Sermon – Jesus Confronts Blindness
Scripture Lesson - John 9-1-15 “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he." 10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know." 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."
Introduction: Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons conducted an experiment at Harvard University more than a decade ago that became infamous in psychology circles. Their book The Invisible Gorilla popularized it. And you may be one of the millions of viewers who made their Selective Attention Test one of Youtubes’s most-watched videos
The two researchers filmed students passing basketballs while moving in a circular fashion. In the middle of the short film, a woman dressed in a gorilla suit walks into the frame, beats her chest, and walks out of the frame. The sequence takes nine seconds in the minute-long video. Viewers are given specific instructions: “Count the number of passes by players wearing white shirts.” Of course, the researchers were not interested in their pass-counting ability They wanted to see if the viewers would notice something they weren’t looking for, something as obvious as a gorilla. Amazingly, half of the test group did not. How is this possible? How do you miss the gorilla in the room? In this passage in John 9, we see Jesus’ confronting blindness: The Man was Blind from birth; The disciples were Blinded by religious tradition and the Religious Leaders were Blind by choice. Here we learn some lessons about blindness. All of us have blind spots. A blind spot is an area in your range of vision that you cannot see properly but which you really should be able to see. For example, when you are driving a car, the area just behind your shoulders is often a blind spot.
Jesus follows his familiar pattern of worshipping in the temple. Our Lord took great delight in visiting His father’s House. The feast of Dedication is at hand and once again Jesus is confronted by the Jewish leaders. On this occasion, they attempted to stone him, but Jesus passed through their unnoticed. Then passing through the street of Jerusalem, he saw a poor blind man. This blind man was blind from birth, sitting by the street asking alms of all who passed by. This incident appears almost accidental, until we are told that Jesus saw him in his pitiful condition. This story should remind us that God sees us in our present condition. When you disadvantaged, people will generally notice you. The disciples began a conversation about the man, Jesus and the blind man overheard them. “And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They even shared their thoughts about his condition. The disciples like many people today, felt that they had the answer. People think they have the answers, yet they have never faced your problems. They don’t know your story nor are they familiar with your lifestyle. Don’t be surprised if people only see your limitation, and even talk about you as if you are not present. Jesus gives an interesting answer, Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” The disciples never considered the possibility that this was an opportunity for the world to witness the Glory of God.
1. The Man was Blind from Birth. People cannot choose the condition of their birth, nor how the glory of God is manifested in your life. Natural blindness was commonplace during those days in Judea. Others struggled with sickness and disease, some with poverty, some were lame or deformed, yet in every case, God can be glorified. Sometimes the works of God are manifested through a life of prosperity, or great strength and unusual skills and great giftings. The choice is not ours. Some journeys in life seem smooth and downhill while others seem to be rough and all uphill. We do not choose our journey, we simply must run the race that is set before us. Each of us must allow God to work in us and through us that His purpose and plan can be fulfilled. When Jesus comes by and touch us, we gain a new perspective on life and a new glimpse of God’s glory. To this moment, the blind man may have considered his problem as a curse or penalty of some kind, yet Jesus shine light on his situation. Your condition is not a curse or a penalty, it is an opportunity that God maybe glorified. Secondly, we cannot choose the method God uses to supply the help we need.
2. The Disciples were Blinded by Their Tradition. They were expressing the popular opinion of the day. They associated blindness, sickness, diseases and even poverty to be punishment from God. At times our traditional thinking can blind us from the truth. Jesus clears up this misunderstanding and steps out of the box, using a non-traditional method to supply the help the blind man needed. “When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.”
Jesus provide help for this man in an unusual way. In the Scripture, Jesus used a variety of means to provide healing and deliverance for hurting people. Jesus helps this man who had never seen Jesus and includes in his own deliverance. Not only does Jesus clear up the man’s vision, but he also clears up the disciples understanding. Jesus confirms the truth demonstrated in the book of Job. That is, physical infirmities and human suffering are not necessarily the results of sin. God has often allowed suffering, difficulties, pandemics and even trouble for reasons known only to him, yet there is always a good reason. Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. We must not allow what we do not understand to cause us to jump to wrong conclusion. We must not allow what we do not know to cause us to forget what we do know. We know the God is Good and His mercies are everlasting. The blind man was asking for alms, he thought that was what he needed. Though He may have heard about Jesus, He had never sought his help. We are not told why? Many today suffer maladies, yet never seek the help of Jesus. Jesus could have spoken a word, but he chose to make clay on the Sabbath Day and sent the blind man to wash in the pool. Jesus could have healed him on the spot. The choice was Jesus’ alone. God alone know the how! The man was blind from birth, the disciples were blinded by tradition, and the religious leaders were blind by choice.
3. The Religious Leaders were Blinded by Choice. How can you see this kind of miracle and not be convinced? The man who born blind does not attempt to justify your testimony. As soon as the blind man’s eyes were open, he began sharing his story. This single act changed his life forever. He was convinced that Jesus was a prophet. When God starts working in your life don’t surprise by attention you receive. This man’s neighbors and friends who had overlooked him or look away from him now focused on him. His testimony did not make him a scholar or a theologian. He knew nothing about the temple worship, the Levitical Law, ceremonial offerings and sacrifices. All those systems had overlooked him. None of them had been able to help. Now his eyes were opened! The questions were: How were your eyes opened? How did you get out of your mess? How did you get yourself together? Who opened your eyes? He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
It shocks me that no one celebrated with him. This is a miracle worth celebrating! They wanted to know, where is that Sabbath breaker?” Who is the one who would dare work on the Sabbath? How did he do it? All the man had was his testimony. Joh 9:24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
Joh 9:30-34 “The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.”
They cast him out of the temple because they could not answer his argument. They cast him out. This miracle was officially investigated, the man’s parents were interrogated, and they were compelled to admit it was a miracle. The religious leaders could not shake his testimony. They refused to accept the testimony and denied his evidence. They choose to remain blind. Our world is full of people who choose blindness and ignore the truth. When truth appears, they close their eyes.
As we struggle amid the many crises of today, floods, storms, fires, violence and pandemics that causing so much loss and pain, it is wonderful to know that God is still at work. Although, we cannot choose how the works of God should be manifested in our life; nor can we choose the method God will use to supply the help we need. The good news is that God is still in charge. So, we can overcome natural blindness, traditional blindness, and spiritual blindness by believing the testimony of Jesus and the evidence he provides.
Allow Jesus to clear up our vision. The religious leaders choose not to believe. That same blindness must be confronted today. Natural blind with limited sight, who were born in sin and shaped in iniquity; the traditionally blind with limited knowledge of God and his dealing with man, shaped by popular opinion without evidence; and the willfully blind who refuse to believe on the one God has sent and refuse to believe His miracles which testify of His identity.
Allow God to be glorified in your life while you are wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing and getting the vaccine. God may choose to heal your body naturally or supernaturally. It is all for the glory of God. So, you don’t have to justify your testimony or your actions. Just give God to God!
Allow Jesus to confront the blind spots in your life. He will give you a new perspective, a new outlook and new vision. God is for us and not against us. Joh 9:39 “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. (KJV)
