"Seeing Jesus"

John 9:1-41

"Seeing Jesus"

This is the third week that we will be talking about the metaphors of "light and darkness" in the Gospel of John.

Remember that, in John Chapter 1 we are told that "the light (Who is Jesus) shines in the darkness and the darkness doesn't extinguish it."

Then it says that the world came into being through Jesus--"the light"-- but "the world didn't recognize the light."

"The light came to his own people, but his own people didn't welcome him.

But to those who did welcome him, to those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God's children, born not from blood or from human desire or passion, but born from God."

Then we went on to look at John Chapter 3 where Nicodemus, a Jewish leader came to Jesus under the cover of night to ask Jesus some questions.

And Jesus told Him that in order to enter the Kingdom of God he would have to be "born again," or "born anew," or "born from above."

For "Whatever is born of flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit."

But Nicodemus didn't understand Jesus' teaching.

And he ended his conversation with Jesus by asking: "How are these things possible?"

And then he faded back into the shadows of the night.

And night, in the Gospel of John, symbolizes separation from God.

It's not a mistake that John Chapter 4 brings us the story of the Samaritan woman at the well.

The contrast between Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman is striking, and we are meant to notice this contrast.

Think about it.

Nicodemus is a Jewish Religious Ruler who comes to Jesus at night, and then after a conversation with "The Light"--Who is Jesus--fades back into the night in fear, misunderstanding and unbelief.

The Samaritan Woman meets Jesus at noon, at the height of day--in the bright sunlight.

And whereas Nicodemus is unable to move beyond the confines of his religious system, the Samaritan woman moves outside of her religious expectations to engage Jesus in a theological debate.

And, whereas, John 3:17 indicates that Nicodemus is unable to believe that Jesus is God's Son, the Samaritan woman actually listens and hears Jesus say that He is God-Made-Flesh when He refers to Himself by the name of God in John 4:26 by saying, "I Am."

And while Nicodemus' last questioning words to Jesus expose his disbelief, the last words of the Samaritan Woman lead her to witness to her whole town!!!

And through her witnessing she comes to believe.

Putting her faith into action, in this case, talking about it or talking it out--sharing it helps her to see the TRUTH which sets her free.

Some of us are verbal learners.

I know I am.

When I was an 18 year old college freshman I would stay up till all hours of the night talking to this girl I knew.

And what I was talking about was my faith, Jesus, heaven, hell and the meaning of life.

And she would sit and listen as I went on and on and on.

And the words which came out of my mouth...well...they were new to me.

They were things that I had learned throughout my life, through my church, my parents and Christian friends--which only came together and made sense as I "verbalized them."

And by verbalizing these "Truths" I came to realize what I really believed.

It was after that that I gave my life to Jesus.

Not everyone is the same, though.

Some people learn by "doing."

For instance, many people come to the knowledge of Christ as Savior and Lord as they feed the poor in His name, cloth the naked in His name, and do all sorts of other loving acts in His name.

Maybe that is how you learned that you believe in Jesus as Christ and Lord.

Other people are "visual learners."

Perhaps they came to know Jesus by watching other Christians, either being transformed themselves as they came to Christ...

...or watching other Christians love in Jesus' name.

Many of us probably learn and come to know Christ by the combination of any number of learning methods...

...reading, listening...

In any event, the Woman at the Well and the Man Born Blind seem to have come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord through a "kind of" similar process.

What I mean is, it didn't necessarily happen all at once.

It came through action, words, conversation, thought, problem solving, and determination--gutsy determination!!!

And in both instances, Jesus is the One Who found them, not the other way around.

Jesus instigated the relationship.

And that is how it works for all of us.

It's not that we loved God, or were looking for God, but God came looking for us!!!