Accepted Outcast. June 4, 2017pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN READ John 9:6-12

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1 John 9 Accepted Outcast June 4, 2017pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN READ John 9:6-12 This is recorded miracle number 22 that we have looked at over the years of Jesus s life and ministry. It is the fifth in which a person who was blind can now see after having met Jesus. Again, this is only recorded miracles. John said it best at the end of his Gospel account that he supposed if all was recorded of the miracles that Jesus had performed, the world would not be able to hold all of the books. While the bones of this story are similar to others that we have investigated, there are a few points in this account which are different from them. That is what we will focus on this evening. 1. As far as I can tell, this is the only case of blindness where the man who is blind has been, since birth. This fact, most likely prompts the question that the disciples ask of Jesus. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Corey M. Minter Page 1 of 8

2 The Jewish mindset was not unlike the popular health and wealth prosperity preachers of today (which is not very much unlike the Mary Baker Eddy cult of Christian Scientists). Essentially, the big idea is that all sickness/ailments are attached to someone s spirituality. If you were holy, you did not get sick. If you were sick, then you must not be holy. There are a multitude of problems with this thinking, but here are just a couple: 1. Everyone dies. The Pharisees, Eddy and every preacher who peddles the same stuff will die. 2. It does not take into account a proper view of suffering. It is too dichotomous a view holy=healthy/evil=sickness. 1. We suffer because we live in a fallen world. 2. We suffer because of wrong decisions. 3. We suffer because God tries to teach us something in our pain. 4. We suffer for God s glory. 1. Horatio Spafford It Is Well 2. Fanny Crosby age 8 Oh, what a happy soul I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy That other people don't, To weep and sigh because I'm blind I cannot, and I won't! Corey M. Minter Page 2 of 8

3 3. This man John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 2. Jesus spits on the ground, anoints the man with the clay, tells him to wash in Siloam, and leaves. 1. Jesus spits on the ground and rubs the clay in his eyes. This is not the only time that Jesus heals using His saliva, but is the only time He makes clay with His spit. It seems to have been a sign to the blind man that though he could not see what was happening, Jesus was working. 2. Jesus tells him to wash in Siloam. Much of the significance is lost to our modern-day understanding. Siloam was a pool that had originated during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah when waters flowed to the city in the nation s time of need. Sent (that is what Siloam means) was a blessing of the waters coming from God, but now God has Sent a greater Blessing Christ. 3. It seems as though Jesus leaves before the man comes back seeing. Corey M. Minter Page 3 of 8

4 He comes back to the place where he has most likely begged for the greater part of his adult life only to find people barely able to recognize him and asking how he could now see. 11 He answered and said, A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and I received sight. 12 Then they said to him, Where is He? He said, I do not know. Jesus does not stick around to take the glory. He does not even stick around to point the man farther along in his journey of faith. 3. The man is judged by the Pharisees. 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. The charges against this man who once was blind but now can see are three-fold: 1. He was healed on the Sabbath. 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 2. He was healed by Jesus. 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath. 3. He claimed that Jesus was a Prophet since He could heal. Corey M. Minter Page 4 of 8

5 17 They said to the blind man again, What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. This is the equivalent of saying, Well He s not normal 4. The man becomes an outcast. 1. To his parents 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself. 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, He is of age; ask him. The parents had to have known that Jesus was the One Who healed their son. Why else would they be afraid to answer the question? They knew that the Pharisees had already concluded that if anyone called Jesus the Christ, then those people would be cast out of the Synagogue. Corey M. Minter Page 5 of 8

6 Synagogue Excommunication 1. Cultural stigma guilt 2. Forfeiting of financial aid in time of need 3. Religious curse The person(s) would not be outlawed to participate in any religious ritual. The Jews saw obedience to sacrifice and these rituals as their salvation. Without them, they received eternal punishment in Hell. The man s parents feared the religious system of Judaism so much that they gave their own son up to them. 2. To Jewish Society This man does not answer timidly like his parents did. In fact, he answers with some pretty strong sarcasm. 24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. I did not get around to asking about His sin/ righteousness because I was too distracted with seeing for the first time in my life. 26 Then they said to him again, What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? Corey M. Minter Page 6 of 8

7 27 He answered them, I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples? 28 Then they reviled him and said, You are His disciple, but we are Moses disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from. 30 The man answered and said to them, Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing. 34 They answered and said to him, You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us? And they cast him out. 5. Jesus takes him in. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, Do you believe in the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him? This is the main reason why I say Jesus did not stick around after He healed him. Corey M. Minter Page 7 of 8

8 37 And Jesus said to him, You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you. 38 Then he said, Lord, I believe! And he worshiped Him. Just think of it. This man has never felt a part of something in his life. When he was blind, everyone else could see. The same day that stigma was taken from him, he was excommunicated. But the same day he was excommunicated, he was joined to Christ. Imagine being told you cannot worship in the synagogue, and God makes Himself available for a personal worship service. Stephen Davey I'm forgiven because you were forsaken I'm accepted, You were condemned I'm alive and well Your spirit is within me Because you died and rose again Very last thing 6. Jesus does all of this within earshot of this man s accusers. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see. Therefore your sin remains. Corey M. Minter Page 8 of 8