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John 9:1-12
We're going to continue our study through the Gospel of John and I titled this and this is a part one of a series. I think it's going to take some time. I don't know how long how many parts this is going to be.
But we definitely have a lot here in chapter 9. You could turn there. There's a lot. I want to speak to you about before we Look into this as 41 verses in this chapter. But we're speaking about the healing of the man born blind.
This is actually the sixth of Jesus's seven signs. There are seven signs and you know God is Interested in numbers as well. I'm not a great Mathematician, but seven always represents the number of perfection.
So there are seven signs. Just to refresh you a little bit what direction we're heading into let me speak to you about these signs. The first sign is found in John chapter 2. We've already covered that quite some time ago.
When Jesus turned the water into wine in Cana of Galilee. Actually John chapter 2 verse 11 says this this begin this beginning of signs Jesus did in Canaan of Galilee and manifested his glory and His disciples believed in him.
Keep in mind the term signs in verse 11 Emphasizes the significance of the action rather than just the miracle itself. There's an action. Keep in mind that Jesus's signs were not mere displays of supernatural power which they were.
But the signs conveyed always a spiritual truth behind what Jesus did in the miracle. Spiritual truth, that's what we need to keep in mind there's always a Metaphor. Jesus spoke of metaphors quite often and we're going to see another one here in John chapter 9 John the Apostle which Wrote this wonderful gospel.
It's the gospel of belief. He's an evangelist. He's known from many commentators the evangelist and he is an evangelist and the whole Entire gospel of John is evangelistic. It ends Evangelistic themed the main honestly, the main verse of John's Gospel is John 20 31.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ The Son of God and that believing you may have life in his name. So he's evangelistic and it's not only a gospel of Belief, but we also see parallel with that a gospel there and not the gospel, but we see unbelief.
Unbelief and we're going to be looking into that as well in chapter 9. So there's spiritual truth that's always conveyed now. John described seven signs and Jesus's public ministry three years. We see this from John chapter 2 Verse 1 all the way to John chapter 12 verse 50.
John chapter 2 from the first sign all the way to John Chapter 12 verse 50 to refresh your memory a little bit. Let me mention this the first very first sign is I already mentioned was changing the water into wine.
A Little footnote here. There were no other signs Jesus did before This miracle and why did I say this? Some other Spurious writings.
That's.
Also that's included in the Apocrypha and other writing books that they say are inspired of God. That's not inspired. We believe in the 66 books Genesis to Revelation that are inspiration of God. Other so-called books.
Speak about Jesus's miracles before his public ministry, but that's not true. The very first miracle that Jesus did was Turning the water into wine in Canaan Galilee. That was his very first miracle. So he did no other miracles signs before that.
So that's why I've mentioned a footnote there in the beginning of Jesus's public ministry again. This is his very first. It's turning the water into wine. Second sign was the healing of the rulers son in John chapter 4 verse 54.
I Move right along. The third sign was the healing of a disabled man in John chapter 6 Verse 2. The fourth sign was the feeding over over 5 ,000 people. It speaks of the feeding of the 5 ,000 but there was more.
It just speaks of the men there was women and children so it was way over 5 ,000 and John chapter 6 verse 14. So that speaks of that. The fifth sign was Jesus walking on the water in John chapter 6 verse 19.
The sixth sign was the healing of a man born blind and that's where we are in our study here through the gospel of John and Can someone guess what the final and last sign is take a guess. It's not to make you.
I'm not trying to put you on the spot and make you you know, look ignorant I'm not doing that. I wouldn't do that. Thought you would maybe take a guess at it any guesses. Okay, I'll answer it for you.
The seventh sign was the raising Lazarus from the dead. Interesting in it and as we go in that direction. Head in that direction John chapter 11 verse 44 in chapter 11. That is the seventh sign and that was the final sign that Jesus gives and after that.
There is total rejection and Jesus is very close and going to the cross and Judgment comes and To Israel.
Jesus.
Basically, they reject Jesus they reject their Messiah. He came into his own his own received him not. So that is actually. That takes place in that point and if you look at it that miracle and and and these unbelieving Jews do everything they can to.
Just.
Snuff out what Jesus is doing. But they can't do it. They're unbelieving they're obstinate they're unwilling to come to him and believe. So what takes people to hell is rejecting Jesus Christ and unbelief.
If you're sitting here today in unbelief toward Christ. That this is why the scripture says repent and believe the gospel folks it is a matter of Eternal life or eternal death. That's how serious this is.
So these are the seven signs Jesus did that demonstrated and reveal his glory. So today we read the sixth sign that Jesus.
Did.
The healing of a man born blind. Let's look at it. John chapter 9. If you're not already there I'm only I'm only going to read 12 verses today because there's so much in this chapter. Again, I'm gonna have we're gonna have to break this up.
But this is a story. This is a narrative. It's a wonderful story in John chapter 9 and let me begin by reading to you the text the text of Scripture. That's what we're that's why we're here is here God's Word to hear what thus says the Lord says to us.
Beginning at verse 1 to verse 12 hear the word of the Living God. And now as Jesus passed by he saw a man who was blind from birth and His disciples. His disciples asked him saying rabbi who sinned this man or his parents?
That he was born blind and Jesus answered verse 3. Neither did this man nor his parents sinned. But that the works of God should be revealed in him. I Must work the works of him who sent me while it is day.
The night is coming. When no one can work as long as I am in the world. I am the light of the world. And in verse 6 Jesus, this is what happens. He demonstrates this when he had said these things he spat on the ground and he made clay with the saliva and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay and He said to him go wash in the pool of Siloam.
Which is translated scent and he went and he washed and he came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said is not this he who sat and begged and Some said this is he others said he is like him.
He said I am he. Therefore they said to him. How were your eyes opened? And 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.
Then they said to him. Where is he? And he said I do not know and we'll we'll put a pause right there. There's much more and the rest of this entire Chapter but may God bless the reading of his holy word from our from the hearing of our ears this morning to our hearts.
And may God open the eyes of our hearts that we may see Wondrous truth from his law this morning. Amen. Please bow with me in prayer. Our Father in heaven, we thank you so much Lord for this a great opportunity that we have this morning to come together to worship you.
Lord your name is holy.
Holy holy.
And we pray Lord that your name be hallowed and we pray Lord that you be exalted above the heavens and that Jesus Christ your beloved Son will be lifted up and Lord as it says in the Old Testament of Little Samuel here in your word Lord speak For your servant hears Speak to us.
And we ask this for your glory and honor in Jesus name. Amen. Well, once again the story of the healing of the man born blind is the sixth sign that Jesus gives out of seven signs, so We have one more sign and we see that in chapter 11 of raising Lazarus from the dead.
It's an illustration though It illustrates the deferring. The differences the deferring effects I should say of what it means that Jesus That Jesus is is the light and who he is in his identity and that's what we've been looking at.
He is the light of the world. That's one of the I am so we looked at this Seven I am there's another seven you could study this and scripture there's seven I am's of Christ and here in verse 5 Jesus says as long as I am in the world, I Am the light of the world and as this chapter progresses the man Here that's born blind better yet a beggar.
He's a beggar. He comes to have a clear understanding of Who Jesus is his identity and really is not this should be our hearts desire as a believer in Christ that We have come to hear God's Word and we are we have come by Hearing God's Word and by the Blessed Holy Spirit teach us which he is the true teacher to teach us more of who Jesus really is From scripture and may again be this true for us as well now as we look at to this wonderful account of Jesus our Lord and Savior and and we behold his glory.
May we have a clear understanding from the scriptures of in our faith of who he really is. The story unfolds for us as We read this narrative. On the one hand we we see the blind man the poor beggar. Receive physical sight from Jesus.
Now, let me say here is another footnote the first half of this Narrative this story is about physical blindness but as you read on It goes into the metaphor of spiritual blindness. It speaks to us of the spiritual blindness.
So more importantly he received not only his physical sight But he received spiritual side as well. And on the other hand the religious leader leaders rejects the light this blindness Really illustrates to us how our condition is.
Mankind's condition is in darkness. Actually, you could say it's a double blindness. It is a double blindness. The first blindness is we have That by inherits we haven't inherited this from Adam's sin.
We are naturally blind spiritually blind and lost in our condition for the exact brought that scripture out from from Psalms 51 and sin, I Was conceived in iniquity. My mother conceived me. I mentioned that to a lady one time in church in church a longtime member.
For years and years and years and that was one of my was my first pastorate and I remember speaking that verse to her and she Said no way. Babies are sin are in sin. There's no way not that cute little adorable, baby.
Oh, that's oh, no. I said you're you're wrong lady. I say you're arguing against God not against my opinion all through the scriptures you see. Even blindness spiritual blindness we are in we inherit man's Inability man's natural tendency to sin and disobey God.
It's a damning nature, right? That's what it's called depravity. She rejected it. Actually, she didn't like me from that day pouring on that from that point on and that's kept praying for and so forth.
She eventually left but anyway. But here you had the religious leaders. They rejected the light and Were confirmed in their darkness, how do we know this? Well, if you if you look at verse 40 to 41. Listen to what the Word of God says here.
Then some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words and said to him. Are we blind also? Jesus said to them if you were blind you would have no sin, but now you say we see therefore your sin remains.
Deception.
They were spiritually blind and that's actually what it says and in verse 39 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.
So what's Jesus saying here? For judgment. For judgment. Let's let's look at this from the context. Jesus came into the world to save right? He came to seek and save the lost. His purpose his mission Was to come into this world sent from the Father to seek and save the lost.
That's why he came Not to condemn. Actually commentary on this is really packed out from given to us from John Chapter 3 and this is Jesus speaking to a very religious man by the name of Nicodemus. What does he say to Nicodemus?
Everybody's so familiar with John 3 16, right? I'm sure the children can quote this wonderful verse, right? For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting life.
That's the good news. God so loved this world verse 17. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. But that the world through him might be saved. But beloved we cannot stop right there can we.
So many would like to but there's more said. Listen to what Jesus says to Nicodemus and then he says he who believes in him is not condemned. So if you believe in Jesus, you're not under any condemnation, is that what Paul says in Romans 8 1 therefore.
Now there's no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. He says he's not condemned but he who does not believe is Condemned already. He's condemned already because he's a non-believer. Because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God verse 19.
This goes right along with everything that's being said here in chapter 9 and this is the condemnation that the light has come into in the world and Men.
Loved.
Darkness. There's our inability to even love the light. No one loves the light no one loves God. Naturally, we are naturally bent to sin. I've said it so many times. My wife and I we've had five children and all five we never ever had to teach them to say no.
How many can testify those that if you have children? They naturally Say no. Against you it's teaching them the opposite, right? Well, Jesus says men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil for everyone practicing evil hates the light and Does not come to the light.
Lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth Comes to the light. This is this is how true repentance looks like. We get exposed for our sin. We should confess that we're sinners then we should repent that we're sinners and come to faith and Jesus Christ and receive Christ and.
So and he goes on to say that they may be made manifest in God be done in God. So there's a commentary on that. So the purpose of Jesus coming into the world was not to condemn but rather to save the lost.
Saving some nevertheless involves condemning others. Therefore there's those who believe in Christ and those who disbelieve in Christ they reject Christ. Many disbelieve right and matter of fact the scripture says very clearly.
There will be more that will not believe in Jesus Christ than those who believe. Jesus made that very clear. Did he not? Straight and narrows the gate few be there that enter in That gate that way straight and narrow.
Isaiah calls it the highway of holiness. It's straight. It's narrow. But those who will receive Christ. Are those who believe Christ those who reject Christ disbelieve Christ? So we see Jesus along his way of three years of ministry public ministry.
He's saving some he's gathering souls as he goes. We see this through the gospel. We see the the Samaritan woman was a believer. We see his healings and some actually it's interesting some those he healed did not believe they went away.
And did not follow him. Some did some believed him Loving souls saving souls yet. There are some who are not saved. Those that are unbelieving all the way to his cross we see this and even as Jesus dies on the cross we see two examples of two thieves nailed between him one on the right one on the left one.
Believes him.
Says remember me Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.
The other.
Completely rejects Jesus Christ. One slips into paradise with Jesus because Jesus promised him to this day. You will be with me in paradise and the other Right into eternal hell. That's the illustration that we have we have Many unbelievers unbelief Some believers one embraces Christ the other rejects him Right in the very moments of their death even on the cross and then into eternity.
Beloved can I say this blindness in the Old Testament was much more than just a physical ailment. It was commonly used as a metaphor for spiritual blindness. Isaiah 6 verse 9 and 10 says this. And This is as Isaiah the prophet sees God in a vision his holiness.
He sees the king of kings the king of glory. And the year King Uzziah died he saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up and his train of his robe filled the temple and he sees the seraphim and he sees the One had six wings and two covered his face and two covered his feet and two he did.
He did flu and one cried to another said, holy. Holy. Holy Lord. It's the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory and then later on after All those great verses there in verse 9 After he's cleansed after he sees his sin.
After he sees the holiness of God.
He's commissioned and.
What does he say after he's commissioned? He said the Lord says go and tell this people. Now this is after again. His lips are cleansed because he had to have a hot burning coal put to his lips to purify his lips to speak the Word of God.
And This is what God says. God tells him go and tell this people. Keep on hearing. But do not understand keep on seeing but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull and their ears heavy and shut their eyes notice heart ears eyes.
Lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and return and be healed. That word return basically means it's an Old Testament way of saying repent and.
Be healed.
The heart the ears.
The eyes.
Lest they see with their eyes hear with their ears and understand with their heart. Folks that's exactly what is happening here in this chapter 9. The Messiah was to bring light and sight.
Isaiah.
2918 says this in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book and The eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. Do you remember other scriptures in Isaiah? It's all over Isaiah.
In great darkness a great light has come. That is a prophecy of the Messiah that is the prophecy of Jesus Coming into a dark world To give light and to give sight to the blind.
Physically spiritually.
So Jesus addressed the ultimate purpose of man's affliction. Did he not rather than just its cause? Jesus used this opportunity to challenge his disciples by the way to join him in the work of God that sent him to do.
Now notice the disciples of Jesus is Jesus. Reappear in this narrative. Once again, we see Jesus teaching his disciples alongside of them.
Before.
And most of the chapters we see the crowds and the Pharisees the religious leaders. But at this point in John chapter chapter 6 I should say we see Jesus teaching the 12 the 12 and from chapter 7 and chapter 8 as Jesus goes to the festival or the booths of tabernacles.
We see Jesus teaching the crowds. And then we see the opposition of the religious leaders against Jesus and his words. They become hostile to the point they this arrest him and to the point of then Eventually to pick up stones and to kill them.
Now, let's look at what happens here in John chapter 9 now for the sake of time and Time goes by so quick and it takes me a little while to get this out. I'm not. I was Telling the Roberts here. I said I'm not as fast as a brother being of this, but I'm a little slower.
So I have to take more sermons to to unpack it being to pack it out and say it all in probably 30 minutes.
So.
When being and I get together, I said, you know, I need to learn to speed it up a little bit. Being says No, I need to learn to slow down a little bit. So anyway Well because the sake of time I would like to break this up just today in two points and keep it very simple.
Now God willing next Lord's Day, we'll have communion service and We just look at one point. That'd be the third point of This series of this message and like I said, we're just breaking ground today but the two points I'd like to bring out with an application at the end is.
This.
It breaks down into three very simple parts. First the disciples raise a theological question in verses 1 2. 2nd Jesus gives them a theological correction so there's a Theological question. Then there's a theological correction and in verse 3 3rd Lord willing next Lord's Day.
Lastly Jesus Jesus gives them a theological demonstration and we see that from verse 4 to 12.
We'll keep it very simple for the sake of time this morning. It's not exhausted. There's so much that could be said from this chapter. Like I said, I just basically gave you an overview a little bit and a little bit what the signs mean and where we are.
But may we have ears to hear this morning eyes to see the awesome meaning of this wonderful Narrative of what Jesus is saying to us. You know so many people look at the stories of Jesus and so it's just a wonderful story.
But when Jesus there's a story in a narrative this always again, there's always a spiritual truth. He desires to convey to us. So important now in case you need to remember where we are in Gospel of John speaking of location.
Geographically Jesus is probably still in Jerusalem here at this point. How do we know this verse 59 of chapter 8 says this then they they speaking of the Jews? Took up stones. This is where we left off to throw at him.
And we know why they want to do this because Jesus just spoke to them about him being before Abraham I am. That that was ultimately blasphemy to them. That's why they picked up the stones, but Jesus hid himself.
The scripture says it went out of the temple. He went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by. So, why did they take up stones as I said, obviously they were going to stone Jesus Jesus to death because they understood Jesus's claim and they got that and They basically said he is a blasphemer.
So they according they thought they were doing in their mindset according to the law of Leviticus 2416 is to stone a blasphemer.
They.
Thought they were going to be doing God's service as far as they were concerned because Jesus said he was I am. And he is I am isn't he? He's Alpha and Omega the beginning in the end. He is the great I am as we studied he is that angel the angel of the Lord throughout the Old Testament that Makes those appearances the Theophanies we looked at that Christophanies Christophanies Jesus here, which indicates Any man who falsely claims to be God should be stoned.
Of course, that's what they thought.
The Jews.
So what happens Jesus hides himself? He hid himself going through the midst of them. We see Jesus repeatedly. He escaped For his life he escaped death really I that's a miracle. Well, why did it why does he why does he leave why does he hide it so many people would think was he afraid.
No, he was not afraid by no means. I Could tell you the answer and that the answer comes from Scripture simply he hid and went away simply because his hour Had not yet come. It was not time for him to die.
He would die as the Lamb of God in God's sovereign Time time timetable. So it wasn't time for him to die yet, so he was in full control of this. So verse 59 most likely indicates that Jesus escapes by miraculous means going through the midst of them.
And so he passed by so now in verse 1 and 2 of chapter 9. There's a theological question that the Illogical question now as Jesus passed by he saw a man who was blind from birth verse 1 Apparently wherever they were in Jerusalem, we don't know exactly but Probably near the gate I would think.
Now, how do we know this? There's a beggar there and you could go to the book of Acts we see this Believe it's Acts 5 4 3 no chapter 3, I believe. We see Peter and John. There's a lame man there. Same thing Beggars tried to find a prominent place within the temple so they were at the gate Where people came in and out in and out and of course if you were a poor blind beggar He's doing everything he can he's been Disowned not taken care of by his relatives his parents and here he is.
He's a beggar. He's blind. He's near the gate and they could be Pretty much visibly seen by people by the majority of people that's coming in and out going to the temple in The temple so this may have taken place as Jesus was Leaving the temple.
We don't know exactly that's What some commentators say we don't know exactly for sure. Or it may be it have occurred sometime after the events of chapter 8 you could study that in your good time be a good Berean, right study that.
But nevertheless what's important is that the text tells us that Jesus passed by and as he passed by He saw a man who was blind from birth. This man could not help himself whatsoever. Jesus saw him. Jesus saw him don't you love that?
He could not see Jesus physically at that time and Spiritually speaking. That's the way we are. We cannot see Jesus. We are. When we're born in spiritual blindness, we cannot see Jesus, but he sees us and He loves us.
And he loved this man, you know, obviously he had to show compassion and mercy. To love this man, he saw this man because at that point think of it Jesus was just threatened. From with from the Pharisees the the religious sects the the scribes to they picked up stones to kill Jesus to kill him and He takes time as he is.
Probably going out the gate this man's here begging blind from birth. The blind man could not see Jesus, but Jesus saw him and we don't know how. They knew he was blind from birth. We don't know that the text does not tell us but the text does tell us the Apostle John through the inspiration of the Spirit of God reveals to us that this passage from this passage that this man was born blind from birth.
The poor beggar is blind from birth to show us again the hopelessness of His condition and our condition and the wonder of the miracle that Jesus gives him sight he opens up blind eyes and We don't know and you know many times if this man there's a possibility That this man might have not even had eyeballs in his sockets, but can Jesus create new eyeballs?
Absolutely, and he does this. Now if there there is eyes there in his sockets that he cannot see Jesus Actually made him to see Supernatural. When Jesus does miracles, it's creative. It's always created because this is the creator in flesh.
It's like when he multiplied the fish and he multiplied the bread it was literally just creating in that sign. It's a creative miracle. And verse 2 says. And his disciples asked him saying rabbi. Means teacher there as they went alongside as the disciples would walk us along the rat with the rabbi.
They they had a question for Jesus here who sinned. Who sinned this man or his parents? That he was born blind. That's the theological question. In other words the disciples are asking Jesus. Who's to blame for this man being blind like this this poor beggar?
They cannot help himself. Who's to blame? For this man's blindness. There's got to be some kind of sin involved here. Whose sin resulted in his blindness. Let's go a little further. There was some rabbinic teaching actually in that day that taught an infant was capable of sinning even in his mother's womb.
Interesting, isn't it? So did he commit sin in his mother's womb? Or perhaps did his parents commit some sort of terrible sin a heinous sin that resulted in his blindness after all the scriptures do say things like Numbers 14 18 notice what the Word of God says here.
The Lord is long-suffering and great mercy of great mercy forgiving and iniquity and Transgression and by no means clearing the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third fourth generation.
There was a legit reason they were asking this question beloved and we might have been right there with them asking the same question. It's a good one actually it's a genuine theological question that they are raising whose sin caused this poor beggars blindness.
That's a question so they assume now underscore that little word assume they are assuming. There is a particular a particular sin that lies at the very root of this man's blindness so the disciples is mind in their minds that that's given it that they just Wanted to know whose sin it was.
Whose sin the disciples are thinking? Really Displayed the Jewish teaching that exaggerated the importance of the sins of the parents and the ones Own personal sin in relation to their particular circumstances.
I think it's very important to read Old Testament books and context to this especially the book of Job. Job is a great book stay with it you have the sovereignty of God and the suffering of man in that book and Folks those two those two great doctrines are paramount.
For us to understand there's a lot that can be said about sin. There's a lot that can be said about the sovereignty of God, but the book of Job is full. It's pregnant of truth of God's sovereignty and we see God's sovereign hand and we see suffering we see Job suffering.
His suffering was just actually he was one that suffered more than any human being on this earth outside of Jesus Jesus now, he's the great sufferer. He took Suffering more much more than any man, but Job suffered Job.
Job loses everything he has you know, the the story of the book eventually his friends his so-called friends show up. They try to grieve with him. They demand that he repent because somehow Job you have sinned against God.
This all these bad things are happening to you. You've lost your health. You've lost all ten of your children you lost everything you had and His wife even says you just want you just curse God and die.
She's talking like a foolish woman. She's not wise. This is his wife. Could you imagine being in Job's condition there and in his situation? And yet Job in the darkness and in the pain and the suffering and in the afflictions and the trials that was coming upon him which we see in Scripture that it was only for a season and She says what you just curse God and die and he shaves his head and he falls on his face and he basically says Naked I come into this world naked.
I'm gonna leave this world. Blessed be the name of the Lord the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. He understood the goodness of God and he did not charge God with the sin. Folks, he passed the test and later on the hardest test was him to pray for his friends.
And everything was turned around then. So much in the book of Job. That's just a small preview. Overview I should say but as we know that what Scripture says about Job he maintains his integrity. To his friends his innocence Job suffers and basically Job maintains.
He did no wrong. Why not bring up Job? Because we're talking about sin and suffering and and people's questions sin may cause suffering. How do we know this. Sometimes sin does cause suffering and affliction and sickness and disease.
Let's look at this a little bit very quickly in Scripture in John 5 14. We already looked at this after Jesus healed the lame man on the Sabbath day. He healed him. What did the Lord say to him in? Verse 14 he said see you have been made well and Jesus gives him a Warning Go and sin no more.
Lest a worse thing come upon you. James 5 15 the Apostle James says this and the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up and if he has Committed sins He will be forgiven. And even the Apostle Paul speaks to the church of Corinth to those who have sinned and Not discerning the body of the Lord when they partake of the Lord's Supper.
In 1st Corinthians 11 30 you hear it quite often from this pulpit. I always give a warning to everyone before we partake and it's a serious thing because Scripture says We're to judge ourselves least we be judged and when we don't discern the Lord's body the Lord can make sickness come upon believers and discipline them and It says in verse 30 for this reason many are weak and sick Among you and many sleep that means they died.
So we know from Scripture there are times that Sin does cause suffering sickness as we see in jokes case it's Not the case 2nd Corinthians 12 7. Paul even says this at least I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations.
God allowed him to see heaven. He said I saw it and he said it's These people I'm telling that they claim they've seen heaven forget it. Like a new revelation Paul came back and says I cannot even I don't even have the words to utter.
It's unlawful for me to even speak of it. What I saw in the third heavens and God had a had a an antidote for that. Let's see be lifted up in pride. God Gave a thorn in the flesh given to me. He says and then he says even a messenger of Satan God allowed this To buffet me lest I be exalted above measure.
God kept him humble. This was the Apostle Paul. Again the disciples they are assuming this they are assuming like most Jews of their day that sin was primarily the cause of all suffering so that They come upon this poor blind beggar suffering and afflicted.
He's blind from birth. He's a beggar. He said he must have been in some terrible. Poor condition, of course and Jesus makes it very clear. That personal sin was not the reason folks for this man's blindness.
Don't you love Jesus how he makes it crystal clear. He speaks with clarity so there's the basically the question the theological question now. Not to we see the theological correction verse 3. Verse 3 the theological correction Jesus answered said neither this man nor his parents sin.
But that the works of God should be revealed in him. Notice how Jesus answers and corrects their assumptions. If someone were to ask you today, am I suffering. If someone is suffering a terrible affliction?
Because they they may ask you am I suffering because of sin I committed several years ago or Whatever. What would you say to them? What kind of answer would you have for them? Because I'm telling you folks suffering is not an easy thing.
Is it it's hard for us to relate unless we're in the shoes of the.
Sufferer I.
Say this with my wife my beloved wife now and I want to reach down so much and just help her in her suffering but it's like I am totally helpless. All I can do is just love her and serve her and minister her and.
Pray for her and.
She.
Adores that so much and.
As a church.
Pray for her, but as I see her suffering from this cancer. Many times in my mind. I think this is a result of our condition of. That damning nature that has been patent has caused the curse upon all of the human race.
Disease.
Separation sickness death. But how would you answer somebody beloved. If someone were to ask you would you answer them that question. How would you answer that? Personally I. Let me give you what my take on it.
I said it's not necessary because of one particular sin. This is what I would say. That you're suffering. It's rather because of the result of the fall of man and Adam sin that's caused this. Because sin has passed down in general and it's curse that would be true.
Wouldn't know. Yes, it would. It's not Your personal sin, but it's sin in general. It's from the original sin. That's the way I would.
Word it.
That's caused the suffering the sickness. I I See this horrible. I just don't know why but cancer so many people die with cancer folks, and it's it's a result of Our sin, it's a reminder of our sin. Yes, it is.
But can I say this here beloved and I say this and I'm correcting my own views here. It's not what I said was wrong. And what and and what I just said Jesus actually goes an entirely different direction.
And we're talking about Jesus. We were talking about perfect wisdom we're talking about perfect clarity here. He says it was not that this man sinned or his parents.
But.
Don't you love his answer? That the works of God might be displayed in him. You know what he's saying. This man is in this condition. Because God will show his mercy and compassion Through his son and bring the healing and show other people by this sign.
That God is not only merciful. He's good. He's kind. He's he's compassionate. But he's sovereign. This is sovereign grace and displayed and it's all for the glory of God. God's glory. Interesting. Jesus did not deny the general connection between sin and suffering.
Did he. He did not deny that. But he does refute the idea that personal acts of sin were the direct cause. Here we see the great truth of God's sovereign purposes play an important part in such matters as clear as we see in Job chapters 1 and chapter 2 and I like what Matthew Henry says.
I got a quote from Matthew Henry. Don't you love Matthew Henry? He helps. She had a little light on a Lot of things that are very difficult to understand and I tell you suffering and sin. It's not an easy thing.
But the scriptures speak a lot about that and you never hear this kind of sermon from a from the Word of Faith folks folks. They're in the opposite direction. It's like a sin to them to even speak about suffering.
But this is what Matthew Henry says about this text. He says this quote afflictions are sometimes intended purely for the glory of God and the manifest and the manifestation of his works and God has a sovereignty over all his creatures and an exclusive right in them and May make them serviceable to his glory and In such a way as he thinks fit in doing or suffering and.
If God.
Be glorified either by us or in us. We were not made in vain. End quote, you know that moves me. If you're suffering affliction It's not in vain. Especially if you're a believer. And God if you're a non-believer and suffering God can even use that the humble Humble a person to repent and God can grant them repentance if he so desires, but beloved God uses affliction.
You read this in Psalm 119 over and over and over again, it was good that I was afflicted. It was good that I was afflicted. It was good that I was afflicted. Affliction and suffering is not wasted in God's economy.
In that glorious. The healing of this poor blind beggar beggar was for the glory of God. That's what Jesus is saying. One more thought that God's glory in the means of suffering. I think about Deuteronomy 29 29 that really Says a lot To us and it humbles me.
That we don't know everything. I say why why are people suffering like what we don't know the answers all the time. We can say for the glory of God, but we don't know the details. Do we? We honestly we need to be Honest and sincere enough say, you know, we just don't know.
That's okay, but God knows. God knows all things, but he knows what's best. And he chooses what's best for us. I'm telling you affliction as one period and said is God's University and When he afflicts us and causes us to go on the road of affliction folks.
I'm telling you in there as a believer you enter into the fellowship of Jesus's sufferings and his nearness. Is this is that sweet perfume? The secret things belong to the Lord Our God. But those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of this law.
I love that verse. We may not have all the answers. We may not have access a secret line to God the secret things of the Lord and we may not know. Until we get on the other side. But whatever God does is well, and he does it good for our good.
I Love 1st Corinthians 13 12. Paul the Apostle says this don't you love 1st Corinthians 13? That just reading that chapter always.
Fires my heart up every time in All situations not only in loving my wife but loving one another. Because Paul speaks about you you can you can give your body to be burned. You can have all wisdom and all faith and all knowledge, but if you don't have charity a copy love you're nothing.
Not convicting. We better make sure we have the love of God in us. 1st Corinthians 13 12. Listen to this. Now notice the now and then now and then. For now we see in a mirror dimly. That's now but then.
Face to face. Now I know in part. Paul's admitted, I don't know everything but we only know in part. But then I shall know. Just as I am known. Things are gonna be cleared up folks when we see Jesus face to face.
Trust his heart today. We could trust our loving Heavenly Father. And the storm of affliction and our Lord Jesus Christ who loves us. Greatly, and he loves his own to the end. And he does all things well for his glory.
Romans 8 28 of course fits right there, and we know that all things work together for good to those who Love God. It's not that's not for everybody that verse is not for it's for those to those who love God.
And if you look in Romans 8, he's talking about suffering. God makes it right. After all Jesus is a man of sorrows. He knows what suffering is all about right? Oh, yes, he does. Well serves God's glorious purpose.
And because it's directed by the unchangeable loving sovereign hand of God, and this is what happens here. This is sovereign grace that reaches out to a man. That's not able to do anything. As brother Zack said earlier is he's like the lame man.
He's a blind man. He's dependent he's. He's totally helpless. Suffering is not without eternal purpose and has never wasted. God receives glory even in the midst of trials and sufferings. Let me bring this plane to an end let me land it.
First Peter 4 to 12 and 13. I love this beloved. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. Hey, it could be speaking about whatever that trial may be. But most most of the time when Peter is speaking in first Peter.
He's speaking about God's elect God's people that are suffering. They were being persecuted and They were undergoing some serious suffering. It was a test. It was a test of their faith to purify them as though.
Something he says and he encourages them as though something strange were happening to you. But he says this and he gets this from Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus has to rejoice. Be exceedingly glad when you're being persecuted and you're suffering.
Going through all that and he says but rejoice and as so far as you share in Christus sufferings there. He says you're sharing in Christus sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
There you have it.
Final application. If we look carefully for the spiritual lessons personally in this text as we go through this text You and I will see how we are so very much like this poor blind beggar. Verses 1 to 3.
This man was Born blind for the glory of God that's already been said. Hardships trials sufferings afflictions all most of the difficult circumstances that God ordains.
Are actually a.
Blessing from his hand and are actually Something good for us. Why. Because these things led? To his salvation we are like the blind man in his weakness. Verse 3 we're like the blind man and his weakness.
Let me read you something from Psalm 34. Very quickly. I notice what he says here in verse 11. There's so much here. There's so many good verses here. Verse 11. Come you children listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is the man who desires life? He who loves many days that he may see good. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good and seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their cry.
You notice the eyes the ears. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth and then he says in verse 17 the righteous cry out and The Lord hears.
Aren't you glad of that? Delivers them out of all of their troubles and the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and save such as. Have a contrite spirit. Notice we says in verse 19 many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.
Ultimately.
How he does it is God's business, but honestly heaven is an ultimate heaven healing. I remember my wife's mother when she was dying of cancer and She came to resolve and she told Teresa and myself every day she had bone cancer.
We saw her deteriorate to nothing and just trust the Lord and she said this. Every day she says if the Lord desires to heal me That'd be wonderful, but she said if if he desires to take me home with him, I'm okay with that, too whatever his will is I'm okay with and God did take her home.
And she was not the victim. She was the victor folks. He guards all of his bones and not one of them broken. That's verse 20.
That's a.
Prophecy of Jesus. Evil shall slay the wicked and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. But the Lord redeems the soul of his servants and none of those who trust in him shall be condemned. But back to condemnation those who trust in God there is no condemnation folks, but if you not trust in Jesus here today.
There's condemnation. You'll be sure of that because the wrath of God is abiding on you. That's why God says repent or perish it's a loving charge. Because it's so serious. We're like the blind man in his weakness, we're like the blind man in his blindness.
And I like to pick that up God-willing later on. This man was born blind physically. Like not meant like many of us are like that might say but we need to see and we need to see spiritually speaking.
All of us are born blind all of sin and come short of the glory of God. This man's physical blindness is symbolic of spiritual blindness and all of us are born with that. That's why Jesus told Nicodemus.
You must be born again. And what did he say on the first time he said that in John 3 3 you must be born again. To even see the kingdom of God then he says in John 3 5 To enter the kingdom of God you must be born again, and Jesus says truly truly, but it's an emphasis there.
What keeps you out of heaven what keeps you from Christ. Unbelief pride. Being blinded like these religious Jews were. May it not be said of us. Jesus is the light of the world look to him this morning.
The bright in the morning star let's pray father. We thank you so much for this day. We thank you for this time of worship that we can gather together with your people to assemble to praise you for your great salvation that you have given through the Lord Jesus Christ who died on that cross and Took our sin took the shame and took the darkness.
Within those three hours father. We would never ever know this even as we're in heaven. How great that darkness was but he? Took your wrath that we may be accepted in the beloved and be children of the Living God and Have an inheritance forever with you.
The great light Jesus Christ has shined in our hearts. Has visited us we thank you for this by your grace. It's not something we have done. It's all he has done and father we thank you for Sending him and it shows your great love toward us.
And even sending him to this world this dark world in Great darkness a great light has shined. So we thank you That he did your will father all the way to the very end. And completed your work as he said it is finished.
May that be The victory cry for us as well as we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. And for those father that has not come to Christ. I pray today would be the day of visitation for them in your grace.
And we praise you and we thank you in Jesus name. Amen.
Amen.