RESPONSE TO SEEING LIGHT
Notes
Transcript
PEARL - Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light
PEARL - Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light
Pupils should react properly and equally - otherwise there is a sign of a brain injury
There is a proper response to light
God designed eyes to respond properly
WHAT ABOUT - REACTING TO THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE - Salvation, Discipleship
Denial, Ignore, Explain away, Alternative solution, Yeah but…
When the miraculous occurs, people accept God’s work or reject it - covers all the above options
Our eyes need to see, our minds need to be set on Jesus
God designed us to fellowship with Him, to respond to the Light of Jesus
READ John 9:1-41 again
Response to the Miracle of Sight
Response to the Miracle of Sight
The man responded by becoming a disciple, but what about others?
1) Indifference
1) Indifference
ho-hum
Neighbors
Many question his true identity, it was so incredible!
Is this the same man?
Know the man, know he was blind
Question how this happened
They turn to the religious authorities
They ask the same questions
Deep down they are concerned that this man may follow Jesus, and others may, too
2) Denial
2) Denial
The Jews/Pharisees
Deny it’s the same man
Explaining away
They ask the parents
“Ask him yourself, he is of age!”
The Pharisees deny that the man is telling the truth
Was he REALLY born blind?
YES, that’s a stupid question, so…
ASIDE - LOVE, LOVE the sarcasm by the man
vv 25-27 - maybe you are interested in being a disciple??
3) Fear
3) Fear
Parents
Yes that’s him, yes he was born blind
We don’t know how this happened (they know what their son told them, but are afraid to share)
There seems to have been some growing persecution of people following Jesus
The parents’ fear of ostracism, shunning, ridicule…
They simply avoid the question
4) Anger
4) Anger
The Jews again
…They deny that Jesus is from God, otherwise He’d not do this on the Sabbath!
Doing this on the Sabbath!
(Never denying the miracle)
IF he was really blind, then he’s a sinner
People got very angry because of the power of Jesus
“Give glory to God!”
Ummmmmm
Another “zinger” by the man
check verses 30-34 - OUCH
God does not hear sinners! Maybe this man knows his scripture, from hearing it!
Isaiah 59:1–2 (NASB95)
…Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. …And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Not that God CANNOT hear, it’s that He DOES not!
A fifth response….
5) JESUS - Consider HIS response
5) JESUS - Consider HIS response
That’s what really matters
That’s what keeps us going
The miracle is not the point, not the focus
What He does following the miracle is what He does for anyone who allows the Light to open their eyes
Jesus seeks the man out, offers him a life of following
He came to seek and save, Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Jesus disciples the man - encourages growth
Can the man explain everything perfectly?
NOPE, but He is sure of Jesus and following Jesus!
I was blind, now I see, John 9:25
John 9:25 (NASB95)
“…one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
Jesus sought out this humble man, a man knowing he was blind
WAS blind - past tense
There is a proper spiritual response to light
US - How are we reacting to the Light?
The Bible Addresses Responses
Indifference - Rev 3:16
‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
Denial - Matt 10:33
“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
Fear - 1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Anger - Matt 10:22
Matthew 10:22 (NASB95)
“You will be hated by all because of My name…
What kind of impact are we making on those around us? Experience these responses?
Ever been so excited about something, something amazing, and people react in ways that just frustrate you?
Ever been so excited about Jesus, and you get the same reactions?
Why are people so bothered by us talking about Jesus?
Better question, why does them being bothered cause us to stop?
?People who know me from 30 years ago might be surprised at what I do now
Is that the same guy?
Jesus seeks out the humble, those knowing they are/were blind
And you shouldn’t care what people think if you are doing the right thing and following Jesus!
The ONLY one you need to be concerned with, regarding the response to your love for Jesus, is JESUS!
And when you radically follow Jesus…
You may lose friends
(They don’t understand faith)
Family may distance selves
(They don’t understand their blindness)
(Repeat friends and family…)
And Jesus smiles
Because you see Him, and decide He is more important than ANYone else
Jesus is surrounded by angels who are excited
“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The lost person, blinded by the world, opens eyes and sees Jesus
SALVATION
The believer who has not fully surrendered to Jesus, opens eyes to that surrendered life
SANCTIFICATION
We should be the life that lives for Christ, and nobody can ignore
Nobody could ignore the blind man healed
Nobody could deny that Jesus did it
YOU make sure nobody can deny the work of the Holy Spirit in you!
Pray that you see the Light
Then pray for others to see Him, too!