Introduction
I can remember when I was a member at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (OCBF) in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Tony Evans was my pastor. Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship had several ministries for young people. It was one of many reasons I became a member.
There was a College and Career ministry for young people in college or just starting their careers. Carol McHale was over this ministry. The first and last time I went camping was with this ministry. I remember three things about this camping experience.
Firstly, I remember how hard the ground was and how I did not sleep well. Secondly, I remember that the breakfast was very good the next morning. Lastly, I remember total darkness the night before. I am from Dallas, Texas which is a major city in the Texas. I did not own a flashlight and being in the woods without one, well it just wasn’t smart. I could not see my hand in front of my face. I had a time trying to locate the latrine, but I made it with the help of a lantern that someone provided.
Can you imagine living your life in the darkness as a blind man? In this lesson we will see how Jesus can take you out of the darkness and into the light.
The Reason for Blindness (John 9:1-3)
There is another question that I find very odd. It can be found in the ninth chapter of John. The disciples posed this question. This question is odd to me, because I am a part of a different culture. In our culture we do not connect the sins of the father to the sins of the child.
You may hear other religious groups or even some Christians speaking about generational curses. There are other religious that speak of karma. It is regarding the future of an individual and not about the future of children. In my opinion, this is an unholy curiosity as to whether the individual man sinned or did his father sin? In the unholy minds of various non-Christian religions, this would be the reason why this man was born blindness.
This does not make sense to me because a baby cannot sin in his mother’s womb. A baby is innocent in his mother’s womb but is born into sin after birth. What could a baby do in the womb or the birth canal that would warrant him to be born blind?
Jesus put this question to rest. In John 9:3, Jesus states, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Like Job, God allowed him to be born blind so that he God could be glorified in his life! (John 11:4)
This was an opportunity to turn the blind man’s pain into a preaching pedestal so that the power of God could be known. Today are you willing to let your pain become your pedestal to preach about the power of God?
The Resolve for Blindness (John 9:3)
Jesus made a startling declaration about this man and his parents. Jesus states in John 9:3, “"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” The blind man had not sinned to cause his blindness. The blind man’s parents had not sinned to cause their son’s blindness. The resolve of the man’s blindness was that the works of God might be displayed in him.
I have never heard of anyone going through a difficult trial being accused of being put on display for God’s glory. Most of the time, we are like Job’s friends accusing people of some hiding a sin in their lives.
A preacher once said that that Job was “Pick Out to Be Pick On.”. I am not sure I could fill those shoes that Job wore. The blind man’s whole life was purpose for this one moment in time. In the same way that Jesus’s life was leading to that one moment in time. He would die for the sins of the world though He do not sin. No, Jesus did not sin but, this happened so that the works of salvation may be displayed to a lost and dying world. In Romans 5:8 it states, “ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
We were all lost in the blindness of our sins; before Jesus died for our sin. He enabled us to walk in the light of our salvation. In Roman 10:9-10 it states, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” You may be picked out to be picked on.
The Result of Blindness (John 9:4-12)
The results of this man being healed was astonishing. Jesus said before He healed the blind man that He had work to do for the Father. He had an assignment to heal the blind man. In John 9:4 it states, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” There were other miracles that Jesus had to perform for God.
This miracle caused quite a stir amongst the people and the religious leaders. The people could not believe that this was the same man who used to be a beggar. Some of the people said that he just looked like the blind man. The formerly blind man had to insisted that he was the man. The people than asked, “How was your eyes open?” The former blind man only knew that a voice that told him what to do and a man named Jesus. The former blind man did not know where Jesus was, but he did know what Jesus had done for him. Have you ever had God work so miraculously that people had to insist on your testimony?
Later on in the text, the former blind man would literally be put on trial by the religious leader. The blind man’s parents were even placed on trial. They were angry at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. The religious leader believe Jesus was a sinner. During the interrogating of the former blind man, he gave a testimony the would echo though the century. This is what the blind man stated in John 9:28, “ …“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!” Jesus wowed the blind man and other who heard of His miracle!
