John 9.....11/2013
A pro golfer on tour some years ago was as immature as a six-year-old. He could do nothing wrong to hear him tell it and always had an excuse for any loss: after playing one day...it was a lousy course, the other golfers were cheating he said and the weather was terrible.
This pro golfer also like betting a few extra dollars and playing with amateurs where ever he was on tour for $50 a hole.
One day he was approached by a man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white cane who offered to play him for $100 a hole.
“Why, I can’t play you,” the professional said. “You’re blind, aint you?”
“Yes, I am,” the man said. “But that’s all right. I was a state champion before I went blind. I think I can beat you.”
Now the pro golfer hadn’t been doing well lately--he needed the money.
Anyway, blind or not the pro thought ..if the guy was crazy enough to challenge him…well, why not? “You did say $100 a hole?”
The blind man nodded....yes
“Well, all right. It’s a deal. But don’t say I didn’t warn you--you’ll lose your money. When would you like to play?”
“Any night ,” said the blind man. “Any night at all.”
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We going to look at another well-known
. story in the Bible for a few minutes...its about the blind man in John chapter 9
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 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, 7 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.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
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Jesus was teaching His disciples in the temple back in John chapter 8. The Pharisee brought a adulteress woman before Him and ask Jesus how should she be judged because under Moses law she should be stoned to death.
Without saying a word Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand something that the Bible says in verse 9 of chapter 8...convicted by their own conscience,
Our sins convicted us by our own conscience....Under law of Moses I should have been stone to death...under Moses law you should have been stoned to death....under the law that God gave us....we all should have been put to death....but, because of Jesus we were set free.
The Pharisees being humiliated by Jesus in front of the people....He and His disciples were ran out of the temple and they tried to stone Jesus but, He had gotten away from them and as they were leaving the temple He had compassion on this blind man the Bible says.
The disciples ask Him in verse 3...who did sin ...he or his parents?.....Jesus answered and said...neither but, the works of God would be manifested in him.
The Pharisees carried a little book with them called the Midrash....it was book of laws that they had written over the years.....anything they thought was a sin was in that little book.
So asking which one sinned was a fair question in that day.
But, don’t let anyone tell you that you suffer because of your sin....and don’t think that we suffer because of our goodness. God has His own reasons for permitting sickness, disease, suffering, and trouble.
Verse 3....but that the works of God should be made manifest in him....sometimes we suffer to be a witness to others....sometimes we suffer for ourselves.....sometimes we suffer because of old age and our bodies just break down....so we don’t second guess why someone suffers.
**********************Paul said in Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
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Verse 4 says..I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work
The light is being dimmed in this world by evil. The light in this world is being dimmed by nonbelief. The light in this world is being dimmed because of freedom of religion but, Jesus is not a religion....He is the light of the world... He is the only way ..truth and life.
So the more the world turns its back on Jesus...the darker it’s going to be spirally.
When is our work done as a believer? When can we put away our talents and things God has given us, wipe the sweat and call it a day?
When we have done our best and God is glorified.
John 9:4 say’s, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
As Christians, we believe we must work until our day is done. We are not satisfied until we give our best and God is glorified..
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Verse 6 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.
There are a lot of theories about the reason Jesus spat in dirt and made clay and placed it on his eyes.....but, it was just another way Jesus was contradicting the Pharisee law makers....
You see, it was a law that you could not heal on the Sabbath....and it was the Sabbath day.....the Pharisees could have pulled out their little book call the Midrash and say....it says right here on a certain page that you are forbidden to spit on a wound on the Sabbath because it has healing power.
The blind man didn’t care how he was healed...but, when Jesus opened his eyes he not only came physically seeing but spritely as well.......The blind man’s part was to trust and obey because you noticed that Jesus did tell him how to get there.....the blind man had been there many times but, this time was because Jesus told him to and he trusted Him ....it is the plan of Salvation.....its so simple that lots of people will miss it.....the old song.
Trust and obey....there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but, to trust and obey.
Verse 7 He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Water represents the word of God in many scriptures....you notice that Siolam means sent....he was sent by Jesus....he was drawn to the water by God and heal spirally ...
There are many who go through a ritual but are never sent by Jesus.....never convicted of their sin...there is never a change in their life......there was a change in this blind man.
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8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
There was a great change in this man....so much so most didn’t even recognize him......
******Are you sure that’s him?....are you sure that’s Ronnie Miller?......some said well it looks like him ....Are you sure that’s ______...it look like them but, are you sure?
*********************there must be a change....
Paul said in 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new
There should be growth in ones faith in the Lord Jesus.....the blind mans faith grew....
In verse 11 he said... A man that is called Jesus
Verse 17 he called Jesus a prophet.......and verse 38 he said. Lord, I believe.
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The blind man was thrown out of town for his belief in the Lord Jesus.....but, Jesus found him outside of town and that conversation is in ...
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39 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.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth
Face to face with God.....one on one with the Saviour....the same Jesus who died for you and me...the same Jesus that said He was the beginning and the end....the same Jesus that the disciples saw ascending into heaven and the same Jesus that will return and set up a kingdom on earth for 1000 years ....and we will help Him.
40 The Pharisees ask , Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
We began with a blind man who was healed so that he saw, both physically and spiritually.
We end with religious rulers who were blind, yet who thought they could see.
In the presence of Christ, in the presence of the Light, in the presence of God, they said they had no sin.
Some of the most dogmatic people today are the atheists and other cults and non believers.
They say they see, but they are blind. They reject the Lord Jesus Christ, and so their sin remains.
Although they are not walking around with a white walking stick like the blind golfer.. they are very much blind.
We still have many today that are blind and just can’t see the need for Jesus......but as we get close to the return of Jesus and judgment upon this world....the world is getting dimmer and dimmer spiritually...and as Jesus said the world loves darkness more than light.
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
www.themillersbiblestudy.com
