How do people respond when the blind can see? – John 9:8-34

30 04 2008

Some respond with Skepticism.

  • These are generally the people who know you best. – neighbors
  • They deny it no matter how much proof they have.
  • These are generally good moral citizens.

There are good and bad skeptics.

I am a natural born skeptic.

  1. A bad skeptic

  • denies no matter how much proof they have.

  • The man who was blind probably did change in appearance some, because he could see what he looked like now.

  • They ask questions wanting to prove it is not true.

  • They try to explain it away. 9

  • The explain the gospel away.

  • The explain the results of the gospel away.

  • Even if they talk to the man himself they do not believe it.

  • They always want more proof.

  1. A good skeptic is

  • one who care about God being glorified.

  • They ask question in order to make sure everything is on the up and up.

  • They may want further proof, but not because they don’t think God can not do it.

  • They have seen too many fabricated conversions – which makes them want to make certain.

  • A change that is genuine is a change that lasts.

Some respond with religious arrogance.

These are the kind of people who think they know God, but don’t.

  • They profess to know God, but deny him with their actions.

  • They don’t understand God’s character. 16

  • They don’t understand Jesus. 24

  • Jesus is not a sinner.

They misunderstand themselves.

  • When you don’t see God right you will not see yourself right.

  • They think they are not sinners. 34

They don’t care about people. 14-15

  • There is no compassion.

  • The way people talk about emigration illustrates this.

  • They only care about the law. –

  • They want to argue about something that does not matter and ignore the things that do matter.

  • When they cannot win they criticize. 34

Some respond with ignorance – Disciples

They may misunderstand at first but they learn.

They may learn to trust more deeply in the mysterious power of God.

How does a believer handle this situation?

  1. Answer them honestly. – Never get tired of telling how God gave you sight.

  2. Keep giving the credit to God.

  3. Never think that God can’t use you to reach others.

  • God used a blind person to teach his disciples.

  1. Remember they are be questioned because of Jesus.

  2. Continue to Believe.

Some respond by Believing.


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From Blindness to Belief – John 9:1-7, 35-41

22 04 2008

Why was this man born blind?

Because his parents sinned – No

  • Some sickness is because of direct sin, many are not.

Because he sinned – No

  • The blind man was not even born yet how could his blindness from birth be because of his sin?

So that the works of God might take place – Yes!

What is the work of God?

  • The work of God is not simply physical healing.

  • If the work of God was only physical, then God’s work would be temporary.

  • If the work of God was only physical, then God’s salvation would be seen as physical healing. And everyone who has been physically healed would think they were saved.

  • When you try to interpret life without the word of God, you end up with backwards reasoning.

  • The work of God is believing in God.

  • John 6:29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

  • Rom. 14:20

  • Illustration – Joni Earikson Tada

 

Jesus was teaching them something spiritual (salvation) from something (physical).

Physical blindness represents spiritual blindness

  • Just as physical blindness is something that prevents sight, so spiritual blindness renders people unable to see on their own.

  • Spiritual blindness is so severe that people who have it think they can see when they cannot.

  • Just as sure as Jesus is the only one who can cure physical blindness he is the only one who can cure spiritual blindness.

  • Those that don’t think they are blind don’t think they need healed.

Belief in God leads to better worship when it believes in election.

  • This man did not go looking for a healer, the Healer came to him as a stranger.  Salvation happens when the Healer comes to heal our blind hearts.

  • This man believed because Jesus chose to heal him and would not have been saved unless Jesus removed his spiritual blindness.


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