Introduction:

We are told that every 20 minutes, a person in this nation loses his or her eyesight, going blind completely.  Every year 50,000 Americans go blind.  Some 20 million people have lost the sight.  For most people the thought of going blind is a terrifying thought.  A recent pole had been taken saying that most people would rather lose any other sense or ability physically than to lose their ability to see.  This is the only time in the Bible where a man who was born blind receives his sight.  Many times in the gospels we see Jesus healing men who were blind (Mark 7:33; 8:23), but those were people who had sight & lost it, but this man in John 9 never had sight.  This chapter is divided in to two sections basically (v.1-7 the reason for the miracle) & (v.8-41 the reaction to the miracle). 

1.    The Reason for the Miracle (v.1-7)

a)        Jesus saw a man who was born blind from birth (v.1)?

1)        This Is The Heart Of A Minister.

(a)      Jesus “Saw” Him, Which Indicated Interest, Care, Concern, & Compassion.  Even though Jesus had his own problems people wanting to stone Him, He always had time for others, especially those who were in need. 

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34, NKJV)

(b)      We Can Be Tempted To Get Rid Of The People God Wants Us To Help (Matt.15:21-28). 



b)        Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents (v.2)?

1)        They Assumed Blindness Was Much More Than Just A Physical Disability.  Why?

(a)      You Could Sin In The Womb, Jacob & Esau To Nations (Genesis 25:21-23)

(b)      He Was Being Punished For The Sin Of His Parents.  

For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me," (Exodus 20:5)

(c)      The Pharisees Did What A Lot Of Christian Are Doing Today—It’s My Parents Fault!

The Scriptures speak exactly opposite of that sentiment, "All souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4, NKJV)

The people will no longer quote this proverb: ‘The parents eat sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’ All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker." (Jeremiah 31:29-30, NLT)

(d)      True, All Suffering, Sadness And Sorrow Is Indirectly A Result Of Sin—

God told Adam, the day that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall surely die "When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned." (Romans 5:12, NLT)

2)        Not All Physical Ailments or Disabilities Are A Direct Result of Sin.

The Lord said to Moses, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" (Exodus 4:11, NIV)

c)         Neither this man nor his parents… but that the works of God should be revealed (v.3)

1)        His Blindness Was An Opportunity For God To Be Glorified.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind (Psalm 146:8, NKJV)

When Jesus Got News That Lazarus Was Very Sick He Said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it…  Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days." (John 11:4-6; SEE ALSO ACTS 3:1-10)

2)        Afflictions Teach Us The Will Of God-Leading Us To Holiness

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." (Psalm 119:67, NIV)

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." (Psalm 119:71, NIV)

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8, NIV)

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10, NIV)

3)        Afflictions Lead Us To Confession Of Sin.

The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people." (Numbers 21:7, NIV)

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin." (Psalm 32:4-5, NKJV)

2.       The Urgency of the Miracle (v.4-5)

a)        I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day (v.4)

1)        Jesus Was Sent From God To Do the Will of God (v.4). 

(a)      Jesus Had Come Into The World On God’s Mission.  

Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34)

2)        Man Is Spiritually Blind, And His Eyes Need To Be Opened (John 3:16-21)

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, NKJV)

b)        The night is coming when no one can work (v.4)

1)        The Urgency Of His Mission (v.4)

(a)      THE TIME IS LIMITED—We Don’t Have Forever To Do The Work!  It needs to be done now or the opportunity will be lost (Heb 9:27).  "Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out.  Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here.  So don’t live in darkness.  Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes.  Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.  We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior.  Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans 13:11-14, NLT… see also Eph. 5:16 & Col.4:5 redeeming the time)

c)         As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world (v.5)

1)        Christ Was Appointed To Remove Darkness

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;" (Luke 4:18)

 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”" (John 8:12, NKJV)

2)        Christians Are Delivered From Darkness

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8, NKJV)

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love," (Colossians 1:13, NKJV)

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (1 Peter 2:8-9, NKJV)

3)        As Ministers Of Jesus Christ We Are To Be Lights To Remove Darkness (Acts 26:12-20)

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16, NKJV)

(a)      Peoples eyes are opened by Hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17)

(b)      The Holy Spirit Uses The Word Of God To Open The Eyes Of The Spiritually Blind

Read Verses 6-38

3.       Jesus Seeks Those Who Have Been Cast Out (v.34-38)

(a)      JESUS TOOK THE INITIATIVE AND REACHED OUT TO HELP HIM (See v.35)—The leper said to Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean” (Matt.8:2).      

(b)      GOD CARES THAT MAN IS BLIND—"the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”" (Matthew 20:28, NKJV)… "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV)

(c)      GOD LOVES AND HAS COMPASSION FOR MAN—"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16, NKJV)…

(d)      GOD’S POWER DELIVERS US FROM DARKNESS AND GIVES US SIGHT—"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love," (Colossians 1:12-13, NKJV)

4.       Jesus Distinguishes Between the Blind and the Seeing (v.39-41)

a)        That those who do not see may see but those who see may be made blind (v.39). 

1)        Those Who Admit Their Spiritual Blindness Can Find Sight In Jesus.  But those who see may be made blind - that is, those who falsely claim to have spiritual sight will be made blind. 

b)        Are we blind also (v.40)?… If you were blind, you would have no sin (v.41)

1)        Admitting Spiritual Blindness (Matthew 15:12-14; Revelation 3:14-22)

(a)      If The Pharisees Would Admit To Their Spiritual Blindness, they could be forgiven and set free - but because they say “we see,” their sin remains (Revelation 3:14-22). 

2)        John 9 Paints A Picture Of How Jesus Heals Blind Souls. 

q  We are all spiritually blind from birth (Eccl. 7:20; Job 25:4)

q  Jesus takes the initiative in healing us from blindness (John 9:1)

q  Jesus does a work of creation in us, not reformation (2Cor.5:17)

q  In this work, Jesus calls us to be obedient to what He commands (John 9:7)

q  Jesus commands us to be washed in the water of baptism (Rom.6:3)

q  We become a mystery to our former associates, not even seeming to be the same person (John 9:8-9; 2:9)

q  We display loyalty to Jesus when we are persecuted, boldly and plainly testifying of His work in our lives and confounding others (John 9:13-34)

q  We pass from little knowledge to greater knowledge, and this brings us to greater worship and adoration (John 9:11,17,38)

q  We never know the name of this man born blind. Jesus is the important One; a true disciple is content to remain anonymous if his Lord gets the glory