John Chapter 9: I once was blind but now I see: THE LIGHT !

Let’s look in to John, Chapter 9.  At the beginning of November, I would not have related much to the blind guy and the spiritual journey brought by bad things
…Three surgeries and many treatments later, I’m noticing God’s speaks through hardship. 

John 9 is so rich with imagery!

Check out John chapter 9 - do some reading and come back to chat! 

FIRST -- We’ve got a blind guy -- blind since birth.   The blind guy asks for nothing, but Jesus sees his need.

The disciples, like most of us, wonder why God would let this bad thing happen.  I like Jesus’ answer.  Sometimes, pain comes to demonstrate a greater glory.

I can’t count the number of times I have been inspired by watching folks walk through tough things with Jesus.

Why does God allow certain things to happen?

SO THE LIGHT CAN SHINE!  See what Jesus says:

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus is the light of the world!  Some people don’t like that light because it exposes a dark side of their lives.

Other people, like the blind guy, are ready for the LIGHT (Jesus).  Did you notice he says nothing as Jesus basically puts spit and mud on his eyes?

Boy, that is TRUST!

The beggar - the blind guy -- does what Jesus says.  He then becomes, whether he likes it or not, the center of a HUGE controversy involving very powerful people.

Again, I LOVE the dialog of John!  The banter of the “Holier than thou” Pharisees and leaders is so REAL!

They critique Jesus again.  They nag at the (formerly) blind guy.  All of a sudden, this nobody, this uneducated beggar, makes a profound statement.  This is a great example of how we can share our own testimony:

“I was blind but now I see!”  John 9: 25

He goes on to boldly speak to the leaders:

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

Wow -- It’s amazing what can happen when Jesus takes hold of a common man.  I also think it is neat -- Jesus chose the man -- the man did not choose Jesus.

Hmmm -- Once he was chosen, however, the blind guy stuck it out. -- He accepted what Jesus had to offer and then he told others.

What did this get him ?  Persecution from the Jewish Leaders.  The leaders threw him out.

Can you imagine how the blind guy felt at that point?  In a matter of moments, he has gone from unnoticeable beggar to a man who is the center of attention.  Then he gets persecuted for telling the truth and tossed out the temple door!

---Pretty discouraging!  BUT --  JESUS is on the other side of the door!!!!

Have you ever felt like YOU are “kicked out” ?  Look around.  Jesus is outside the door.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.


WOOOOHOOOO!  SAVED in one fell swoop!  All that spit and mud and aggravation really paid off!  Jesus sought him out!

Is Jesus seeking you out?  Is He asking you to endure some discomfort in order to show just how brightly HIS light can shine in this world?

You can be a child of light or you can be like the Pharisees and cling to your darkness (and, by the way, also cling to your prestige, position, power, history, image, job etc…)

Here’s what Jesus says to that:

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”  40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

 Man -- I do not want to be the one whose guilt remains!!!!!  I don’t want to be blind to what Jesus offers.  I need forgiveness.  I need to see Jesus on the other side of the door of rejection, pain, disappointment and sorrow.

I want to accept what Jesus has to give me and not worry about the persecution.

JOHN 9 is soooo COOOOOL!

I want to see the LIGHT!