John chapter 9. And I want to read the first three
verses. That's as far as I've got. And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from
his birth. 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." Now, these Jews, as a people, automatically, at
the sight of this man, assumed wrong. They had been brought
up with regard to a lot of things believing and assuming wrong
things. They thought that something such
as one being born blind, or some tragic or dramatic event happening
in somebody's life, was caused by their sinning. It was because they sinned a
great sin. And as much as we like to deny
it, I'm afraid that is the natural thinking of all men and women
by nature. And it truly flows out of our
own self-righteousness. If something bad happens to someone,
they must necessarily have done something bad, or so that is
our thinking. And one thing we have to understand
as we hear Christ's words here, is that He is specifically answering
the question that they ask. And he is not in any way saying
that his parents were sinless, nor was he saying that this man
himself was sinless. There's a great sense in which
every ill and every thing that happens to men in
this world is a result of sin, because all are sinners. But what he's saying here is
it is not some great sin that necessarily means that this is
the cause of his being born blind. Now we ought to stop right there
and think with regard to how we feel toward others and their
situations and their problems and their afflictions and all
that, before we ever assume that it is because they did one thing
or the other We ought to remind ourselves that we do not know. We do not know why. And then it comes a little bit
closer to home. This ought to give us some consolation
in this, because sometimes even as believers, When things happen
to us, or happen to our family, or some tragedy, or some terrible
affliction or disease comes, the flesh, even as believers,
has a tendency to imagine that it is because of something we've
done, some particularly great sin that we have sinned, and
yet we know. by what the Lord says here, that
that is not necessarily the case. We will receive our chastisements. He uses the rod on His people
and He chastens them. But before we go, and associate
what is happening or has happened to us and base it on something
particular we think that we did that was the cause of it. We
ought to remind ourselves, we do not know. We do not know. And this is the nature of a sinner. I want you to turn back. We looked
at some of these verses not too long ago, but to show just what
a natural tendency this is, if you'll look back in Luke chapter
13, It says that on one occasion,
there were some folks there, it says, present, verse 1, there
were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. It was as if they were giving
Christ this information, or maybe simply spreading this gossip,
telling what they had heard about these poor people, imagining
in this same vein of thought as these disciples did, that
their great sinning was the cause of it. And Jesus answering said
unto them, suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above
all the Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you, no. And as a matter
of fact, before you imagine that they are such great sinners because
they suffered these things, except you repent, you shall all likewise
perish." And then he added his own example. He says, Or those
eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them,
think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay, but except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish." He said, don't look
at these people and the horrible things that happened to them,
and imagine that they were greater sinners than anybody else, or
that they were greater sinners than we ourselves. And that was even the logic of
Job's friends. who in so many various ways,
they simply said, Job, the reason you are suffering these things
is because you're such a great sinner. We're not suffering them,
so we're not as great a sinner as you are. Your great sin is
the reason for your great suffering. But our Lord sets this matter
to rest, and we are not left wondering. And this can be applied
far, far more widely than to just this man born blind. But what he says is this, if
that is not why, then why? Look down in that third verse. Christ says, "...but that the
works of God should be made manifest in him." What an amazing, really
all-encompassing statement. Don't say that this man was born
blind necessarily because of his sin. Don't say it is because
of some great sin of his mother or his father. He is born blind. He was born blind that the works
of God should be made manifest in him." Now the first thing
that I would say about that is that that statement, coming from
the Lord Jesus Christ, ought to give us consolation and some
measure of contentment in every case and every situation. You say, how would it apply?
Because the Scriptures tell us that He works all things after
the counsel of His will. But fallen human nature, at the
sight or at the thought of such things as this, rather than finding
consolation in the fact that God is the first cause of it, men and women begin to look for
a second cause to be the blame. Something goes wrong in a birth. Something goes wrong in a surgery. Something goes wrong in an accident. And men and women immediately
begin to look and to try to find some consolation in a way that
will never console them. There's only one place, there's
only one person that we can go to and find consolation, and
that is in the fact that whatever all these second causes are,
the first cause is God Himself. And it is obvious. Here he is, God manifests in
the flesh. It is obvious that he doesn't
mind taking, if you will, the blame. If it is a case, regardless of
who it is, it will still be the same. It will be true. But in the cases of the Lord's
people, of those who believe and who know God as He is in
this book, it will be their consolation. It will be their comfort. It
is the Lord. As Eli said, "...let him do what
seemeth him good." He's too good to do evil, he's too wise to
do wrong. It is the Lord. This man was
born blind because God caused him to be born blind. But there was a reason for it.
There was a reason. All these things that the providence
and hand of God bring especially to God's people, they are in
order to make manifest the works of God in them. Now here is a man, He's been
born blind. He's been blind from His birth. You can't imagine hardly what
that might have brought upon Him in His life, or what He had
lost, or any of these things. So somebody says, well, He's
doomed to a life of nothing, but just absolute bad. No. No. You see, he, as this one born
blind, is really particularly blessed because he will encounter the
Son of God in human flesh as He walks here in this world. Jesus came where He was at. Now, I'm going to go into a lot
of things next time as far as the more spiritual aspect of
this picture. But just as it was, he in his
natural blindness, with everybody imagining that he or his parents
were the great sinners that caused it, God had appointed him an object
of His mercy. And the Lord Jesus Christ, Though
he couldn't probably stumble around and find his way anywhere,
that didn't stop God in His grace and mercy from coming to him. There are so many situations
that we often find ourselves in that we are completely and
totally shut up and stopped encompassed around about, it
seems like, so that we can't do anything. But when will we
ever learn that doesn't stop God Almighty from doing? Anything that seems to hinder
us doesn't hinder Him. Anything that seems to work for
bad to us, He's really, if we're His child, working it for good
to us. That's what He said. And we know,
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them that are the called, according to His purpose. And divine providence and divine
purpose that causes this man to be blind from birth will not
only mean that Christ will come to him where he is, but that
he will use these things as a means to the salvation of his soul. not only to the salvation of
his soul, but to the edification of a multitude of the Lord's
people who would simply read of this account and be encouraged
and blessed by it, and most especially, that it would work for God's
glory. He's blessed. The Lord's people are blessed
and God is glorified. Why we often say, why this, why
that? Well, really this applies to
everything. If I'm this or I'm that, why
am I not better qualified for it maybe? I've asked myself that
a lot of times. Because in our weakness, His
strength is made manifest. So whatever it is, He shows us
that this is the case in all things concerning the Lord's
people. And it is the case in all things
that are, everyone that is born, how they were born, where they
were born, what level of one strength or weakness they have. But it will always be for this
reason, that the works of God, now listen, even if it's a work
of justice in condemning their sin. But it's that the works of God
might be made manifest. Manifest. And I want to take this just
one step farther, because there's always so many questions about
this. Here we have two created beings
in a garden paradise. It's a beautiful place. They are born in a state of innocence. And then all of a sudden one
day, they fall into sin. And not only do they fall into
sin, but their whole race falls with them. Now there are always somebody,
theologians and religious people, trying to find out the reason
Why? If God could have prevented it,
and let's make sure we know that He could. Why? They say, did He allow the
fall? He didn't allow the fall. The
fall of man was as preordained of God as anything that has ever
taken place in this world. You say, but look at what happened. Look at what man became. Look
at what took place in this world. Look how it looks like that Satan
gained the upper hand. Look at all the consequences
of sin that have come about in this world. Why did God ordain
and purpose and bring about the fall of man? Here's your answer. You don't have to defend God.
You don't have to make it look like He had no control over it.
You don't have to try to make him appear different from what
he makes himself to be in Scripture. You can go right here. Why did he bring about the fall of
man? That the works of God should
be made manifest in thee." That's it. That's the reason why. And there's no other reason for
it that can satisfy what we find being said in this book. You say, well, that sure was
bad. No. It was good. Anytime God does something, it's
good. Anytime He does something for
His glory, it is good. And the problem is always in
us, because He's told us. My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. Surely if God could have prevented
the fall of man, He is in that, being able to have done it, responsible
for it. But He did it that He might manifest
His works. among men and women. Now, when you read this, and
you know it applies to much more than this one man born blind, you are immediately confronted
with the sovereignty of Almighty God. Because what is said of this
man as the reason for it, is also the reason behind his raising
up such as Pharaoh. You remember Pharaoh? Hold your
place right here and turn over to Romans chapter 9. Romans chapter 9. Now God, in using an illustration as to
who He is and what He does, He gives the example of a potter. You know what a potter is. He's that person that takes that
big ball of clay and drops it on the wheel, and he begins to
turn the wheel, and he shapes and he molds and makes with his
hand. If it starts going away, he doesn't
like, he beats it back down, he re-spins it. He's the one
that's controlling whatever it is that he makes on that wheel. Well, listen. Romans chapter
9 and verse 17. Paul says, "...for the Scripture
saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have
I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that
my name might be declared throughout all the earth." That's the reason. You don't
have to wonder about it. And then he goes on and he says
this, Hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He
will He hardeneth? And thou wilt say then unto me,
Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?"
You see, the Spirit of God causes the Apostle Paul to know the
natural reaction of men. Somebody says, if God did that,
why does He find fault then? And there's only one answer. Verse 20, "...Nay, but O man..."
We have to remember who we are and who God is. We have to remember
what He says, "...Can I not do with mine own what I will?" Do
you do what you will with your own? You spend your money how
you want to spend it. Do what you will with your own
car. Do what you will on your own
property. Isn't it amazing how we as Americans
are so confident about that and so sure about that and practice
that, the right to do what we will, and yet we don't want God to
have it. Nay, but, O man, who are you that replies against
God? Shall the thing formed say to
him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the
potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel
unto honor and another vessel under dishonor." There probably
isn't a passage of scripture in this whole book that men have
sought to explain away what is obvious there than any other
passage. What if God, willing to show
His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, and that He might make known
the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had
aforeprepared unto glory." of the same lump of Adam's fallen
race. He manifests His works. And most especially, His works
of grace. Sovereign, free grace. You see, grace really becomes
to a sinner what it is in the light of God when we find out
who He is. When He has power, we find out
to damn as well as to save. When He does what He will with
His own, and that's everything, because He says, all souls are
mine. And yet He's pleased to show
mercy to us. Show mercy to us. You ever get
a card or a letter or something, maybe even a gift from somebody,
you didn't really even think they had a thought about you
in this world. Isn't that really a sweet feeling? We got a card and a nice long
note from Sister Doris Mahan this week, and it was just so
sweet and warming and wonderful to know that she even thought
of us. That doesn't even compare to
God looking upon us and fixing His eye and His affections upon
us, and choosing us from this fallen race, and showing in us
the works of His grace. The works of His wise grace,
whereby He can save us and remain just, and yet justify us. The works of His grace in Christ,
who as the Scripture shows Him, is mighty to save. the works
of His grace whereby He not only reverses that which was lost
in the fall, but even goes beyond that, giving us more in Christ
than we lost in Adam. And He demonstrates the grace
of God to a people among those fallen in Adam, and we read and
we experience that where sin abounded, grace did the much
more abound. His works, the works of God,
are manifest in the Lord Jesus Christ. Demonstrates His power,
to say. Demonstrates His wisdom to save. And does it in such a way that
He gets all the glory. All the glory. Here's a man born
blind. There's not a doctor on the earth
that will be able to help him, especially at that time. But God was visiting him. Don't think for one minute it
was just a coincidence or an accident that Jesus passed by. Because He has to pass by us
in our spiritual blindness and give us sight. It's that the works of God might
be manifest in that people that He saves by Himself in the Lord
Jesus Christ. And He gets all the glory. You
know, when you see what grace really is, it's a whole lot easier
to give God the glory, isn't it? All the glory. Because you
see, He deserves it all. And we don't deserve any. We're
like that blind man. And when he blessed a people in Adam's race through
that fall, he demonstrated one of the chief things, the chief
works of God in His wisdom. And that was the principle of representation. In other words, if we could all
fall in one man, which we did. And that establishes that principle
by which we can be saved through one man, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Paul writes, in Adam all
die, all in him. But in Christ, all that are in
him are made alive. By death, by one man came death,
by one man came life. Why was a man born blind? That
the works of God might be manifest, made manifest
in him. That's a really wonderful verse
of Scripture. explains a lot to a believer. But to unbelief, you can never
explain it. Father, tonight we thank you
for your wonderful Word. Your precious Word. We thank you for that written
Word that we read tonight. We thank you that it is concerning
the living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. And both speak peace
to your people. By it you teach us, you comfort
us, You revealed your great and wondrous works in creation, in
providence, and especially in salvation. Help us to understand and to
believe and to be thankful and rest in who you are and in what
you've done for us in Christ. We pray and we thank you in His
name. Amen.