Good morning. If you would please be turning
to john chapter nine. john chapter nine. I'm gonna read verses 39 and
40 through 41 right now, just to begin with. John 9, 39. And Jesus said, for judgment
I am coming to this world, that they which see not might see,
and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the
Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said unto
him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, if ye were
blind, ye should have no sin. But now ye say, we see. Therefore, your sin remaineth. Let me start off by saying this.
The scriptures declare to us this. The lot is cast into the
lap. that is to anyone and everyone's
lap. This lot being any station in
life that you have been given, it was all cast in your lap.
All your circumstances, your health, your financial situation
was all cast into your lap by God. But the whole disposing
of that lot That is, the whole verdict to be rendered unto you
is of the Lord. That is, whatever is to become
of you is of God's disposing and not yours, even though it's
in your lap, both physically and spiritually. Proverbs 16.33
says, the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing
thereof is of the Lord. We read here of one who had a
lock cast in his lap of being born blind. He was born this
way. He had nothing to do with causing
himself to be blind. Our Lord tells us that, which
we'll look at later. But we also see others around
him who had sight, but more specifically, where those who said they could
see, as we have just read in our passage. I'm not saying physical
does not matter, because what we say and what we do does matter,
but we are talking about spiritual things. Of course, as we see
here, there are some who have no idea what Christ is talking
about, because they are just natural, as we all are by nature. The natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them. They
said they could see, Christ said that's what they were saying.
But we see here that Christ tells these Pharisees that if they
were blind, they would have no sin. But because they say they
see, their sin still remains. Is this saying something has
to cause us to be blind? Because once we are blind, we
will then see? Yes. Spiritually speaking, yes. But it's not something you can
do in and of yourself. It has to be that which Jesus
Christ has brought to pass so that he might be pleased to show
his work in you as our passage declares. So let's look at this. Seeing is blindness. Christ gives
sight to the blind. The purpose of Christ, Christ
giving sight. So first, seeing is blindness.
Christ here in verse 41 tells those Pharisees here that because
they say they see, according to the words of Scripture here,
they did not actually say they see outwardly with their mouth.
But Christ knew what they were saying even though they were
posing it as a question to him. In verse 40, it says, and some
of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said
unto him, are we blind also? He knew that in their heart they
thought they could see. We're talking about spiritually.
They thought their eyes were wide open to know God. We are
talking about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These are they
we talked about last week. They have a zeal of God, but
not according to full discernment. Oh, how we by nature, our heart
deceives us so much that we think we can see when we are really
blind. If you have never been blind,
you will not see. We've heard it before. No one
has ever been saved that has never been lost. No one has ever
received sight who has not first been blind. God Almighty will
cause you to be blind so that he will reveal his work in you. Jesus Christ is the great physician,
and if you are not sick, then you have no need of a physician.
But your only hope is that God purposed to cause you to be sick,
caused you to be blind so that He can work the work of God in
you. We can see it before in this
chapter, even the Pharisees that said this. We see how those who
do not know God, God will not believe someone who tells them
exactly what Christ did to them. They will do their best to try
and disprove the work of God in you. This man was born blind. He had been given sight, his
sight, and instead of them praising God for his work, all they wanted
to do was try and find a way to disprove or dismiss what this
man was telling them. They at first did not believe
he was even blind, though he was born this way in verses 17
and 18. They say unto the blind man again,
what sayest thou of him that he hath opened thine eyes? He
said, he is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe
concerning him that he had been blind and received his sight
until they called the parents of him that had received his
sight. So then what do they do? They
call his parents to try and get them to admit either he was lying
or this was not in fact their son, verses 19 through 23. And they asked them saying, is
this your son who ye say was born blind? How then doth he
now see? His parents answered them and
said, we know that this is our son and that he was born blind,
but by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened
his eyes, we know not. He is of age, ask him, he shall
speak for himself. These words spake his parents
because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already
that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put
out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, he
is of age, ask him. When that did not work, they
turned back to the man to try to get him to speak against Christ.
This world, us by nature, will do everything it can to go against
Jesus Christ and his people. This old nature of mine will
fight against the truth of God. This is why we must cry out to
God. Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief. This old nature of mine and those
in this world will rebel against God's work. That is, God's work
for an individual and God's work to an individual. totally opposed
to anything of Jesus Christ. Next we have giving sight to
the blind. Here in this chapter we have
a man. This is a man that from what we can tell in this passage
was not even looking for Christ. He didn't cry out to Christ or
anything at all. Our Lord was passing by and we
know by the passage and what it says that Jesus Christ purposed
to do this to the blind man. in verse one. And as Jesus passed
by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. Of course, we
know that nothing that the Lord does is just happenstance. Everything
he did, he did on purpose. Here we have a man who Christ
said was made blind by God. This was the lot that was cast
into the man's lap. But the disposing of this lot
by God was to show his work in him, verses two through five. And his disciples asked him,
saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath
this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should
be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him
that sent me. While it is day, the night cometh
when no man can work. As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world. He was not saying that this man
had no sin. He is just telling us that his
circumstances were like they were simply because God was pleased
to make it so. In this case, he made it so to
show his mighty work in an individual. This is something that actually,
literally, really happened. This also shows us how God works
on all those for whom he chose. First of all, Christ sees us. We, being blind, cannot see him. He must work a work in us, a
work to us, a work on us, before we will even have the ability
to see him. If you do not believe this, then
you are saying that you can see on your own. Christ says you
are blind. But then Christ gives us sight
just as he did this man. But if you notice here, Christ
did not hang around so that once the man had sight that this man
could see. He, that is Christ, so that he
could show himself to this man to let him know exactly who he
was and who did this to him. Verses six through seven. When
he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the
spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the
clay. and said unto him, go wash in
the pool of Siloam, which is being by interpretation sent. He went his way therefore and
washed and came seeing. And then in verse 12 we read,
then said they unto him, where is he? He said, I know not. There were some things this man
was going to go through, but Christ did not give this man
sight for no reason. Once the man was given sight,
others seen this man. Those who had known him before.
Those around us when Christ does something for us, they will notice
a difference. They may not know just as these
people did not know what had happened. They might not even
believe you to be the same person. You are the same person, but
at the same time, you are not. Verses eight through 12. The neighbors therefore and they
which before had seen him, that he was blind, said, is not this
he that sat and begged? Some said, this is he. Others
said, he is like him. But he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him,
how were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, a man that
is called Jesus made clay and anointed mine eyes and said unto
me, go to the pool of Siloam and wash. And I went and washed
and I received sight. Then said they unto him, where
is he? He said, I know not. This of
course is not sitting very well with some of them, so they send
this man to their religious leaders. Things have happened to this
man that does not match up with their traditions and beliefs.
This man had no idea what had been done in him. This man had
no idea that what had been done in him would be received this
way. He didn't know these people were
gonna treat him this way. All he knows is he was blind
and now he sees. This happens with Walter and
Joe when you think of the time that they came out of the place
they were. They didn't want to leave. They were trying to tell
everybody what Christ had done for them. But this is how this
world receives them. Christ does not give sight to
a poor, wretched sinner just so they have sight. He gives
them the ability to see so that he might reveal himself to them
at his appointed time. We hear Christ by faith. This
man knew that a man named Jesus was the one that did these things
to him. He did not know what he looked
like or who he really was. The only thing this man knew
was that he was blind and now he sees. He knew Jesus did it,
but he heard Jesus Christ's voice. Then once we are sent to wash
and then we see, once Christ does a work and we are washed,
when we have the ability to see. Certainly for this man who was
blind from birth, it had to be a joyful thing that he could
now see. I'm sure he was thankful to the one that did this to him.
We proclaim to others what he has done to us. This man, when
asked, asked this, you know, all this that happened, told
them what Christ had done to him. Even though there may have
been some that doubted, he continued to tell the same thing to all
who asked. His story did not change. His
story of this account was very simple. He was blind, and a man
named Jesus had caused him to see. It is no more complicated
than that. Although the doing of it is miraculous. But there will be a time once
you leave the midst of these unbelievers that Christ will
meet you face to face. Christ will come to you revealing
himself to you. There comes a time when Christ
is pleased to come to you specifically to reveal himself to you so that
you know exactly who it is that done the work in you. He will
reveal himself to you as Lord, as the Son of God. We believe
Christ when he tells us of himself. Christ will come to each of his
and reveal himself to an individual. Once Jesus Christ is revealed,
the first thing we do is believe. We have no other option because
we know what has been done to us. We know we were once blind
and now we see. Even if we want to not believe,
we cannot help ourselves. This believing causes us to then
worship Christ. Until we know who Jesus Christ
is, and until we believe Jesus Christ, we cannot worship Christ. But once this happens, we will
begin to worship him. Until this revealing, we may
not know really who Jesus is. This man said to these religious
leaders, whether he be a sinner, I know not. But we know from
what else it says that he did not believe him to be a sinner.
But he was not sure, he had not even yet seen the man who caused
him to see, verses 24 through 25. Then again called they the
man that was blind and said unto him, give God the praise. And notice, they'll give God
the praise, but they don't want to give Christ the praise. We
know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, whether
he be a sinner, I know not. One thing I know that, whereas
I was blind, now I see. Jesus Christ will bring it to
pass that you will ultimately become weary and tired of the
religious crowd. You will then begin to mock them
just as this man did in 26 through 27. Then said they to him again,
what did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes? He
answered them, I have told you already and you did not hear.
Wherefore, would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples? This is, of course, is never
received well by this religious world. And they will turn and
rend you. They will begin to try and make
this man look like a villain, verses 28 through 29. Then they
reviled him and said, thou art his disciple, but we are Moses'
disciple. We know that God spake unto Moses,
as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. As God, Jesus Christ our Lord,
takes us through the experiences he has been pleased to put us
through, you will begin to know some things. You will begin to
grow tired of this religious world, and you will be able to
answer this religious world with the truth of God. Your eyes being
opened, you will then know the one who did this in you, and
that it is of God, and no other could do such a thing. You will
know enough to tell others that this man Jesus of the scripture
is of God, even if you have not been revealed Jesus Christ yet.
Verses 30 through 33. The man answered and said unto
them, why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from
whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know
that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshiper
of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began,
was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was
born blind? If this man were not of God,
he could do nothing. This religious world will not
have it. They will not have Christ. They
will kick you out if you do not leave first by God's grace. The
scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 6 and 17, wherefore, come out
from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing, and I will receive you. If God causes you
to see, you who were once blind, You will be glad to get up and
get out from among those who hate God, the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. Those religious who seen cannot
see, he will bow you down in belief and worship at his feet.
This is what this word worship means. Verses 35 through 38.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he had found
him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He
answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on
him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and
it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. Oh, what
a marvelous thing it is to come face to face with Jesus Christ,
to be able to believe Him and to worship Him. This man physically
was approached and handled by the word of God. Jesus Christ
actually was walking on this earth as the light of the world,
that's what he said. He actually physically spit on
the ground and made clay of the dirt and put it on this man's
eyes. This same Jesus Christ came back to this man to reveal
himself to this man. He was physically right in front
of this man. The man could actually see him
and touch him if he wanted to. This will not happen to us today.
You will not see visions of Jesus Christ other than your vision
seeing the scriptures. If you see Jesus Christ the Lord
at all, it will be by the preaching of the gospel. Or you will not
see Jesus Christ at all. Some in the past have physically
seen Christ, but there are those now who have not ever physically
seen Jesus Christ, but they see by the eye of faith the scripture,
that faith given by God. In John 20 and 29, it says this,
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed. Blessed are they that have not
seen and yet have believed. It pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe. You will never see Jesus
Christ but through the gospel. But we also know from this scripture,
Proverbs 20 and 12, the hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord
hath made both of them. So until Jesus Christ the Lord
opens your blind eyes, you will not be able to see Jesus Christ
the Lord. It is all of his disposing of your lot. If he is pleased
to do so, you will once reveal Jesus Christ in the gospel, bow
down at his feet and worship him. If you do not like the idea
of bowing down and worshiping Jesus Christ, then you have not
been revealed Jesus Christ. Because all those who have been
given sight and revealed the God of this word in the face
of Jesus Christ will bow down to him kissing his feet. He has
made it so. I want to read something from
a book by John Newton, Letters of John Newton, that he wrote
to someone. And this is talking about the
work of God. And I just thought it was really
well, I want to read it. The work of grace is compared
to the corn into a building. The growth of the one and the
carrying forward of the other are gradual. In a building, for
instance, if it be large, there is much to be done in preparing
and laying the foundation before the walls appear above the ground.
Much in doing within, when the work does not seem perhaps to
advance without. And when it is considerably forward,
yet being encumbered with scaffolds and rubbish, A bystander sees
it at a great disadvantage and can form but an imperfect judgment
of it. But all this while the architect
himself, even from the laying of the first stone, conceives
of it according to the plan and design he has formed. He prepares
and adjusts the materials, disposing each in its proper time and place,
and views it in an idea as already finished. In due season, it is
completed, but not in a day. The top stone is fixed and then
the scaffolds and rubbish being removed, it appears to others
as he intended it should be. Men indeed often plan what for
want of skill or ability or from unforeseen disappointments they
are unable to execute. But nothing can disappoint the
heavenly builder, nor will he ever be reproached with forsaking
the work of his own hands or beginning that which he could
not or would not accomplish. Let us therefore be thankful
for beginnings and patiently wait the event. His enemies strived
to retard the work as they did when the Jews, by his order,
set about rebuilding the temple. Yet it was finished in defiance
of them all. Those who have been blind will
cry out to anyone that were here. I was blind, but now I see. The Lord hath given me eyes to
see. I pray it is so with you. Are
you blind? Jesus Christ alone has the eyesalve
to make you see. Amen. Dear Lord God, use these
words to, if you're pleased, dear Lord,
use these words to open someone's eyes. All the building is of you. The
increase comes from you, dear Lord. May you be glorified. Oh, dear Lord God, allow us to
praise your name because it is all of you. All these things
we ask in Christ's name. Amen.