Healing the blind man (4 things)

• 1^st – Who sinned… vs. 1-7 (4 things)
  • 1^st – As Jesus passed by (escaping the Temple) He saw a man blind from his birth… vs. 1-2
    • His disciples asked Him – was the man blind because of his sin…
      • They were not suggesting the man had sinned before he was even born…
      • The idea is God knew the sins the man would commit – so punished him before hand…
      • This is a hard question – why are some babies born with defects / or miscarried…
      • It is true that before sin came into the world there was no pain and sickness…
      • And that sin is the root cause of all suffering and disease (Adam & Eve) – Genesis 3
      • It DOES NOT mean that God punishes babies for the sins they might one day commit…
      • What it does mean is that God has a plan that we do not always understand…
      • A plan that is not focuses on this life – but on eternal life with God in heaven!
      • We have good friends whose baby boy was born with downs syndrome…
      • That beautiful baby boy has brought the parents closer than ever to Jesus!
    • Or did his parents sin so that he was born blind…
      • The suggestion was that God punished the son for the sins of the parents…
      • Ezekiel 18:20 – “The one who sins is the one who dies. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins.”
      • We are not responsible for the sins of others – nor are they responsible for ours…
      • If a father sins – the children are effected because of example – but not responsible…
      • If a child sins – the parents are effected – but are not responsible…
      • Everyone will stand before God one day – accountable for their own actions…
      • We cannot blame others for what we have done – others cannot blame us!
  • 2^nd – Jesus answered neither – but so the power of God could be seen in him…  vs. 3
• Too often we limit God with our options – assuming God has to use our choices…

• God has plans we would never have imagined – His ways are not our ways…
• Isaiah 55:8-9 – “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways…”
• When we assume God is limited to our options – we will either be confused…
• Or we will miss out on the work that God is trying to do in our lives!
• Sickness is not necessarily related to sin – sometimes God allows it to do a work in us…

• We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
• But the truth is God lets bad things happen to innocent people…
• Job was a righteous man – but God allowed him to become very sick…
• To the point he was covered from head to toe with terrible boils – Job 2:7
• The reason was because Job only knew about God before his trials – but after…
• Job 42:5 – “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
• It is in the hard times of life we cry out to and draw close to God!

• 3^rd – Jesus told His disciples – the time is short – night is coming… vs. 4-5
  • They had to accomplish all their work before their time ran out…
    • Possibly Jesus was referring to sundown Friday – the beginning of the Sabbath day…
    • But more likely Jesus was referring to the cross – He only had a little time left…
    • He knew they all must use what time was left to bring the light to the world…
  • I think sometimes we think we have all the time in the world…
    • We do not need to tell someone about Jesus today – because we can wait till tomorrow…
    • But life has a way of moving by very fast – blink and years have passed…
    • Grab the opportunity – seize the day – and tell people the Good News!
    • Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
• 4^th – Jesus spat on the ground – and anointed the blind man’s eyes… vs. 6-8
  • Showing how the ‘dirt’ of this world was keeping the man from being able to see…
    • We all know people who are stubborn – refuse to give up their sinful lifestyle…
    • Jesus is not hidden – He is easy to find – the Gospel message is available to everyone…
    • But people do not want Jesus – because they prefer to stay in the filth of the world…
    • Because they are caught up in sin – they are blinded – and cannot see Jesus…
  • Then Jesus told the blind man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam…
    • The man (I would imagine gratefully) went and washed – and could see again!
    • God wants us to ‘see’ Jesus – He wants us to be washed and made clean…
    • When someone hears the Word – and is willing to obey – God opens their eyes…
    • He washed them clean of all their sin – so that they can see Jesus!
      
• 2^nd – A new man… vs. 8-12
  • When his neighbors saw the blind man – they did not recognize him… vs. 8-9
    • They had always know him as the blind beggar – yet now he could see…
    • They argued it sure looked like the same man – but it COULD NOT be him!
    • When Jesus gets a hold of our lives – the change is nothing less than extraordinary!
    • To the point that people who knew us before Christ – will think we are a different person…
    • And in truth we are – we have become a new person in Jesus – II Corinthians 5:17
  • The man who had been blind – kept reassuring them – ‘I am the same man!’
    • So they asked him how it was he was now able to see – he told them about Jesus…
      • Where we used to drink / curse / steal – known for our selfishness and sin…
      • Now we are kind / sober / gentle – known for our love for Jesus and each other…
      • When people see that change in us – it is the perfect chance to tell them about Jesus!
    • When the people asked where Jesus was now – he admitted he did not know…

• If we are unsure of ourselves about the Word of God – the hope of Jesus…
• We are not going to be very effective in sharing that hope with others…
• Which is why we take the time to study the Word – II Timothy 2:15
• So we will have the answer when others question us – when they see Jesus in us!
• I Peter 3:15 – “If you are asked about the hope in you, always be ready to explain it.”
• 3^rd – Refusing to give credit to Jesus… vs. 13-34 (4 things)
  • 1^st – The people brought ‘the man who had been blind’ – to the Pharisees… vs. 13-15
    • The leaders kept asking him how he had been healed – and he told them about Jesus…
    • Luke 12:11-12 – “When you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about what to say in your defense, for the Holy Spirit will teach you what needs to be said even as you are standing there.”
    • So often we are afraid to stand up for Jesus – because we do not know what to say…
    • But if we are just willing to open our mouths – God will give us the words to share!
  • 2^nd – There was a division among the Pharisees… vs. 16-17
    • There was a problem with the healing – it was done on the Sabbath day…
      • So some of the leaders argued this was proof enough to discredit the miracle…
      • It proved Jesus was a sinner / not from God – because He broke the Law of God…
      • But then how could the blind man be standing in front of them – able to see…
      • So other leaders pointed out – ‘how can a sinner do such miraculous signs…’
    • They asked the man again – what do you say – you are the one Jesus healed…
      • The man who had been blind was quick to answer – ‘Jesus is a prophet from God’…
      • Though the man did not know much about Jesus – he knew He was from God…
      • We do not need to know much in order to tell others about Jesus…
      • The message of salvation is not complicated – in fact it could not be simpler…
      • Just believe Jesus came from God – died on the cross – and you are saved!
  • 3^rd – The leaders tried to argue – ‘the man had never been blind’… vs. 18-23
    • They called for his parents – asked if this was their ‘blind’ son – how could he see…
      • The parent confirmed this was their son – who had been blind from birth…
      • But they had no idea how he was able to see / then added – he is an adult ask him…
    • The parents were afraid to talk about Jesus…
      • The leaders had announced if anyone confessed Jesus was the Christ – excommunicated
        • The Jews had two forms of excommunication – first was for minor offenses – 30 days…
        • The second was for a lifetime – you could not even sell food to this class person…
        • This second form is likely what the leaders threatened – to keep the people quiet!
      • Often we feel shy about sharing God’s Word – standing up for Jesus…
        • The reason is we are not absolutely certain – convinced – God’s Word is true…
        • We tend to be more certain of other people’s opinions – than God’s judgment for sin…
        • If were absolutely convinced people were going to hell if they did not believe in Jesus…
        • No peer pressure – no ridicule – nothing would be able to keep us from sharing…
        • When we choose to believe God’s Word – nothing will be able to keep us quiet…
        • Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”
  • 4^th – The leaders tried to argue – the ‘healed man’ was a liar… vs. 24-34
    • They told the man to ‘give glory to God’ – because they knew Jesus was a sinner…
      • They leaders could not deny the man had been healed – so they attacked his story…
      • They wanted him ‘tell the truth’ – who REALLY healed him cause it could not be Jesus…
      • The man replied – ‘I do not know if He is a sinner – I know is I was blind and now I see!’
      • When God does a work – others may not like it – but they cannot argue with it…
      • The best answer we can give others is our testimony of what Jesus has done in us…
      • People can argue with our theology – but the cannot argue with the facts!
    • The leaders asked again – ‘HOW did He heal you’…
      • The man replied – I already told you TWICE – why are you asking again…
        • He asked the Pharisees sarcastically if they also wanted to be disciples of Jesus!
        • The leaders cursed the man – ‘You are Jesus’ disciple / we are Moses’ disciple’…
        • We know God spoke to Moses – we do not know if God speaks to Jesus…
      • The man answered – ‘This is a marvelous thing – you do now know!’
        • Jesus healed a man who had been blind from his birth – never happened in history…
        • And yet the leaders of Israel know nothing about Him…
        • We often depend on ‘spiritual leaders’ to tell us what we need to know about God…
        • Unfortunately often they do not know – they only know their traditions – not Jesus!
        • If we want to know about Jesus – the best place is to ask Jesus!
        • Get into the Word and learn about the God who loves us and saved us!
    • The conclusion of the ‘blind man’ – Everyone knows God does not hear sinners…
      • But the Lord does listen to those who worship Him and do His will…
        • While it is true God does not listen to the prayers of sinners – Isaiah 1:15
        • God will always hear the prayer of repentance – Jeremiah 29:12
      • If Jesus were not from God – He would not have been able to do most amazing miracle!
        • The leaders told him ‘You were born in sin!’ – and kicked him out of the Synagogue…
        • Make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – the world will stand against us…
        • And when the world makes fun Jesus – we often have a tendency to back away…
        • If we do not want to be made fun of – it we do not want to also be attacked…
        • The temptation is to blend into the crowd – to instead be like the world…
        • But if we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
        • It means we are choosing this world rather than Jesus…

• 4^th – So that the blind might see… vs. 35-41
  • Jesus heard the man had been kicked out – and found him… vs. 35-38
    • Jesus asked the man who had been blind if he believed in the ‘Son of God’…
    • He asked who He was so he could believe – ‘You have seen Him – He is speaking to you!’
    • The man said ‘I believe’ – and fell down and worshiped Jesus!
    • I find it ironic that a man had to leave the ‘church’ – in order for Jesus to find him…
    • But notice that Jesus did find the man – he was not alone – Jesus stood with him!
    • When we stand up for Jesus – we never stand-alone – He is will always be there beside us!
    • Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
  • Jesus told him ‘I came to so the blind might see – and those who see might be blind’…
    • The leaders heard and asked Jesus – ‘are you saying we are blind’…
      • If you were blind you would have no sin – but you say ‘we see’ – so you sin remains…
      • The blind man could not SEE – but Jesus opened his eyes and he saw Jesus and believed…
      • The Pharisees thought they could SEE – but rejected and refused to believe in Jesus…
      • They trusted in their religion to save them – so they did not SEE their need for salvation!
    • Religion does not show us Jesus – it blinds so we cannot see Jesus…
      • When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus – He blinded him – Acts 9:8
      • The Apostle Paul believed in his religion – thought it was right to persecute The Church
      • So Jesus blinded Saul – to show him he was spiritually blind – an open his eyes…
      • Those who are religious think they are right with God – because they cannot see the truth…
      • Those who cling to their religion – need to first see their religion cannot save them…
      • Then they will be willing to open their eyes and look to Jesus!