John 9:1-7 (NKJV)
"The Light of the World"
December 15, 2024
The four Gospels record more than 35 miracles, but apart from Jesus’ resurrection, feeding the 5,000 is the only miracle mentioned by all four. Not even something as amazing as the resurrection of Lazarus was recorded by more than John. Each gospel author wrote with a specific goal, leading them to emphasize particular events in the earthly ministry of Jesus. Matthew teaches that Jesus is the MESSIAH/KING. Mark teaches that Jesus is the suffering SERVANT OF GOD. Luke teaches that Jesus is the perfect SON OF MAN. John teaches that Jesus is the divine SON OF GOD. The last three sermons were all unique in that the miracles I preached about were only recorded in a single gospel. Mark is the only writer to record the healing of the of the deaf/mute and the healing of the blind at Bethsaida. Today we teach about the man born blind. What ties these three lessons together is that the Bible records Jesus using His spittle to heal them. This method is only recorded in three instances. The simplest illustration I can give as to why Jesus used spittle, is that it is like a parent seeing something dirty on the face of their child and without hesitation they lick their thumb and clean the face of the child with their saliva. I’ve got four children and I’ve never seen any one of them like it! But they had to deal with it because I was going to make them clean. Maybe just maybe our Father in heaven is trying to teach us that sometimes we are just going to have to deal with it while He makes us clean? On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, early in the morning Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life." Then the Jews railed on Him all manner of accusations saying that He was not the Christ. So, Jesus said, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. This is the backdrop of our lesson today. As He passed by, He saw a man, He gave a message and then performed a miracle.
I. THE MAN - The disciples asked who sinned? The man or his parents? Jesus said neither, but that the works of God should be revealed in him! This man, according to the Scripture was born blind. This man had lived his entire life in this state of darkness. And yet, there is a blindness that is far worse than the physical! It is far worse to be in spiritual darkness. Paul says that this world is perishing, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Also the Scriptures seem to indicate that this man was born not only handicapped, but also in poverty. His birth seems to be a thing of terrible misfortune. Many would say that he would have been better off if he had never been born. However, we find that Jesus felt otherwise. He tells the Disciples that this man's problem was allowed by God so that God could get glory from this man's life. What a wonderful truth! God can take any life no matter how hard it has been and turn it into blessing, honor and glory to the Father!
II. THE MESSAGE - Jesus said, as long as I am in the world, I Am the Light of the World! In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus was claiming that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. There are two types of light in the world. When we are born into this world, we perceive physical light, and by it we learn of our Creator’s handiwork in the things we see. However, although that light is good, there is another Light, a Light so important that the Son of God had to come in order to both declare and impart it to men. The metaphor used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Physical light is necessary for physical life. The earth would certainly change very rapidly if there were no longer any sunlight. A forest full of trees with very thick canopies of foliage high above has very little plant life on the ground except for moss or lichen, which needs little sunlight. Plants will never move away from the light—they are said to be positively phototropic, drawn to the light. In the same way, spiritual light is necessary for spiritual life, and this can be a good test of our standing in Christ. The believer will always tend toward spiritual things; he will always tend toward fellowship, prayer, giving, studying the Word of God, and Worship. Following Jesus is the condition of a promise that His followers will never walk in darkness, which is a reference to the assurance of salvation we enjoy.
III. THE MIRACLE - After Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with his saliva and anointed the blind man’s eyes, He began to lead him through a series of events that brought him face to face with who Jesus really is. Being able to see with these physical eyes is never enough. Notice the progression this man went through as the light began to shine in his life. The Pharisees asked, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered and said, “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go to the pool and wash” and I went and I washed and I came back seeing the Light! When they question him in verse 10 he answered He Is A Man Called Jesus. When they questioned him again in verse 17, he answered He Is A Prophet. When they questioned him again in verse 26, he answered He Is A Man Of God. And when Jesus asked him in verse 38 do you believe that I am the Son of God? He answered Lord, I believe and he began to worship Him. Either He is the Son of God as He said, or He is not worthy of our worship and our faith. This man's progression led him from seeing Jesus as "A Good Man", to seeing Him as "The God Man." This is the place where we all need to be! ILLS: There is an old preacher’s tale of a man who was killed at a railroad crossing one night in 1891. His relatives sued the railroad, claiming negligence on the part of the watchman. During the ensuing trial, the watchman was called to the witness stand. The prosecuting attorney asked him several questions. "Were you on duty at the crossing at the time of the accident?" "Yes sir, I was." "Did you have a lantern?" "Yes sir, I did." "Did you wave your lantern in warning?" "Yes sir, several times." Having answered in the affirmative to every question, the watchman helped the railroad win its case. An officer of the railroad came to see the watchman later to thank him for giving evidence in favor of the railroad. The officer inquired, "Tell me, Watchman, were you nervous during the questioning at the trial?" The watchman replied, "Yes, I feared every moment that he would ask, 'Was the lantern lit?'" Anyone can go through the motions of outward religiosity. We can wave our lanterns wildly, but it accomplishes nothing if we do not light them! The night is dark. Are your lights shining? Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Just as He came as the Light of the world, He commands us to be “lights,” too. Just as the moon has no light of its own, reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers to reflect the Light of Christ so that all can see it in us. Know that the concern is not that Christians would stand out for their own sake, but “by our good works,” those who looked on might “glorify your Father who is in heaven.” This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine!
