your busy life that you actually overlook God’s beautiful handy work that is right in front of you?

 

John 9:35-41 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, He said to him, “Do you believe on the Son of God?”  (36)  And he answered and said, “Who is He, Lord that I might believe on Him?”  (37)  And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and it is He who is speaking with you. “ (38)  And he said, Lord, “I believe.” And he worshiped Him.  (39)  And Jesus said, “I have come into this world for judgment, that they who do not see might see, and that they who see might be made blind. “ (40)  And those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”  (41)  Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, “We see.” Therefore your sin remains.”

·        Here we see the man progress from believing that Jesus was only a prophet to accepting Him as the Messiah.  His physical blindness had been healed and now his spiritual blindness was healed as well.  He was blind, but now he can see clearly. 

·        The Pharisees however continued to be spiritually blinded to Jesus’ true identity.  By claiming they could see they actually profess their own sinfulness.

We have been so blessed to have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to see who Jesus is.  We who were once blind have been given our sight.  Let’s freely share our testimonies of what Jesus has done for us with others who are still blind.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us to You and for the spiritual sight to see Your Son as our Savior.