The Miracle of Sight
Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
The Message in every act of the Savior
In every act of our Savior there is a message and this is espesually true with His miracles. His miracles prove his deity but they also offer us truth that can be applied to our life. There was a message to those who were there to witness and there is a message for us as we read the inspired record.
The Greatest Miracle was when he saved you
As we consider the healing of this blind man in it should cause us to pause and remember the healing the Lord wrought in each of our lives the day he saved our Soul from hell.
If you do not know Christ, if you have never made the decision to trust him then this should serve as a warning to receive him today!
Certainly the healing of a man that was born blind is a miraculous wonder to behold, but not nearly as wonderful as the healing he provided when he opened our eyes and we were able to see our sin and see his provision.
Certainly the healing of a man that was born blind is a miraculous wonder to behold, but not nearly as wonderful as the healing he provided when he opened our eyes and we were able to see our sin and see his provision.
Jesus Teaching His Disciples about Greater Works
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Quote: Moreover, the "greater works" were spiritual in nature. It is a miracle to open a blind man’s eyes; it is a greater miracle to open the eyes of his sin-blinded soul so that he can see beauty in Jesus. It is a miracle to cleanse a man of leprosy; it is a greater miracle to change a sinner so that he becomes pure in heart and life. It is a miracle to make a deaf man hear; it is a greater miracle to speak so that a person, deaf to the gospel, hears and heeds the message. It is a miracle to raise someone from the dead; it is a greater miracle to bring eternal life to someone dead in trespasses and sins.
John Phillips - NT Commentary
Declaration: The salvation of a man/woman/child is a miracle only God could perform
Preposition: Have we considered recently the miracle of sight?
Transition: As we look at the healing of this blind man I want us to notice three truths that will allow us to better appreciate the miracle that took place the day that Jesus saved you!
I. The Miracle of the Healing
I. The Miracle of the Healing
“he saw a man which was blind from his birth”
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
A. The subject of the miracle
A. The subject of the miracle
“he saw a man”
He was outside of the religious circle in Jerusalem
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
He was a blind beggar
He was a blind beggar
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Do you remember when you were just a blind beggar and the Son of God came and sought you out!
B. The significance of the miracle
B. The significance of the miracle
“blind from his birth”
Blindness is a very limiting handicap
Blind from birth is even more limiting - try explaining a sunset to a person who has never gazed on anything but black night!
These Jews were very interested in “how” this man was healed. What they should have been interested in was “who”!
Illustration:
In his brilliant new book, Catching the Light, quantum physicist Arthur Zojanc writes of what he describes as the "entwined history of light and mind" (correctly described by one admirer as the "two ultimate metaphors of the human spirit"). For our purposes, his initial chapter is most helpful.
From both the animal and human studies, we know there are critical developmental "windows" in the first years of life. Sensory and motor shills are formed, and if this early opportunity is lost, trying to play catch up is hugely frustrating and mostly unsuccessful.
Prof. Zajoc writes of studies which investigated recovery from congenital blindness. Thanks to cornea transplants, people who had been blind from birth would suddenly have functional use of their eyes. Nevertheless, success was rare. Referring to one young boy, "the world does not appear to the patient as filled with the gifts of intelligible light, color, and shape upon awakening from surgery," Zajoc observes. Light and eyes were not enough to grant the patient sight. "The light of day beckoned, but no light of mind replied within the boy's anxious, open eyes."
Zajoc quotes from a study by a Dr. Moreau who observed that while surgery gave the patient the "power to see," "the employment of this power, which as a whole constitutes the act of seeing, still has to be acquired from the beginning." Dr. Moreau concludes, "To give back sight to a congenitally blind person is more the work of an educator than of a surgeon." To which Zajoc adds, "The sober truth remains that vision requires far more than a functioning physical organ. Without an inner light, without a formative visual imagination, we are blind," he explains. That "inner light" -- the light of the mind -- "must flow into and marry with the light of nature to bring forth a world."
National Right to Life News, March 30, 1993, p. 22.
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
This sight cannot be attained by mans intellect!!
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.
We have looked at the Miracle of the Healing now notice:
We have looked at the Miracle of the Healing now notice:
II. The Method of the Healing
II. The Method of the Healing
“he anointed the eyes of the blind.....wash in the pool of Siloam”
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
A. The method involved irritation
A. The method involved irritation
“…made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man”
The clay is a picture of conviction - it was irritation
before a man can be saved he must understand he is lost
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
I believe God brings this irritation into each persons life - do you remember the irritation leading up to your conversion?
I believe God brings this irritation into each persons life - do you remember the irritation leading up to your conversion?
B. The method involved irrigation
B. The method involved irrigation
“…Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”
The pool of Siloam was an important source of fresh water to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and it was fed by the Spring Gihon.
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Siloam, Pool Of
The Spring Gihon, the only natural source of water in Jerusalem, is a copious perennial stream. This, together with a rugged terrain, explains the strength of Jerusalem and the reason why it has been chosen for a place of habitation since the early Bronze Age
Of course this pictures Jesus as he is the “living water”
Once the irritation and conviction hit a man’s soul it is what happens next that is of supreme importance
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
This man obeyed the Lord - many just turn from him unwilling to obey his voice
“How, How, How”
These Jews were very interested in “how” this man was healed. What they should have been interested in was “who”!
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
No operation existed to heal this man
Song: What can wash away my sin … nothing but the blood of Jesus
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
We have seen the Miracle of the Healing, the Method of the Healing finally we will consider:
III. The Message of the Healing
III. The Message of the Healing
The message is that Jesus revealed himself to the so called “seeing religious crowd” but nothing was more obvious than their blindness. In contrast the blind beggar was able to see and was saved!
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
John 9:3
A. It was a dividing message
A. It was a dividing message
“for judgement I am come into the world”
The Jews were completely focused on the “how” as they ignored the “who” - The great I AM !
Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
Illustration:
Illustration:
A Child always wants to know how something works!
B. It was a delivering message
B. It was a delivering message
“that they which see not might see”
It delivers those who are willing to humble themselves and admit they are no different than this blind man in our story
Are you willing to admit your blindness? it is the first step to sight!
C. It was a damning message
C. It was a damning message
“therefore your sin remaineth”
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Why did their sin remain? because they we unwilling to admit their blindness!
Why did their sin remain? because they we unwilling to admit their blindness!
What a sad, sad commentary on those who remain unwilling to repent!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Miracle of the Healing
The Method of the Healing
The Message in the Healing
What is it that Jesus wants us to see?
What is it that Jesus wants us to see?
We are Sinners
He is the Savior