Now That You See

Now That You See

John 9:1-34 

 

Illus. Now I see.

 

As we turn to John chapter 9 this morning, we are going to study the story of a man who was born blind, living his life in blindness, until Jesus healed his eyes so he could see. The context of the story is that Jesus had just left the temple after teaching there. In chapter 8, He had shown compassion on a woman caught in adultery, then He began teaching, telling the people that He is the light of the world, that the one who follows Him would not walk in darkness, but would have the light of life! As the chapter continued, He told the people that those who were truly His disciples would continue in His word, and they would know the truth, and the truth would set them free! Each time Jesus made these statements, there were different responses to His statements, for some, disbelief, for others, disgust, others tried to distract, but still others believed His words and believed in Him.

The religious leaders were continually contentious toward Him. They stated that they believed he had a demon, they started calling Him all kinds of names, and it was at the end of the chapter that Jesus would reveal His name to them… “I am.” Jesus told them that being Abraham was, “I am,” and in doing so, He was using the name of God and applying it to Himself.

In response to this, the religious leaders picked up stones to kill Him, but the chapter ends with us seeing Jesus leave the temple, leaving them…This is where we get to chapter 9. Jesus is on His way out of the temple and as He and His disciples walk out, they pass by a man who was born blind. Jesus will heal him. He was once blind but could now see…The question is, how would the world end up responding?

 

 

Read: John 9:1-7

 

After one encounter with Jesus, the man’s entire life was changed due to this physical healing. Jesus approached the man in his condition. He drew near, spit on the ground, made mud, and put it on his eyes. We don’t know exactly why Jesus used this method here, and other methods elsewhere. Jesus would heal in different ways. Sometimes He would just say the word, other times He would touch eyes, or lay hands on a person. Here this is what He decided to do. There was some belief in that day that saliva had healing power; others note that God did the miraculous by forming man out of dust (Genesis 2). Regardless of the reasoning for Jesus healing this particular way, this particular time, the man was healed!

Surely the life he had lived in darkness physically was now changed; he will say the famous words “I once was blind, by now I see!” Now that He sees, the light was on for Him personally. Imagine seeing people for the first time; imagine seeing colors, seeing the ground you have been walking on, the clouds, the sky, the sun, for the first time. Without question, it would be amazing.

There was no question or denying the miracle that had taken place in his life personally; he had an encounter with Jesus and his life was changed permanently. The question remained, however; how would others end up responding? Those people who had questioned and contended with Jesus regarding his statement that those who follow Him will no longer walk in darkness now had a testimony to contend with…The man before them was once blind, but could now see…He had been set free physically. What will they say, now that He sees?

Throughout the Bible, we learn of people who “though seeing, do not see” (Matthew 13:13). We learn about those with “blinded eyes and hardened hearts” (John 12:40). From 1 Corinthians 4:4, we know that there are those whose minds have been blinded by Satan. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News of Jesus Christ. When the Bible gives us these analogies, we are being told about spiritual blindness.

            Interestingly, even with the testimony of the man who was once blind but could see, there were still those in opposition to Jesus, those who refused to see and believe. But as the story goes, the many here would not only have his eyes healed so he could see, but the eyes of his heart would also be opened, and he would believe in and on Jesus personally.

            Though there are many questions to consider and verses to focus on, I want to set the focus of our study on the response of the people to the man who was once blind but could now see. Because when we give our lives to Christ and the eyes of our hearts are opened to Him, we will face many responses to our testimony in and of Him. Not all will see, but you do. And now that you see, there are some important realities associated with the posture of the world toward one’s belief. We will look at 4 specifically this morning. 

 

1. Some Won’t See the New You

 

John 9:7(b)-12, He left and washed, and came back seeing. So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” The man himself kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The Man who is called Jesus made mud, and spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” And they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

 

• Once the man had an encounter with Jesus, followed his instruction by going and washing, he returned and all things were new.

 

• When he returns, there begins to be a debate about him.

 

• Some questioned if it was him, others were convinced it was him, others thought it was simply someone who looked like him, and others were saying “this is him!”

 

• It was surely him, he is standing there saying “I am the one…” But they were questioning and in disbelief!

 

• Some simply weren’t able to see due to the context. This can certainly happen.

 

Illus. Who is it?

 

• The people were conflicted as to who he was.

 

• This is important for us to catch, because in your life, after you encounter Christ, after you go wash and return,  some will have a hard time seeing you for anything other than what they have known you to be.

 

• They will see you according to you past. Judge you, or characterize you according to who you have always known you to be.

 

• It is difficult for people to understand the changes that will come in a persons life after an encounter with Christ.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17, If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

 

• Though some will perhaps characterize you according to your past, it is important for you to live your life as a new creation in Christ.

 

 

• Some won’t see the new you. Some will question the new you. Some will see the truth…As for you live in the new.

 

Colossians 3:1-4, Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

• In verse 9 the man tries to clear up the confusion, “I am the one…” This is me! And they say, well, “how did this happen?” Then he gives the testimony of his encounter with Jesus…

1. Some Will Circle the Controversy in Your Testimony

 

• After the man’s neighbors question him and are divided on who he was and what happened to him, they take him to the religious leader, who we know from John 7 and 8 had already come to all types of wrong conclusions about Jesus and wanted to stone and kill Him.

 

• When the man born blind is brought before them, they end up asking for his testimony, not once, not twice, but three times…

 

John 9:13-15, They brought the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath on the day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied mud to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was dissension among them. So they said again to the man who was blind, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”

 

• Jesus had just told the religious leaders that He is “I am,” which is the name of God and they wanted to kill Him.

 

• Because of Old Testament prophecies, there was an understanding and belief that the Messiah, the Savior, when He came on the scene, would open blind eyes…

 

Isaiah 35:4-5, Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance… But He will save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped…”

 

• In Isaiah 42, where are promises of a coming Savior who will “open blind eyes…”

 

Matthew 11:2-6, Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is any person who does not take offense at Me.”

 

• Jesus had quoted parts of Isaiah 35 and 61, these pointed to Messiah.

 

• In other words, once they heard this testimony, that blinded eyes were seeing, they go immediately to controversy…He is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.

 

• The Pharisees categorized a compassionate miracle as work on the Sabbath.

 

• Jesus said in Mark 2:27 that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. That said, it was a gift designed to serve human needs, refresh the soul, ease burdens…But that day had turned into a BIG burden.

 

Illus. Sabbath.

 

• Jesus healed people miraculously on the Sabbath 7 times in the Bible. Jesus changed a man’s life and had compassion on him, He healed him, but the religious leaders were focused on rules and religion.

 

• In response to his testimony, the look at the controversy. They didn’t care that the man had received his sight, they didn’t care that he was given life, all they were concerned about was the controversy.

 

John 9:18-23

 

• In verse 18 we see that the Jews simply didn’t not believe his testimony…So they go ask his parents.

 

•  His parents don’t seem very happy about their son receiving his sight.

 

• They knew the truth, that Jesus had changed his life. They confirm the facts in verse 21 “we know he was born blind, we know he is our son, but we don’t know how his eyes were opened.”

 

• They acknowledge him, but distance themselves from him. Why? Fear. Verse 22 tells us that they feared because the religious leaders had already said that anyone who confessed Christ would be excommunicated from the synagogue, they would be kicked out.

 

• The parents knew that, and so in fear, because they were concerned about their reputation, and what might happen to them, they distance themselves from him.

 

• This is the first time they had looked in their sons had seen them. The first time he has seen anything, but instead of rejoicing, and thanking Jesus for the miracle, they move away from him.

 

• His Parents didn’t want the controversy, to the distance themselves from Him.

 

John 9:24-25, For a second time they summoned the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this Man is a sinner.” He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

 

• When the religious leaders say, “give God glory” they are essentially saying “come clean” or “tell the truth…” We know this man is a sinner…

 

• Again the man tells his testimony…Look, I don’t know all the details, but I know I was blind, now I see.

 

• In verse 26 they ask him a third time…

 

John 9:26-27, So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”

 

• This is going to set them off, we will see it as we continue.

 

• They were not willing to see the truth of the man’s testimony, why? Controversy.

 

• They question his testimony, they question the validity of whether he was actually born blind, we circle back and see that the question his family…But regardless of what anybody was saying, rather than celebrating his testimony, they circle controversy.

 

• When Jesus opens your eyes and you see, so too, people will circle controversy, my encouragement, just keep circling your testimony.

 

• The man says, I can’t answer everything, but this I know, I was blind, but now I see.

 

Illus. Amazing.

 

• Some will circle your history, the Lord will circle what comes from HIStory, which is grace and mercy.

 

• This is also an opportunity for the posture and approach Christ followers when we see others who first believe.

 

Ephesians 4:32, Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

Matthew 6:14-15, If you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

 

John 9:28-34, They spoke abusively to him and said, “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 is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is the amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes! We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and yet you are teaching us?” So they put him out.

 

• Because of his testimony of Jesus, he was put out and put away. It was the greatest day of his life, his blinded eyes could see, but here he is, rejected…

 

III.  Some May Put You Out but Jesus Still Pursues

 

Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 

• Some may put you out, but Jesus still pursues!

 

John 9:35-38, Jesus heard that they had put him out, and upon finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered by saying, “And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the One who is talking with you.” And he said, “I believe, Lord.” And he worshiped Him.

 

• From verse 36 to verse 38, the man transitions from calling Jesus sir, to calling Him Lord and Savior!

 

• He had lived a life being disregarded because of his blindness, and now rejected because he could see.

 

• He received both physical and spiritual miracle that day, not only were his eyes opened physically, but the eyes of his heart were opened spiritually.

 

• He had been put out, but Jesus was pursuing him. And may you have been put out. Perhaps some in your life want to keep you what you once were, perhaps there are some in your life that are circling controversy rather than your testimony, perhaps there are some who have put you out, if so, I want you to know, Jesus is pursuing you.

 

• The chapter closes with Jesus saying that He came into the world so that those who do not see would see!

 

• In response the religious leaders in front of him said, “oh, we are blind too, are we?”

 

John Haywood (1546), “There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.”

 

Illus. The verdict.

 

Ephesians 1:18, I pray that the eyes of your heart [u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

 

Illus. A, or B; 1, or 2.

 

John 9:1-34