(John) the Childness of the Critics — Willie Mullan

You remember last week that we finished down at verse 12. We just got through the first eleven verses and finished there after the twelfth one, and we're starting at verse 13 this evening, and I'm going right through to the end of the chapter, from 13 right through to the end.

The Childishness of the Critics

And I want to underline for you four very special things in the chapter this evening. I want to underline for you, first of all, the childishness of the critics. You see, there were quite a lot of critics round the Lord.

Every man that gets up to expound God's word always finds that there are critics in the crowd. When you're as old-fashioned as I am, you won't bother too much about them. There will always be critics.

If you're a leader of people, you must realize that you're in for this. You've just got to take it for granted. But I want to underline the childishness of the critics this evening. And then we're going on to touch the boldness of the battle.

The Boldness of the Beggar

The man that sat and begged the blind battle, when he got his sight, point him out as a bold witness for the Lord Jesus as we're touching the boldness of the battle. We want to touch the fearfulness of the Father.

Perhaps I should have put it, the fearfulness of the family. For Father and Mother were questioned here, just because they were afraid of the Pharisees, they dodged the issue at stake. And we'll look at the fearfulness of the Father.

I think he answered for the family. Then last, but by no means least, in this wonderful chapter, right through, you have the loveliness of the Lord. Just four special things this evening. The childishness of the critics, the boldness of the battle, the fearfulness of the Father, and the loveliness of the Lord.

Now again, while I have them in order before you in your notes, I'll take the chapter as it comes, and I'll go from one to two and three as we find them, and you can follow me quite easily. We're at verse 13 just now.

So, they brought to the Pharisee's hymn that aforetime was blind. They brought, who brought? And I think the word they refers back to Hersey. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, is not this he that cut and begged?

You remember last week how the neighbours, and all those who knew him aforetime, all gathered round because of the wonderful miracle? And now that they have examined him and questioned him, why they thought that they would bring him to the Pharisee.

And they brought him, who aforetime was blind, to the Pharisee. It's just like a young believer coming to some old dead religious professor. And my, they have some things to say to young believers. And when they brought him, the Holy Ghost has a little faith in here, verse 14, and it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened it his eye.

You see, when Jesus made that clay, and anointed the man, and brought sight back to him, it was the Sabbath day. Therefore, then again, the Pharisees also asked him how he had received the sight. I would like you to notice the word again.

Do you see that? You see, he had been asked this before. Of course, the neighbours asked him in verse 8. And now the Pharisees are asking him, but this word appears in the chapter again and again. You see, verse 17, they say unto the blind man again.

See, verse 24, then again called they the man that was blind. See, verse 26, then said they to him again. You know, these dots, and questions, interrogations, investigations, my, they were coming like bullets out of a machine gun.

The enemy was attacking the poor fellow who had received the sight again, and again, and again. The fiery dots of the wicked, the roar of the lion came into his ear. But you'll find that the Lord held him up in his hour of need.

Verse 15, then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received the sight. Now, I want you to notice here the boldness of the beggar. You see the first heading? Boldly explain Christ's performance.

Here's what he said to them. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and you see. I think that was a great answer. You know, he boldly explained Christ's performance. And when some old, dead, religious professor who doesn't believe in this great experience that Christ can bring to us all, begins to question you, you just answer about what Christ did, and about what you did, and about what happened.

It was a wonderful answer. He just said, Christ did that, I did that, and this happened. My, that was a great answer. A young fellow doesn't need to go beyond that. Just tell them what Christ did, and what you did, and what happened.

It was a great answer. He boldly explained Christ's performance. And then, watch, it goes on from there. Verse 16. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, this man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Son of Day.

You see, that was a childish conclusion. That was the conclusion that some of the Pharisees had come to. You see, I want you to get the hold of this, that these religious professors, who were now interrogating the poor man that had received the sight, why they didn't know just what the keeping of the Sabbath meant.

That was their trouble. You see, they had yet to learn that the Sabbath was made for man, but not man for the Sabbath, you know. They had not to learn yet. They didn't realize that God made man first, and then made the Sabbath to serve the man he had made.

For the Sabbath was made for the good of man's body, and for the blessing of man's soul. But they didn't know that. They didn't know that things that were merciful and a necessity for the benefits and blessing of mankind were allowed by God on the Sabbath day.

The very fellows who were jumping to conclusions didn't know. And it was very childish for them to say, this man is not of God, because he keeps us not to Sabbath day. It was a childish conclusion. Other said, verse 16, how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?

And there was a division among them. You know, it was Bullinger, and you must be very careful when you quote Bullinger, it was Bullinger who first said, all divisions are not evil. And he referred to this one.

And he said, all unity is not good. And he said, the majority is not always right. And he gives some wonderful illustration. You remember the twelve spies that went to Canaan? Well, ten of them stood together, and only two fellows were out in the left wing.

But remember the ten that stood together were wrong, and the minority on that occasion was right. You must be careful, you know. All division is not evil, and all majority is not good, and always unity is not right.

So you've got to be very careful. Watch verse 17. They say unto the blind man again, what saith thou of him that he has opened thine eyes? I think that was a childish question. I'll put it down, childish interrogation.

The man that opened his eyes after a lifetime of darkness, what would he say of him? Thy words would fail. He would hail him as the highest. And you know, very boldly he comes out to you. Do you see the answer?

He said, he is a prophet. He boldly exclaimed, Christ is a prophet. What is it? You know, I think that always, when the Lord draws you to himself, he very gently, very wonderfully reveals himself to you until you're gazing at the wonder and glory and beauty and majesty that belongs to him.

You know, when the Lord Jesus came first on the scene here, you remember last week, as he passed by, he saw a man that was blind from birth. You remember how the disciples looked at the problem, not at the question.

They wondered to whom it came. You remember how the Lord understood the case. Myra was standing one before him, a friend who understood, and then a man who made an effort, a prophet. And just exactly what happened at the well, you remember the woman at the well, she said, Why askest thou drink of me, a woman of Samaria, thou that art a Jew?

Remember, she began with seeing a Jew, and then she said, Sir, give me to drink. And then she said, I perceive thou art a prophet. And then she ended with her arms round him as the Messiah and Savior of the world.

Now, you'll find that this revelation develops as we go through. So, he boldly exclaimed, Christ is a prophet, that a king. But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received a sight, until they called the parents of him that had received a sight.

The Fearfulness of the Father

And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, whom 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 seeeth, we know not.

Or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age, ask him. He shall speak for himself. And then the blessed Spirit of God put them this wonderful verse for our enlightenment. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews.

For the Jews had already agreed, already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. You see, when they called the parents, you can see the fearfulness of the Father coming into the chapter now.

You know, he was afraid of the Jews. You know what the old book said, that the fear of man, it brings a snare. And this is one of the occasions in the book, where the snare is upon the lips. I believe the way it's worded here, that if any man should confess that he was the Christ, he'd be put out of the synagogue.

I believe that down deep in the heart, just because of the wonder of the miracle, and seeing the joy in the Son, they believed he was the Christ. But there was a snare upon their lips. I wonder if you've ever been there.

You ever stand in the clouds, feel an opportunity coming to you to witness for him? But you were afraid, and the fear of man made you a spiritual dummy, when you ought to have been standing up for Christ.

Do you remember Israel long ago? And God brought them out of Egypt, and through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness, to a place called Kadesh Barnea. And as they stood in the height shander, they looked into the promised land.

And God had said, every place that the soul of your roots shall tread upon, I'll give it to you. But as they looked in, and were about to step in, you remember how they saw the high walls from the mighty people of Canaan, and the good faith?

They were afraid. Always in this life, you go backwards. Did the fear of man ever keep you from going forward for God? Do you remember the day when Israel faced the Philistines, and they were about to take the possessions that really belonged to them?

By their hand, were about to lay hold on those possessions that were really theirs. They were in the land now, and coming strolling down the mountainside as one called Goliath. And they were afraid. And the fear of man can put a snare on your hands, when you neither speak for God, nor walk for God, nor possess the possessions that God has given you.

Always be careful about this. And here do we touch for every young believer. If you think, my dear young believer, that you'll get help always at home, you may learn your lesson now. Because Father and Mother let them know, and don't for any sake believe in what their parents taught.

They'll tell you in your hour of need, you'll need to learn to lean upon the Lord, and only the Lord. Yes. Can't you see the fear from that of the Father? But let's go on. Verse 23. Therefore said his parents, he is of age up to him.

See, they were dodging the issue. They were afraid of what would take place. They might be cast out of the synagogue. So they threw the whole thing onto the lab again. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise, know that this man is a sinner.

You know, I think that this is childish persuasion here. You see, they seem to get this idea. This is what one of the great scholars sees here. You see, they took the Father and Mother into the council, and they questioned them.

Then when they let them go, they called the man again, and they said, You know, we know. We know now. You know, they're sort of thinking that we've got news about this fellow, and you'd better give the glory to God.

They're putting him on his own now. We know, you just give God the glory about this thing. But my dear friends, they didn't realize the boldness that was in this young believer. What's this? Here's the answer.

The Beggar's Bold Testimony

Verse 25, He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not. One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see. And he boldly expressed Christ's power. You see, he wasn't going to stand on the other side just because the Pharisees were dictating and saying, Renew.

He was going to let them know what he knew. They're trying to tell him that they know something. Well, I'll tell them what I know. And one thing I know, I was blind, now I can see. You know, any young believer here could answer like that, couldn't you?

My inner believers are people who really know how to believe. I hear the text being quoted wrong at times. Some of the young believers in prayer quote it like this, so let me correct you. They quote it like this, I know in whom I have believed.

There is no in there. The book says, I know whom I have believed. And I know whom I have believed. He is the Son of God, who left the heights of glory. Son of God, shepherd, my supplier. I know he's my sufficiency.

I know he's the satisfier of my soul. I know. And I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that too. And I know that when he comes again and I see him, I'll be like him. Oh, I tell you, young believers, my, we ought to know.

We ought to be able to give to the world a reason for the hope within us. We ought to be able to say, I know, never mind what you fellows know, I know. No man can riddle you out of your experience. Twenty-seven years ago, I was a tramp with no shoes in my feet and I was drunk every night.

Twenty-seven years ago, I lifted my heart to this blessed Christ who came and died and rose again untremblingly, made him my own impartial Savior. I've never been drunk again. My chains fell off. I've got new life, new teeth, new power.

I've become a new creature. I'm on my way to the new Jerusalem. I know. Twenty-seven years now, so I offered. I know. That was bold, wasn't it? Now watch again. Verse twenty-six. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee?

How opened thee thine eye? I put down this childish repetition. You see, they're just going over the question they began with now. You know, they're wanting him to make a slip, just to make a mistake in what he's answering so that they'll get the catch of him.

But watch now. He answered them, I have told you already. And he did not hear. Wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples? That's boldly examining Christ's persecutors. Do you see the boldness of this young man?

He boldly explained Christ's performance. He boldly explained Christ as a prophet. He boldly expressed Christ's power. He boldly examined Christ's persecutors. Will ye be his followers? Well, that's the way to put them in the corner.

My dear friends, I wish that all the young believers would be inspired by this man who just received his sight, that no matter where we are, we may be able to tell men and women the hope that is within us, and that the world will know whose we are, whom we serve.

Don't be afraid to stand up for Jesus. Why, it's a privilege to stand up for such a wonderful Lord. But look again. Verse 28, Then they reviled him, and the word hath a meaning, that they came near and shook him.

You see, they were losing their temper now, and said, Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses. Very easy to take somebody's name, you know, and say that you're a follower. There are a whole lot of boys, and they're modernists, mind you, tearing pages out of this book.

They don't believe the book of Genesis. They don't believe Daniel. They don't believe Jonah. And they call themselves Calvinists. Easy to take a fellow's name, you know. And if Calvin could reappear, he would shoot them.

No use. And you know, there are a whole crowd who call themselves Wesleyans. If John Wesley appeared, he would haunt them. And there's a whole crowd who call themselves Baptists. And if the Baptist, who was a poor, forthright teacher appeared, he wouldn't associate himself with them.

Very easy to take a name. They said, We be Moses' disciples. Verse 29, We know that God speak unto Moses. As for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 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 eye.

Now we know that God hears not sinners. But if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, then he hears. 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. His boldly exalting Christ position. Why, I told you this was great for this young man. You know, he's just been brought out of darkness. And this is his first day of life.

And he's been brought into the presence of the old Pharisees. And they're trying to tie him up in a notch. But can't you see him boldly exclaiming and expressing and exclaiming and examining? Can't you see him boldly exalting Christ?

Standing Firm Under Religious Opposition

Oh, brothers and sisters, let's get back to this. Let's get back to standing up for the Lord. This is what we need to do in this country. Young men and women, to stand in the factory, to stand in the street for the Lord, to stand before these half-dead, half-damned old Pharisees.

I know where there's a minister tonight, and he told a young fellow who got saved not so long ago, there's no such thing as salvation. I wonder what he preaches on Sunday. Does he ever read this book?

How many times is the word salvation and saved in the Bible? Maybe he doesn't open it. Well, it's up for the young fellow to open his mouth and just tell them exactly what happened and exalt Christ. And it may come your turn and mine.

I hope in that day that we'll be found standing up for Jesus. So, where do you see what happened now? Verse thirty-four, they answered and said unto him, thou wast all together born in sins, and God so teacheth, and they cast him out.

He's out of the synagogue now, cast him out. You see, that child is excommunication. You know, if you don't always say amen to what they say, they'd put you out. Why, they would. And you know, there are quite a lot of so-called eloquent orators, and if you didn't just say amen to what they say, they'd say, you know, you're only a layman.

You never were at college or anything like that. Don't you dare talk to us. They don't even have enough gumption to know that God can pick a beggar and make him a servant to glorify Christ. They didn't know that.

So, they cast him out. That was the best day of his life when he got out from a crowd like that. He should have found blessed freedom, less happy condition, free from the law. That's what I was thinking about, my dear friend.

Now, watch what happens now. Here's the lovely bit of the just. I want you to see he's out. I think I should take time to say this, that there was no fear in a Jewish heart more horrible than being cast out of the synagogue than death itself.

It was second to death, because when they put you out, you were finished with the commonwealth of Israel. You were torn. You were an outcast. No one would associate with you. There he was. He's out, all alone, scarred and stuck.

I can almost see him, you know, wandering alone by the pharmacy. Here's what it says now. I think this is beautiful. Verse 35, Jesus heard that they had cast him out. I wonder who saw him. You see, I think that's put in a very wonderful way, because it's not his own sovereignty that should work here.

As God, he knew everything that was happening, you know, but actually it's worded so that you and I can see somebody came and told him what was happening. My dear friend, I think this is wonderful. I wonder, do you go and tell him when some of the believers are in trouble?

I've been lifting our brother Hamilton and his wife to the Lord. They're in the storm. They're in the darkness. Did you tell the Lord about it, or did you just go tickle-tattling? I hope you're telling the Lord.

Somebody came and told the Lord. Oh, that somebody was really wonderful. He was a friend of the outcast. He came and said, Lord, Lord, they've cast him out. He's all alone. And you know, there was a sympathetic ear.

The Lord listened. He said, Jesus heard. Jesus heard that they had cast him out. Look at this, when he had found him. Oh, I think that's brilliant. My dear friend, if you just stand up for him, he'll just stand up for you.

My, he wasn't long out on the pathway alone, was he? Until some saintly soul went to Jesus with a story, and the sympathetic ear was bent, and now the master's was round the feet, and he willed him. My, you repercussions.

The Loveliness of the Lord

Oh, the Pharisees, my thoughts are out. But you'll walk with the Lord. You'll walk with the Lord. He was in the best company I know of. He's ever been in. My, you can see him in the Lord's church. Come round and find him, put his arm round him.

Send him to the studio. Well, let's walk together. Can't you see them walking together? My, there was the sympathetic ear. There was the seeking and the finding. And now the Lord puts the question to him.

Dost thou believe on the Son of God? And he said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe in him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. You know, he was coming very near.

He didn't always do this, you know. He did it with the woman at the well. He said, He that speaketh I, which speaketh unto thee, am he. And he's saying the very same to the man. He's saying, You know, I'm the Son of God.

For I tell you, friend, if you just take your stand for him, although the whole world may disown you and cast you out, and for a moment you may be tested as you walk seemingly in the dark, but out of this tunnel will come your friend.

Stick a cloak around the brother, and you'll see him like you never saw him before. Remember John on the Isle of Atmos? My, they put him away yonder in prison. Yet on a barren island, and as the poor aged disciple stood in the shadows, he heard a voice, and turned to see the voice, and saw one like unto the Son of Man.

Then with a robe down to the foot, the great high priest, into the flame of fire, what a wonderful revelation of the Lord he got. He saw him like he never did before, and it's always like that. You just take your stand for Christ.

And if the devil, and flesh, and the world, and you go into the shadows, in the shadows you'll seek like you never did before. You needn't be afraid. I have been there a whole lot of times. Many a time I was cast out.

My dear friend, don't be afraid. He hath said, I will necessarily, so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto him. You know, I think there's a wonderful revelation here.

Do you notice the next verse? And he said, Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him. That's a beautiful word. He's falling down now, and he's worshipping him. I think there came to this man a wonderful revelation.

When he sat in the darkness, without any hope, without any help, a poor beggar in the dark, who understood his test. He said to the crowd, may the house this man send, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

And then he found someone who stood down to make way, and lifted up before his eyes to bring him light. You know, I was just thinking today, it was a foolish thing to step in the sand and make it into a clay, and then stick it on the fellow's eyes.

It looked a foolish thing, didn't it? That's a silly way to get anybody's sight. And I'll tell you this, that when our Lord came down and took upon him the form of a serpent, and remember we're only clay, and was lifted up in Calvary, by the preaching of the child who understood, he met a Savior who undertook.

And then, I want you to notice this, that he not only saw one who understood, and one who undertook, but one who was indeed the very messenger of God to us all, a prophet. The one who understood, the one who undertook, the one who was the prophet, the one who was the friend, the one who was the messenger of God, is God himself.

He fell down and worshipped him. Do you remember when he found the storm and made the wheels lie down? It says that all they in the boat worshipped him. John McNeill said, there wasn't a blessed Unitarian in the boat.

Unitarian can't worship him, you know. They don't believe he's God. And you can only worship God. Jehovah's witnesses can't worship him. You can only worship God. But this man worshipped him. Now, one who understood, one who undertook, the messenger of God, the prophet of the Lord, the one who sticks a foot in the brother, is God himself who came.

What a revelation. Why don't you just go down the chapter quietly and you'll see the loveliness of the Lord. And then watch this. Verse 39. And Jesus said, for judgment I am coming to this world. Now, I thought that the book taught that he didn't come to judge.

I think that's exactly what John 3 and 17 said. God sent his son into the world not to judge the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world's rule might be said. I came not to judge, he said in one occasion, but now he's saying, Jesus said, for judgment am I come into the world.

We must get this balanced out. And I think it's perfectly simple. Let's get the hold of this. The mission that Christ had as he came into the world was this mission. Christ, Jesus, came into the world to save sinners.

That was the mission. That's what he came for, he came to save sinners. But let's get the hold of this. As he stepped out of the glory and took upon him the form of a servant and began to walk before men, my, even by his preaching, by the display of his power, by everything that he performed in speech before men, the attitude of men left themselves judged.

My, he was the light of the world, you know. And these father's seeds had said things about him just in this very chapter, under this very month, and by opening their mouth about the one who was in their midst, they were condemning themselves.

And your attitude to the Christ will condemn you. Don't forget that. He didn't come to do it, but the very fact that he's passing by, and your attitude to him will condemn you. My, these fellows said they could see, didn't they?

Here's the whole statement. Jesus said, for judgment am I come into this world that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind. Some of the father's seeds which were with him, had 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 you say, we see, therefore your sin remains. I would like to just say this to every unsaved friend in this building. Friend, what thinketh thou of Christ?

I'd like every unsaved man just to take a moment and answer this question. What do you think about Christ? Do you believe that he's the son of God who left the ivory palaces and came into this world of war?

Do you believe that he was this thoughtless, sinless, faultless, harmless, crimeless son of God to live down here? Do you believe that he went to Calvary to make that great sacrifice for sin? My, I know that every unsaved soul in the building believes on this, and the very fact that you're not on his side reveals me.

You say you see all this? My dear friend, you go into outer darkness and into the depths of outer darkness for all eternity because of your attitude to Christ. Oh, to think that you'd rise from your seat and turn your back on him and go into the world again without him, a Christ-rejecter as you go through the door.

God pity you. God pity you. You're condemned already. And may every foot fall as it hits the street tonight as you go home. May it echo, condemned already. You know, if you don't return, stand before him or fall before him, and put the arms of your faith round him, and take your stand for him no matter what the world or others may say.

Friend, you'll have light and peace and joy and fellowship and life you never had before. Could you not count it? God bless you, say, may you be found standing for Christ tomorrow. God bless you, sinners.

May you come out from condemnation into salvation, and may that one who understands, the one who sticks closer than a brother, the one who stooped to save us, the one who lives to walk with us, the one who is our saviour God, be more precious to us than he has ever been before.

Let us pray. I don't think we'll sing any more this evening, just let us take a moment or two. I wonder, have you been standing up for us? Or the crowd that you mixed with? Are you snared? Are you a spiritual dummy?

The ultimate speaking up. Are you going forward into blessings? Or backward into the wilderness? What way are you going? Are your hands of faith snared? Are you laying hold on the possessions that really belong to you?

Are you bold in your witness for Christ? Let God examine you this evening. Are you an unshaved fool in the building because you say, we see, mister, we see? Are you condemned already? May God bless the saints.

May God speak to the Lord. Lord Jesus, thou wonderful son of God, thou saviour of the world, thou who art the light of this dark creation, Lord, draw near to us. We only crave for one thing, let us walk, O Lord, with thee.

We care not, Lord, who scorns or spits or curses or crushes, only let us walk with thee gently down the stream of time. O Lord, saviour, let me walk with thee, part of in my field, and with thy blood, through Jesus Christ, O Lord.