John 9 - Introduction

CHAPTER NINE

If it were not so tragic, this ninth chapter would be comical. Here is a man blind from birth healed by the Nazarene and the Pharisees, rather than accept the evident fact that Jesus had healed him, chose to question the man's former blindness. Next, his parents, out of cowardice, pass the buck and will not take sides with their son. The really amusing section, however, is found in John 9:24-34. In these verses the former blind man by common-sense reasoning makes the learned Pharisees look ridiculous. The beggar turns the tables on the Pharisees and he becomes the questioner instead of the questioned. The Pharisees, unable to withstand the man's testimony, can think of nothing but to attack the character of the beggar and use ecclesiastical force against him.

Chapter nine is simply a continued record of teachings and works of Jesus in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. Whether this incident was on the same day and immediately after the discourse of chapter 8, or whether it was on another day afterward is of little significance, The important matter is the evidential power of the miracle and the teaching Jesus attached to it. The outline is continued:

II.

The Word Manifested to the Jews and their rejection of Him, John 1:19, John 12:50

D. Public Ministry, Third Year
2.

Later Judean Ministry, John 7:1, John 10:21, The Feast of Tabernacles

a.

A Blind Man Healed, John 9:1-12

b.

He is Investigated by the Authorities, John 9:13-23

c.

The Questioned One becomes Questioner, John 9:24-34

d.

Blindness that is blindness indeed! John 9:35-41

EXPOSITORY SERMON NO. NINE

LIGHT FOR THE BLIND

John 9:1-41

Introduction

I.

JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES SEE THE BLIND BEGGAR SITTING, PERHAPS, AT THE TEMPLE GATE

A.

Can you sympathize with the blind man? He was born blind. He had never seen the lovelight in the eyes of his father or mother. He had never seen the green fields, the majestic mountains, the winding Jordan river. The brilliance of the sun by day had never shone upon his eyes, nor had he ever witnessed the dark blue sky at night sprinkled with twinkling stars. Yet, as we shall see, he saw more than all the others about him who had their eyesight.

II.

THE QUESTION OF THE DISCIPLES

A.

They raise the theological question about his infirmity being connected with sinespecially do they presume that his blindness has come as a punishment. In a sense, our sins are visited upon our offspring for generation upon generation. But in another sense, our sins are not borne by our children (cf. Ezekiel 18:19-20). There was a purpose in the beggar's blindness and Jesus answers with that purposethat the glory of God might be made manifest. All infirmities are for such a purpose. They are for discipline, chastisement, that the will of God might be perfected in those who believe and that God's justice and power might be shown. To the disciples this man posed a problem of the pastHow did he get that way? But to Jesus he presented a challenge and an opportunity to work the works of God in the present!

Discussion

I.

BLINDNESS OF THE BEGGAR

Although his physical sight had never been given him, he was not really the blind one at all. Actually, it was probably his physical blindness that worked to bring his greatest blessing. It caused him to turn in utter dependence upon the mercy of God and anyone else who would help him. His sightless eyes thrust him upon the grace of Godthey led him to hope.
Thus his faith was a faith that would obey Jesus-' commands with unhesitating obedience. It seems that always the poor, infirm and outcasts, who found both themselves and others incapable of help, that professed the greatest faith in Jesus. They had nowhere else or no one else to turn tothe religious leaders of the day would not be their shepherds. The prosperous, healthy and self-righteous felt no necessity to trust in God. The church at Laodicea was told, Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17. (Italics mine.) AND SO IT IS! THE MAN WHO HAS LOST HIS PHYSICAL SIGHT CAN NEVER BE SO BLIND AS THE MAN WHO HAS LOST HIS INDEPENDENCE UPON GOD!

This man had courage. He knew as well as any other Jew of that city and of that particular time what would happen to anyone who associated with Jesus. Not only had he associated with the hated Nazarene, he had allowed himself to be healed by Him on the Sabbath.

The beggar had an honest heart and when convinced of the truth, he followed the leading of the truth, He accepted the testimony that was presented to him and believed it. He might not be a student of theology, as were the rulers, but he could witness to what Jesus had done for himthis he knew. His honesty allowed Him to see far more than the Pharisees could see about Jesus. They said Jesus could not possibly be good for He healed on the Sabbath, The blind man said, God would not work through a deliberate blasphemer. He knew more of the Old Testament than did the students of the Scriptures. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalms 66:18). When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood (Isaiah 1:15).

II.

THE BLINDNESS OF THE BEGGAR'S PARENTS

Theirs was the blindness of cowardice and fear. Even in everyday experience we know that fear can cause people to be blind to many things that would otherwise be easily seen. What did they fear? They feared loss of social liberty and prestige. If they should profess any belief in Jesus they would be boycotted socially and economically. Their friends would not come near them. they would not be sold anything in the markets. They also feared excommunicationreligious condemnation. They would no longer be allowed to participate in the services of the temple or the synagogue. This has been used by other religious dictators in modern times as a means of forcing the dictates of men upon the superstitious and indifferent. The parents might also have been afraid of the responsibilities they would have to assume should they become followers of Christ. Many today are afraid of the truth because they might have to change their way of livingto give up some of their sinful, indulgent pleasures and so they have conveniently blinded themselves to the truththey have seared their consciences.

The parents could not see beyond the level of this world. They could see only the persecution and criticism they would have to face. They could see only the things of this world which they might lose. Peter at Antioch is a good example of such blindness. His fear of the Jews actually blinded him to the truth that he himself had already preached concerning the reception of the Gentiles into the kingdom. When some Judaizers criticized him for eating with Gentiles, he defected and separated himself from the Gentiles. He had just preached that God is no respecter of personsthat the Gentiles are to be received into the church as brothersnow he gives in through fear. It isn-'t easy to be a witness for Jesus today. Today's great philosophy is Don-'t be different from the worldbe a conformistdon-'t be abnormally religious. I sometimes believe it is more difficult to witness for Christ in times of peace and prosperity and security than in times of persecution and hardship. But cowardice and fear brings a blindness that covers our spiritual eyes so that we cannot see the truthwe do not see facts and ideas in their proper perspective. If all we can see are the consequences and losses in this world by following Christ, we are no better than this beggar's parents. The heroes of the O.T. were not even permitted to see the Christ and yet they could see better than these parents through their spiritual eyes for these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were pilgrims on the earth. for they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.. (Hebrews 11:13-14). THE BLIND BEGGAR WAS LOOKING AT THE HEAVENLY CITY, WHILE HIS PARENTS GROPED BLINDLY FOR THIS WORLD AND LOST BOTH THIS WORLD AND HEAVEN!

III.

THE BLINDNESS OF THE PHARISEES

Theirs was a blindness of prejudice and hate and bigotry. Do you hear any of them rejoicing even that the man born blind was healed? They were interested in nothing but revenge for having one of their traditions broken. They were interested only in trapping Jesus. Woe unto them, for Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil. There are men and women even in our day who are so filled with hate and prejudice that they can see no good in anything but their own ideas and their own ways of living.
Their blindness was to be found in that they said, We see. Over and over they insisted, We know this man is a sinner., or, We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man we know not whence he is. They knew everything, and the people did not know anything. They were the teachers and everyone else were the ignoramuses. Paul points out the blindness of the Jewish teachers in Romans, the second chapter. The Jews gloried and were secure in the belief that they were the guides of the blind, yet they themselves did not practice what they taught as light.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:1-18) that even in his day the Jews were still blinded by the veil of prejudicethey refused to see that the Old Covenant was done away in Christ.. the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should not dawn upon them. Jesus wisely pointed out these self-righteous men as blind guides trying to lead the blind. and both would fall into the pit. NO MAN IS SO BLIND AS ONE WHO WILL NOT SEE! HOW MANY TIMES MIRACLES WERE WROUGHT BEFORE THE VERY EYES OF THE PHARISEES, BUT THEY WOULD NOT SEE!

Conclusion

I.

WHAT CAUSES SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS?

A.

Materialism (cf. Isaiah 56:10; Isaiah 59:10). The Jewish national eye was so full of materialism that it was utterly blind to God. Take any American weekend or, more especially, national holiday, and you can see the same blindness. Our eyes are so full of tinsel, gifts, food and wanton pleasure that we cannot possibly see God. God's solemn warning to the Jews before they possessed the promised land was, Beware lest after you have eaten, builded fine houses, increased your flocks and silver and gold. beware lest your heart be lifted up and you forget Jehovah thy God.

B.

Fear! Fear of what will be done to us or fear of what we will have to do if we allow our conscience to be convicted and follow Jesus. Herod's fear of the truth caused him to put John the Baptist in prison and to death. Felix's fear of the truth caused him to put off listening to Paul (Acts 24:25). Agrippa's fear of becoming a Christian and giving in to the truth and giving up his sensual way of life caused him to reject Paul's message.

C.

Self-righteousness and prejudice and hate! If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now you say, We see: your sin remaineth. The whole have no need of a Physician, but the sick do. I came not to call the righteous unto repentance but the sinners.

II.

HOW MAY ONE HAVE SPIRITUAL SIGHT?

A.

Purity and humility! Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. The blind beggar was honest, pure, innocent, guileless and thus his spiritual eyes were opened along with his physical eyes.

B.

Faith! By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). Moses saw even that which was invisible through eyes of faith!

C.

Courage! One thing is certainly true of the blind beggarhe was a brave man. He knew quite well the consequences of declaring Jesus to be a good mana prophet. But he made his statement and took his stand. It was as if he said: I am bound to believe in Him, I am bound to take my stand by Him because of all that He has done for me. We are reminded of Martin Luther when summoned before the Catholic hierarchy and commanded to recant and return to the Roman churchLuther said, Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me.

D.

Loyalty to Christ always brings greater revelation and spiritual insight. This man was rewarded for his faith by a further revelation of Jesus. When the Jews had cast him out of the temple, the Lord of the temple went searching for him and found him. IF ANY MAN'S CHRISTIAN WITNESS SEPARATES HIM FROM THE WORLD, IT ALWAYS BRINGS HIM CLOSER TO JESUS CHRIST. It is to the man who is true to Him that Jesus most fully reveals Himself. Loyalty to Jesus may well bring persecution and scorn at the hands of men, but the reward of loyalty is a closer walk with Christ and an increasing knowledge of the wonder of Christ.

III.

THIS CLOSER WALK CAN BE YOURS. THIS SPIRITUAL SIGHT CAN BE YOURS

A.

By obedience to His will (cf. John 7:17). The more we know Jesus by doing His will, the greater He becomes to us personally. Why do you tarry, my friend?