John 9:1-12

John • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

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Jesus is the Light of the World

In this passage, we read about one of the great miracles that Jesus did while on earth, that is giving sight to the blind (for the first time in the history of Israel – v.32)

It shows the power of Jesus over sickness, it shows that He is a miracle worker. He can command healing in an instant, a power that only a deity possesses.

But beyond the physical restoration of sight that Jesus can give, Jesus is after the spiritual restoration of man.

Jesus declared that He is the LIGHT of the World.

Light symbolizes hope, like the Sunshine in the morning. While darkness, the absence of light, like the night can be interpreted figuratively as a condition of hopelessness, despair, sorrow, evil, generally evil. This is the reality of the world we are living in.

And so, Jesus introduces himself as the savior who gives hope to those who are hopeless.

Allow me to share with you 3 Important Responses to Jesus’s Proclamation as the Light of The World

Outline:

I. Believe that God sees your condition

God sees our condition(we are spiritually blind, broken, and we need help) (vv.1-3)

- Jesus saw the blind man among the many who were there.

- Jesus clarified and explained the cause and effect of sin (not all diseases are because of sin)

- Jesus explained that God’s work is displayed even in our weakness (v.3)

• God allows and uses certain situations (unfavorable, sickness), to bring us to the realization that we need God and it is through God-alone that we can find that hope.

• Suffering and afflictions draw us near to God more than happiness and success.

Illustration:

The story of Joni Erickson Tada, a star athlete in High School, but she got injured while diving - head on, a spinal cord injury that leaved her unable to walk.

She suffered from depression because she can’t understand why that terrible thing happened to her!

She wondered if God really sees because she e can’t see what is God’s purpose in this.

She said, “After 40 years in a wheelchair, I can say that my own suffering has lifted me up out of my spiritual slumber, it’s gotten me seriously thinking about the Lordship of Christ in my life. Its helped convinced the skeptical, cynical world that my God is worth trusting. I am loyal to him despite my affliction and infirmity.”

Transition: Believe that God sees what you are going through right now and He will do something about your situation. That leads me to my 2nd point.

II. Believe that God desires for your healing/restoration

God desires to heal – physically and spiritually (vv.4-7) But we need to understand that physical healing does not come to all. Jesus did not heal everyone while He was on earth.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost – (Luke 19:10). God’s great plan is to rescue us from sin. Our physical pains, broken relationships, and heartaches are not the focus - though God cares deeply about these things, they are symptoms of the core problem in this fallen world - SIN.

A. God’s healing comes through the work of Jesus - Jesus claimed that he is the light of the world (v.5).

He intentionally approached the blind man and initiated the healing even though the blind man did not ask for it.

B. God Works through the Believers to become instruments of healing (v.4)

Matthew 5:14 NASB95

14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

Ephesians 5:8–10 NASB95

8for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Jesus used a lump of clay– the very material that man was made of. Jesus is able to give instant healing by just saying it, without the clay. Verse 4 - gives us a hint “we must work”. We - Jesus and the disciples. The clay could be you (the believer) that God will use to bring healing and restoration to those who are spiritually blind.

- Jesus applied the clay and instructed the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam.

- Jesus is able to give instant healing by just saying it – but in this instance, Jesus wants to emphasize the necessity of washing and faith to receive healing.

- The washing by water is a foreshadowing of the washing by the blood of Jesus for the healing (forgiveness) of sins (c.f Isaiah 53:5-7)

Isaiah 53:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.

III. Believe in Jesus so you will receive healing/restoration

Healing is received by Faith(vv.7-12)

- Man’s response is to believe in order to see.

- The blind man’s faith in Jesus enabled him to take the step towards the pool of Siloam and it resulted to him receiving the healing/miracle of seeing. (v.7)

“Faith is like the hand of the beggar that takes the gift while adding nothing” - Thomas Chalmers.

• He did not say, “excuse me Jesus, don’t you see I am blind? can you just bring the water to me or send someone to get some water?

- He did not do anything to deserve the healing. It was Jesus who initiated His healing.

- The neighbors can’t believe that a miracle happened. Their reaction shows that it was indeed a miracle.

Reflection:

• Do you believe that Jesus can heal your spiritual blindness?

• Do you believe that Jesus can fill your heart with hope and joy?

Conclusion:

We are all spiritually blind because of sin, only Jesus can heal and open our spiritual eyes.

His blood was shed on the cross to heal our spiritual blindness.

Because you can’t come to Him because of your spiritual blindness, He came so that you may see, and believe in him. And as you believe in him, you obey him…

Jesus is the light of the World and His followers must be workers of the light.

Matthew 5:14–16 (NASB95)

14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

May we go out and let the light of Jesus shine in our lives so that others may know Jesus and believe in Jesus!