The Challenge of Blindness - “Sight for the Blind”
Notes
Transcript
ILLUST: Fanny Crosby
Adage - “Jesus meets you where you are” - this is true, but people take this as never needing to change
TRUTH - Jesus meets you where you are, then you see His plan, then you decide where you want to go, how far you are willing to walk with Him
We see this in our account of the blind man healed - a great picture of discipleship
TODAY - The focus is on this man and Jesus
READ: John 9: 1-41 (seated is OK)
The “backstory” - “Rabbi, who sinned?”
A beggar - all he could really do, couldn’t work
And all around there know this man
The question of sin; Mis-application of Law, Exodus 34:7
Exodus 34:7 (NASB95)
“…visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
The ailment, the blindness, must be due to some sin by his parents, grandparents, etc.
OR…maybe this man sinned while in the womb, or even before that, since he was born blind
Jesus must shake His head - decides to focus on this man and his unfortunate situation
THE FOCUS OF JESUS
THE FOCUS OF JESUS
The Problem
The Problem
Blindness - the man is blind
What is a debilitating situation, Jesus turns into opportunity
Jesus is going to show His power to heal, and way beyond physically
**Jesus’ time on earth was short, is growing shorter here, so while He has the chance, He wants to minister!
He uses “we” - His disciples are part of this
“Mission: Healing”
“Mission: Healing”
Jesus is always about His mission - point glory to the Father, reconciliation, healing
Often that started with a physical manifestation of power
His mission to this man - bring him sight, heal him, give him sight
The reason this man is blind is so that Jesus can heal him
No guarantee how this man will react or respond
NOTICE: Jesus does not tell the man that He is going to heal him, give him sight
He makes some clay, applies it to the man’s eyes (he’s already blind, this will have no negative effect)
This is to reveal His intention, to show His glory
ASIDE - Why clay? Genesis 2:7 - maybe?
Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
But maybe the focus is compassion, not creation
Using clay, the man feels the weight on his eyes, knows something has been done, now he has an opportunity to obey
**The blindness is congenital - born with it, it will take a miracle to heal
This man - likely apathetic from a life of blindness
The walk to the pool was some distance - but hey, whatever, I’ll go
The Effects of the Miracle
The Effects of the Miracle
Today: Focus on the man - his response
FAITH - What will it take for him to get up, go and wash in the pool of Siloam?
Faith - no promise directly here, just a hint
He’s never seen Jesus, He doesn’t see him, only hears and listens
The man has an opportunity to exercise faith
SIGHT - the man can see now, literally, his eyes work
There are groups of people who notice, affirm, and respond - next week
He knows that this Man, this Son of Man, gave him sight
And when Jesus finds Him, to confirm that faith, the man knows Him, by hearing His voice - John 10:4 comes to mind
John 10:4 (NASB95)
“…and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
He now knows Jesus, and his faith is made solid
PROFESSING FAITH
This faith is not something this man keeps to himself
Notice his testament, his testimony, in verses 11, 17, 33, 35, 38
“Jesus,” “prophet,” “from God,” “Son of Man,” “Lord”
This is Discipleship - that’s what this is
Moving from darkness to light
Physically, yes, but most importantly, SPIRITUALLY
He walks by faith (not by sight)
for we walk by faith, not by sight—
And his life becomes about following the One who gave him sight
He is met where he is, sees the plan, and decides
THE PARALLEL FOR MANKIND - FOR US
Blindness is congenital - born with it
That congenital blindness is called sin, Romans 3:23 comes to mind
It affects EVERYone!
And it takes a MIRACLE to heal it
The LIGHT has come into this world to defeat darkness
FAITH - we also walk by faith, trusting in Jesus to heal the sickness we are born with
SIGHT - Jesus offers sight to the blind
Spiritually
The leaders in Jesus’s day cannot understand this blindness
Those around us, near us
Love the darkness, it’s all they know!
They are blind!
And it takes a miracle to heal!
Never stop praying for miracles
Pray that more people would respond to their TRUE problem
PROFESSING FAITH - This last and big piece of discipleship for us
Profess Jesus to others
Proclaim Him, tell others why you live for Him
Tell people how He healed you from your blindness
The Light has been provided - there is no excuse to continue walking in the darkness
…some people just WANT to stay there
Truth is, the spiritually blind cannot see in the light or the dark
It takes a miracle to open those blind eyes
He opened mine, May 5, 2002
Imagine with this man, what is the first thing he saw? (he came back seeing)
How amazing, how overwhelming! Maybe even frightening?
When the spiritually blind have their eyes opened…
…How amazing and incredible is that!
CHALLENGE
Trust Jesus - allow Him to open your eyes, spiritually
GET SAVED - Recognize the “born with” sinful nature
Allow Jesus to heal you
The issue is not physical, it is spiritual
Follow Jesus - If you have been given sight, spiritually, by faith
“Open your eyes” - testimony of someone
Struggling all the time?
Open eyes, realize on the wrong road
Correct, then find peace
May your life be like this man’s, one of discipleship
Showing a life lived for Him, professing Jesus, pointing glory to God, in all you do
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The walk with Jesus is so much more than just making a profession of faith
It is a conscious, purposeful walk in the very Light He has provided
Every day, a choice.
Choose - Jesus, in everything!
Open your eyes to what God is asking you to do, where He is leading you - ASK HIM
Then let’s help others do the same
The blind need sight, let’s point them to Jesus