“Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, ’Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ’And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ’You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him” (John 9:35-38, ESV).
Did you experience seeking or looking for something or someone? Still remember the feeling when you found what you’re searching for?
And how about an instance that someone was seeking for you? How did you feel, when you realized someone was looking for you?
We were informed that more than 100 persons in Israel were kidnapped by the Hamas. They were taken to unknown location(s) in Gaza. Of course, the Israeli Defense Forces would surely seek for them. And the abducted victims would be greatly encouraged to know that help is coming. But, suppose instead of being rescued, they would be among the victims of missiles aimed to destroy the enemies?
Perhaps, if not all, at least others be rescued.
We are familiar with the words of Jesus that He “came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Who are these persons He was seeking? What would exactly happen to them? Would everyone of them be saved?
This time, let’s proceed to discuss our topic, WHEN JESUS SEEKS…, as we focus on our text (John 9:35-38).
What do you think would happen, if Jesus Himself would be looking for someone?
In the first seven verses of chapter 9, in the book of John, written by the Apostle John, who addressed himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, we learned at least three ways how Jesus radiated His light or manifested His Goodness. He elevated the purpose of tragedy. He performed the works of God. And He employed different means to bless.
Now, in our text, we would concentrate on two points that would happen, when Jesus seeks for you. What are those?
I – YOU WOULD BE FOUND (verse 35A).
We read the first part of verse 35, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him...”
Who was this person who had been cast out?
We read in previous verses (26-34):
“They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered them, ’I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’ And they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ’You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?’ And they cast him out” (verses 26-34).
The Pharisees were interrogating the man. He was the man born blind man who was healed by Jesus. Again, they asked him how Jesus opened his eyes. So, the man replied, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” His words caused the Pharisees to revile him. But the man did not feel insulted. Rather, he pointed out to the Pharisees what they failed to see or understand. And the Pharisees were the ones who felt insulted.
So, they cast the man out. They excommunicated him from Israel’s worshiping community.
And in that state of man’s rejection, the Bible did not show how he felt. But it revealed that it came to the attention of Jesus. “Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him…”
Of course, before the words, “having found him,” it implied that when the man was cast out, Jesus searched out for him. He sought for him. He was looking for the man and did not stop doing so. Until he found him and talked to him.
When Jesus seeks, He finds.
The man could already see physically, but when he was cast out, perhaps, he could not see bright days ahead of him. He could entertain the thought that he deserved what happened to him. He was not in the position to teach the Pharisees. He did not protest or justify, when he was accused that he was “born in utter sin.”
He could be enduring the pain of being rejected, of being alone, or of nowhere to go or to belong. He could be at a loss of what to do.
His unfortunate situation, however, came to the attention of the One, who gave him his physical sight. Jesus sought for him. And He did not fail to find him.
The Israel Defense Forces could fail to locate and save the abducted Israeli civilians by the Hamas. But when Jesus seeks for us, we will certainly be found and saved from our helpless condition.
As we read in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
When He seeks for someone, he will certainly be found and be saved.
In Ezekiel 34:11-12, we read: “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.”
If the Sovereign God will seek for His sheep, wherever they are and in whatever condition, they will surely be found. And they will be rescued.
Do we acknowledge ourselves as sheep of God? Do we consider ourselves as “born in utter sin”? Have we committed not only errors, but even something evil in our life? Or, are we now in the painful situation wherein we suffered, if not excommunicated, at least rejected in whatever form?
There was a time that a brother and I tried to visit someone who suffered illness for a long time. His faith in God faltered. By God’s grace, before he died, he held on to God once again. But before that happened, during the time that we wanted to visit him, he drove us away and closed the door of his house before us!
What would you feel, if you suffered such kind of treatment of rejection? How would you react, if your proposal, your offer, your suggestion, your request, you plan, and worst your very person is denied?
Do you consider yourselves not deserving of such treatment? Perhaps, you are really entitled to a better treatment, an overwhelming acceptance or approval.
But, remember the man who was healed of blindness who just accepted what happened to him. In his pain of “isolation,” without realizing it, Jesus came to know his situation and He was seeking for him. And he was ultimately found. Once again, he heard the words of Jesus. This time, not just to make him see physically, but to see spiritually.
So, believers and lovers of Christ, if you are in the bitter situation of rejection or feeling isolated, you could also tell God in the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:176, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.”
If God will seek for you, you will surely be found and heard His words.
What else would happen, if Jesus will seek for you?
II – YOU WOULD HAVE FAITH (verse 38).
We read verse 38, “He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him."
After Jesus talked to the man whom He found, what happened to him? The man confessed his faith in Jesus.
During their conversation, Jesus revealed Himself to the man. Jesus asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man”? Instead of “Son of Man,” in other manuscripts it is stated, “Son of God” referring to the “great expected Messiah,” as one commentator argued.
So, the faith of the man to be healed “moves from a general confidence in Jesus’ godly mission to a joyful acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, worthy to be worshiped.” Initially, the man received the faith to have physical sight. Then, Jesus led him to have saving faith to have spiritual sight. It was the kind of faith that the man could appreciate not just the beauty of the surrounding; but he could adore or worship the Savior.
Let’s also refresh our mind when Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman in John 4. Let’s read verses 21-26:
“Jesus said to her, ’Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ’I who speak to you am he.’"
When Jesus made Himself known to the man, He said: “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” The man replied, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.
Both the Samaritan woman and the man healed of his blindness heard the words of Jesus. And Jesus made known Himself to each one of them.
The woman displayed her belief by telling others that Jesus was the Messiah. The man showed his belief by confessing it and acting it out in worship.
Have we heard or are we hearing the words of Christ? Did He reveal Himself to us as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Christ? As Messiah or Christ, He is the Prophet, the Priest and the King. As the Prophet, He did not just speak God’s Word to us, He is the Word. As the Priest, He sacrificed Himself to pay for all our sins. And as the King, He does not only rule the whole universe, but our whole being and the day is coming when He will return to establish His Kingdom in its fullness on this earth!
Could we say we really believe in Him? The Jews believed in Him. The devil believed He is the Holy One of God.
And many who called themselves Christians have faith, unfortunately, in “another Jesus,” or just “a general confidence in Jesus’ godly mission” and that is all.
Faith that saves comes from Jesus Himself -- the Author, the Foundation and Perfecter of Faith. It comes from hearing the Word. It is God-given.
If we have it, we have “a joyful acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, worthy to be worshiped.” And why would we accept or trust in Jesus as our High Priest who atoned for all our sins? Also as our King, who rules not only the whole Universe, but our whole life?
Because as Jesus made Himself known to us, He had performed the greatest miracle in our life. What is that miracle? By giving us our spiritual eyesight! We are able to see the Brilliance of His Magnificent Light. We perceive how so adorable, how so good He is and worthy of worship, worthy of our affection above all else! As we love Him, we also love His Word. So we abide in it and eager to proclaim it to others. And we love and are excited to see His second appearing as King of kings!
CONCLUSION:
In closing, Jesus told the Pharisees, “…but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:26-27).
If you are among the sheep of Jesus, realize even the whole community will look down on you, or you are suffering the pain of rejection because of whatever sin on your part, or you are offended by any refusal of someone, the Good Shepherd is seeking for you.
If He is seeking for you, you will be found. And if you do not have yet the faith to appreciate His Excellence, through His Words, you could rejoice to have it.
