The Man Born Blind

Seeing Jesus PART VIII
Dr. Timothy Keller
23 February 2014

John 9:1-7, 35-38
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work.  5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.  7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means "Sent").  So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

36Who is he, sir?" the man asked.  "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

37Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."

38Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

DISCIPLES PAIN AND SUFFERING
--"Who" sinned? someone must have done something to deserve the suffering.
--Luke 13: 1-8 Jesus talks of others questioning if they are worse sinners.
--The world was created without suffering.
--We're in the world we deserve, yet God is still at work.

PHARISEES SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
--v.9 Seeing the reality of sin.
--v39-41 Blind will see and those that see will become blind
--More successful people might be disadvantaged in salvation.
--Requires admitting and knowing we are spiritually blind.

HEALING SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
--Worshiping the wrong thing is part of spiritual blindness.
--Love for God is the measure of our worth.
--Jesus was plunged into spiritual darkness while on the cross.