Sight For The Blind Series

Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Sight for the Blind”

INTRODUCTION

John portrays Jesus as the one who came to give light and life to men. He did not come to condemn but to convert those in darkness. As we said a few weeks back, blindness or darkness comes from two problems. No light source. No ability to perceive light source.

All men are born in darkness, outside of the light of light.

All men are also born without the capacity to perceive light.

Jesus as the light of the world came to address both problems. He Himself is the light. He also came to restore the capacity of fallen man to see and perceive the true light. He is the light and truth that sets free from darkness. Only true disciples commit to structuring their lives according to the truth of God. Abide in his words. That genuine commitment brings new perception leading to new freedom, eternal life, new perseverance, new power in prayer and new potency over the enemy. John places this encounter with a man born blind to illustrate and validate the claims of Jesus as the eternal light and life that enlightens every man.

The truth in this passage today will facilitate …

Reinforcement of our view of the person and works of Jesus drawing us to deeper worship

Reconsideration of our understanding of the purpose of sickness in our world

Reassessment of our own personal response to Jesus

I. INSPECT THE TEXT

This chapter focuses more on the actions of Jesus than the words of Jesus. As opposed to previous chapters there is very little direct teaching. Having thoroughly declared and explained Himself as the light of world, this chapter graphically demonstrates Jesus as the light of the world. We can learn a great deal just by observing the interaction between the people portrayed here.

Jesus -- Keen observer

Principle: Jesus is fully aware of our needs and situation.

Principle: Don’t overlook the ordinary to teach the extraordinary

Disciples – ignorant but teachable

What an opportunity to ask Jesus the cause of evil in the world. They ask a perfectly legitimate question that has been contemplated and argued for centuries. The problem here is that they showed their ignorance by offering only two options. So often we look for the answers to complex problems from a limited understanding.

Current understanding of the disciples.

This man was born blind because of:

a. his own sin

b. his parent’s sin

Think about it! Some sin he committed in the womb?

It seems they simply regurgitate a common understanding among the Jews regarding sin and sickness. The Rabbis believed every infirmity to be directly linked to a sin. There was also a common belief that it was possible to sin in the womb.

Genesis 25:22-26 (Esau and Jacob) Psalm 58:3 (the wicked). It is possible that the disciples were spouting the party line without thinking through the implications of the first cause of sin.

Jesus - Tolerant Teacher 1-4

Principle: Not all sickness is the direct result of personal or parental sin.

Principle: Physical infirmities can result in a glorious display of God’s supernatural work

God’s works involve canceling the curse due to sin. God’s glory is displayed through supernaturally nullifying the effects of sin in the world either externally or internally.

Jesus -- Effective Healer 5-7

Jesus saw the blind man. The disciples saw the blind man and wondered how he got that way. Jesus saw the blind man and worked to help him.

How often do we ignore the needs of others because of the busyness of life?

How often do we ignore opportunities to help because of the tendency to judge first?

Our initial inclination is often rejection rather than restoration.

Too often we see people as detached subjects to study rather than individual souls to save.

Jesus clearly reminds these followers of the eternal purpose for their existence, to work the works of God.

Jesus uses an empathic “we” to emphasize the fact that the disciples are included in this work. Many scholars have tried to explain away the use of “we” as a scribal error but no evidence exists to support such a theory. Jesus intended to include the disciples as agents of the power of God demonstrating the power of God.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Col. 3:17

All our work is to be done as representatives of God on earth. It is necessary that, while it there is still opportunity (as long as it is day), we should continually focus on working the works of God.

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:10