Pastor Nate Prazuch, lead pastor at Christ the Word Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, exposits the Scriptures of the Bible verse by verse. Expository teaching and preaching sermons and classes are available here at the Exposit podcast.
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[00:00:00] I saw this video and I thought this fits pretty well with our message for today which is John chapter 9
[00:00:07] Jesus dealing with the man born blind And as I was saying this interaction really shows us again practically speaking yes the man is born blind he physically cannot see but also as we go through and so many times Jesus teaches and preaches things that are
[00:00:30] understood to be a practical truth in my life I can understand what he's saying this man can't see and he's going to heal him and now he can see but there's also that spiritual aspect underneath which is even more important
[00:00:44] that spiritual blindness that we all have experienced and that are born with that only he can solve
[00:00:53] he's our great teacher and he does teach us these lessons but they're not just lessons to have a better life here on earth they're eternal lessons so don't ever lose sight of that when we go through God's Word
[00:01:06] that's one of the great things that makes God work God's word so amazing they're not just rules to live by but they're spiritual truths to eternally live by
[00:01:16] so I'll read the first seven verses here of John chapter 9 then we'll pray
[00:01:23] John chapter 9 verse 1 says as he passed by he saw man blind from birth and his disciples asked him Rabbi who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind
[00:01:39] Jesus answered it was not that this man sinned or his parents but that the works of God might be displayed in him we must work the works of him who sent me while it is day
[00:01:50] night is coming when no one can work as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world having said these things he spit on the ground and made mud with saliva
[00:02:03] then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him go wash in the pool of silo which means scent so he went and washed and came back seeing
[00:02:15] let's pray now once again Lord we come into your presence here to worship through the word so Lord guide us
[00:02:24] have us to hear what you'd want us to hear have us to see what you want us to see from this message today how it affects our lives and what it means for us today
[00:02:33] and for eternity when we pray in Jesus name amen
[00:02:40] in verse 2 when the disciples commented about this man being born blind
[00:02:46] I wonder if they thought back to the law in Exodus 20 because of what they said why was he blind is it because his parents were sinning or because he sinned why is he blind is that the reason
[00:02:58] in Exodus 20 we read in verse 5 I the Lord your God and Majela Scott visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me
[00:03:15] so that might have been what the disciples were thinking they might have been thinking why heard somewhere back in the law about the iniquity of the fathers are passed on to the sons for the third and fourth generation
[00:03:26] they might have forgot the part about of those who hate me we don't always remember everything I read it they might have caught part of that
[00:03:34] but that might have become the mind because they said why is he blind because of who sin who sinned Jesus said it's not about that it's not how it works
[00:03:43] Bible commentator Charles Ellicott says it this way about this verse he says the extravagance of one's parents or could mean the sinful desires or the sinful pursuits of one's parents
[00:03:57] leaves their children to be beggars as an example
[00:04:01] to be the son of a felon is to be heavily handicapped in the race of life he says we all inherit countless disadvantages on account of our first parents and Adam and Eve
[00:04:12] and we each individually inherit particular tendencies to this or that form of all of evil from the misconduct of our several ancestors
[00:04:22] we all have different challenges in life different struggles in life people whose parents were alcoholics might now struggle with alcohol they've always seen mom and dad do it
[00:04:34] maybe a child whose parent physically abused another parent grow up and they do that too because that's what they saw
[00:04:44] but we know from our other scriptures that the type of sin that is being spoken of in Exodus 20 that's being passed on to the third and fourth generation speaks of a certain kind of inherited sin which doesn't weigh into one's salvation necessarily
[00:05:02] but in their unique struggles in their lives like I mentioned alcoholism a life of crime if you're a mob boss and you bring up your children that way they're going to have the same issues getting caught up with the law maybe in prison dealing with those types of issues
[00:05:20] depending on what the particular sins are the parents and then the child has to deal with it the wake of that sin
[00:05:27] sometimes we have struggles in lives and they are due to our sin their consequences of what we did other times we have struggles because of other people's sin that now we have to pay the consequence for
[00:05:40] but other times some struggles in our lives are because God put them there and for his glory to have you grow through those and learn endurance read the first part of James
[00:05:51] that we supposed to kind of all joy to go through these trials and tribulations as struggles why because they form in us the endurance and the character so that we can help others go through them as well
[00:06:02] if we all have the best day of our lives every day we'd never really have any character endurance or learn how to have compassion over people because you've never really gone through anything
[00:06:11] so God blesses us with these hardships if you can think of it that way
[00:06:16] as far as salvation goes we know for example from Ezekiel 18 that the soul who sins shall die
[00:06:25] it goes on to say, excuse me
[00:06:29] the sun shall not suffer for the iniquity of the Father nor the Father suffer for the iniquity of the Son
[00:06:37] you first don't if you're taking notes says we are not held to account for the sins of anyone else but ourselves
[00:06:45] and so you can take with you from this message if nothing else that your sin is all yours today, it's all yours
[00:06:53] now it also means that you don't have an excuse you can't say well I just learned this from my mom or my dad
[00:07:00] you know he just did that and so no I don't have an excuse because I really can't change anything because that's just how I was brought up
[00:07:06] you can't have that excuse God will not accept that excuse on judgment day
[00:07:10] you're responsible for your sin
[00:07:13] by the same token you can't claim your parents' faith as your own either you can't say well my mom and dad were believers and so I'm fine
[00:07:19] I'm good I went with them to church a couple times when I was a kid and I got baptized so I'm good
[00:07:26] it doesn't work that way
[00:07:29] you're responsible for your own sin and if you can't fix it there's one who can Jesus Christ
[00:07:35] so you put your faith in him and he deals with that for you once and for all
[00:07:39] and that's how it works
[00:07:43] in verse three the disciples get their answer about why is this man born blind? Who's sin?
[00:07:51] it's not because of that we see the real reason here and Jesus says it's because it's that the works of God might be displayed in him
[00:07:59] that the works of God might be displayed in him that's why he's blind so that God will be glorified this day when he's healed
[00:08:05] it's not because of his sin it's not because of his parents sin but it's because God would be glorified by his healing on that day
[00:08:12] and now we're reading about this day thousands of years later in scripture
[00:08:17] and I want to know how you might answer this question
[00:08:23] does God desire everyone to be healed?
[00:08:29] I've heard that a lot some people
[00:08:32] teach or preach that God wants everyone to be healed
[00:08:38] well he didn't heal Paul the apostle when he asked him to heal him three times
[00:08:43] wouldn't he want to heal Paul the greatest Christian missionary ever?
[00:08:47] 2 Corinthians 12, Paul says three times I pleaded with the Lord about this
[00:08:52] he's talking about a storm in the flesh that it should leave me but he said to me my grace is efficient for you
[00:08:57] for my power is made perfect in weakness when you're weak that's what I'm strong
[00:09:02] because you have to lean on me you have to depend on me
[00:09:05] God didn't remove that thorn in his flesh but it was for his purpose
[00:09:09] what's the purpose? Well we see where Paul writes here in verse
[00:09:13] 7 of 2 Corinthians 12, Paul says so to keep me from becoming conceited
[00:09:20] because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations a thorn was given me in the flesh
[00:09:24] I messenger of Satan to harass me again to keep me from becoming conceited
[00:09:29] that's the reason that's the reason God didn't want to heal Paul right there
[00:09:33] because he says I want you to stay humble I'm giving you all this information
[00:09:36] all these revelations you've seen the risen Christ now in a vision
[00:09:40] and I want to keep you humble so I'm going to keep you not feeling so great all the time
[00:09:47] so you have to talk to me more
[00:09:50] so does God want everyone to be healed
[00:09:56] God used Paul's infirmity for God's glory
[00:09:59] and the man born blind was born blind we see that the works of God might be displayed in him
[00:10:08] God has his reasons should it be surprising to us that our plans don't always align with God's plans for our lives
[00:10:13] we really shouldn't be surprised at that
[00:10:17] but who do you trust more with the plan for your life? Do you trust yourself more or God?
[00:10:23] Your next note says God has his purposes
[00:10:26] and they don't always align with our fleshly desires
[00:10:31] what do we want stuff? We want lots of stuff and we want it now
[00:10:35] what's the fast food restaurant slogan, have it your way?
[00:10:39] That's what we all want we want it our way
[00:10:42] and we want it now just how we will like it
[00:10:45] it's fleshly desires sometimes they don't always align with God's plan for us
[00:10:50] and I wonder if you've ever thought of it this way but
[00:10:55] I would say that desiring to be physically healed is a fleshly desire
[00:11:01] it's quite by definition a fleshly desire my flesh hurts
[00:11:06] I don't want my flesh to hurt God can you make my flesh feel good
[00:11:11] the truth is God is our healer Jehovah Rafa we hear from the Old Testament Jehovah Rafa
[00:11:18] our healer and he does grant us some of those fleshly desires when it suits him
[00:11:23] he cares for us he doesn't want us in pain all the time that would be he would be
[00:11:28] what's the word of masochist?
[00:11:31] like the people in pain? Say this
[00:11:35] he's not that kind of a God
[00:11:38] he has compassion on us so when it suits his purpose he'll heal
[00:11:43] but we can't command or demand that God heal me because he's promised to heal me physically
[00:11:49] he hasn't promised to heal us physically and you might think back what about Isaiah 53 where it says by his stripes we are healed
[00:11:56] we'll read the whole chapter and you'll see that healing isn't a physical healing
[00:12:00] it's a spiritual becoming whole again healing
[00:12:05] we want to be spiritually whole because if if he promised to always heal us we would never die
[00:12:12] he'd say I'll heal you all except until that last sickness
[00:12:16] right how does that make sense?
[00:12:19] so he heals us completely he makes us whole again spiritually
[00:12:23] all of our bodies die that's the curse of Adam because of sin
[00:12:28] and he wants us to come to him when we are sick and ill and he does heal
[00:12:33] but he has his purposes to prolong that sometimes too
[00:12:37] he is more concerned with our spiritual healing rather than mere physical healing
[00:12:42] because since we're all going to die anyway at some point
[00:12:45] that's going to go away our physical bodies will pass away
[00:12:49] but he wants to secure our spiritual eternity
[00:12:53] that's more important than the physical
[00:12:56] he's more concerned about the more important things
[00:12:59] he's once and for all healed our souls from those eternal effects of sin when we place our faith in Christ to save us
[00:13:07] and from last week I wonder if we can just somehow find it in our hearts to be content with our salvation
[00:13:13] sometimes we just want more than that
[00:13:15] we always do we're human beings we do
[00:13:18] but when it comes on to it maybe we can just think of that question
[00:13:23] can I just be content with being saved right now
[00:13:25] and if I don't get everything I want I'll deal with it
[00:13:28] Lord help me grow there help me grow in patience
[00:13:32] and verse 4
[00:13:34] Jesus goes on and he says we must work the works of him who sent me while it is day
[00:13:40] night is coming when no one can work
[00:13:42] he says we must he's including us now including his disciples
[00:13:45] we must work the works of him who sent me
[00:13:49] we must all be doing God's work
[00:13:51] is what he's saying
[00:13:53] while it's day because night's coming where no one can work
[00:13:58] he's speaking in these kind of spiritual terms to say
[00:14:01] that he didn't just mean let's just work today that day because it's going to be dark soon
[00:14:06] he meant while we're here while we're alive and able to work on earth
[00:14:10] and this work God has worked for us to do
[00:14:11] not so that you can be saved by it but because you're saved
[00:14:16] be like Jesus and do the things Jesus would do for people
[00:14:20] God's work to bless others to get the gospel out
[00:14:22] and so here Jesus is giving us a message of certain particular urgency
[00:14:27] hey now's the time
[00:14:29] don't be just what do they call him
[00:14:32] kind of like a couch potato I forgot the term
[00:14:35] just sitting around a bedside Baptist I think they call him
[00:14:38] you don't really go to church or do anything but you say yeah I'm safe
[00:14:42] you don't really do anything about it but you just say you are
[00:14:45] well God says I have work for you now that you're my children
[00:14:48] I've bought you with a price I have work for you to do
[00:14:51] and you're gonna bless others by it Jesus is saying now's the date
[00:14:54] now's the time
[00:14:56] do his work while we're able and I thought of Ephesians 2
[00:14:59] when I read this in verse 10 of Ephesians 2 it says
[00:15:03] we are his workmanship created in Christ for good works
[00:15:08] were created in Christ Jesus for good works
[00:15:11] which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
[00:15:15] that's why we're here to be like Jesus we're supposed to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ
[00:15:20] and to do what he would do here on earth people say you're the hands and feet of Jesus
[00:15:24] well what does that mean? We're here to do his work worth called the body of Christ
[00:15:28] together and individually members of it
[00:15:33] we are his workmanship in the new living translation it says for you for we are his masterpiece
[00:15:40] it's always dangerous when you put a spotlight on man
[00:15:44] but the point here he sings we are his pinnacle of creation because we are made in his image
[00:15:50] so we should act like it we reflect upon our Lord in the things that we do
[00:15:55] and we're created to do his good works Paul goes on later in Ephesians 5 to say
[00:15:59] look carefully then how you walk not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time
[00:16:07] because the days are evil
[00:16:11] other versions will say redeem the days redeem the time don't waste time
[00:16:16] I've given you breath today use it well
[00:16:19] is what he's saying now's the time to be like me
[00:16:22] your next note says in light of these verses we are to be good stewards of the time he's given us
[00:16:29] good stewards take care of what he's given us not wasting the days away
[00:16:35] it's easy to procrastinate
[00:16:38] but why don't you procrastinate tomorrow and do what you're going to do today
[00:16:42] you would do that
[00:16:44] in verse 5 Jesus continues he says as long as I'm in the world
[00:16:49] I am the light of the world
[00:16:52] he said this in the last chapter chapter 8
[00:16:55] that he's the light of the world and he's about to heal a blind man born from birth
[00:17:00] he's about to give him sight
[00:17:03] and we see the parallel of sight and light
[00:17:08] and darkness and blindness
[00:17:10] he's the light of the world why would he say I'm the light of the world here is about to heal a blind man
[00:17:15] he wants us to make some connections as he goes
[00:17:19] this man was blind from birth
[00:17:22] until he met Jesus that day
[00:17:25] and until he met Jesus that day he was in a couple different ways you could think of this
[00:17:31] he was in the dark
[00:17:33] he didn't know Jesus
[00:17:35] he was literally living in darkness
[00:17:37] and he was oblivious to the light of the world he was in the dark
[00:17:44] so here we can switch from the physical aspect to the spiritual
[00:17:48] and think aren't we all born blind?
[00:17:52] we don't know Jesus the day we were born
[00:17:55] we may not know him for 50 years
[00:17:57] we might be in the dark about Jesus
[00:18:00] born spiritually blind
[00:18:04] and I thought about this as I prepared this week if everyone in the world were born blind
[00:18:10] how would anyone know that they're blind
[00:18:13] unless someone came by and said hey there's this thing called sight
[00:18:15] there's this whole sense that you're not experiencing
[00:18:19] and if I can if Jesus can heal you or show you sight
[00:18:23] wouldn't you want sight?
[00:18:25] and we might think say what's this sight?
[00:18:27] and then he just says let me show you opens your eyes
[00:18:30] and you say oh my goodness what have I been missing?
[00:18:33] now I gotta tell my friend
[00:18:35] hey friend who's blind from birth
[00:18:38] there's this thing I experienced sight
[00:18:40] Jesus gave it to me he opened my eyes
[00:18:42] you gotta try this you gotta have this
[00:18:43] what is this about? you know you see that struggle of a believer
[00:18:48] going to an unbeliever or a believer going to an unbeliever saying
[00:18:51] you need Jesus wow what I never had him before I don't really need him
[00:18:54] I've been doing okay
[00:18:56] no no let me mean you try to explain it to them
[00:18:59] how can you explain sight to a blind man
[00:19:01] you have to see it you have to experience it
[00:19:04] but you can't decide to see if you're blind
[00:19:07] you can't just say in your heart
[00:19:09] well I'm determining to see today and I'm making the decision to see
[00:19:14] it doesn't work that way
[00:19:16] you need someone to open your eyes
[00:19:18] to give you that ability and that's what Christ does for our spiritual eyes
[00:19:21] He opens our eyes and then we see him
[00:19:23] and what did the man do after he saw
[00:19:25] he came to Jesus
[00:19:30] we'd all remained blind unless someone opened our eyes
[00:19:33] to show us what sight is
[00:19:35] so I hope we're seeing Jesus
[00:19:36] spiritual aspects of his physical actions
[00:19:40] not just this week every week as we go through Scripture
[00:19:44] look for the spiritual aspects of what Jesus is physically doing
[00:19:48] he doesn't just do things you know willy-nilly and then
[00:19:52] have the spirit lead the apostles and the authors of Scripture to write down
[00:19:56] anything that really doesn't matter all these things in the Scripture matter
[00:20:00] for reasons
[00:20:03] so we learn more when we see Scripture that way
[00:20:06] now that Jesus says what he said
[00:20:09] he goes to work having said these things
[00:20:11] he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva
[00:20:15] then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him go
[00:20:18] wash in the pool of Psyllum which means scent
[00:20:21] so he went and washed and came back seeing
[00:20:29] we have his question that I asked myself when I read this
[00:20:32] probably for the first time and every time
[00:20:34] a sense would be why the mud
[00:20:38] why did you use mud?
[00:20:41] couldn't you just say eyes see
[00:20:43] your God and human flesh
[00:20:45] why did you have to spit on the ground and make a mess
[00:20:47] and it's kind of gross
[00:20:49] why the saliva why the mud
[00:20:52] while looking into a bit more we know from the ancient Greek writers
[00:20:56] like Pliny, Tacitus and Sutonia
[00:21:00] there's some big Greek names out there
[00:21:02] not necessarily Christians
[00:21:05] but they let us know in history that saliva was held to be a remedy
[00:21:10] in some cases to have some kind of a therapeutic effect on the eyes
[00:21:15] I would not recommend that today
[00:21:17] it's really grossed me
[00:21:19] but back then in fact it's still used today
[00:21:21] in some of these eastern places
[00:21:23] to heal or to soothe
[00:21:27] and apparently it's claimed to actually have some beneficial effects
[00:21:30] I don't know if this is quack science or not
[00:21:31] but please don't go try this and let me know how it works
[00:21:34] we'll just take their word for it for now
[00:21:37] but the fact of the matter is that it had never worked before
[00:21:39] in any one born blind
[00:21:41] we'll see that next week in John 932
[00:21:44] never worked before
[00:21:46] never one no one has ever been to that point healed
[00:21:50] if they were born blind
[00:21:54] and so this has something to do with it
[00:21:56] but still we're asking ourselves the question
[00:21:59] why mix mud Jesus, why did you do this?
[00:22:02] and so we have to look a little closer like we
[00:22:05] normally should when we read scripture
[00:22:07] and need to slow down think about why God does things
[00:22:10] and why these words are here because they are important
[00:22:13] and maybe you can think back to John 4
[00:22:15] when there's another man that Jesus healed
[00:22:17] by the pool
[00:22:19] about how the importance of that story
[00:22:22] wasn't about how Jesus healed that man
[00:22:25] remember what it was really about
[00:22:27] it was about when Jesus healed that man
[00:22:31] he healed him on the Sabbath
[00:22:34] which was a big no-no
[00:22:36] because you're not supposed to work on the Sabbath
[00:22:39] and to the Pharisees healing
[00:22:41] was working can't do it on the Sabbath
[00:22:44] you want your healing, you got to come back
[00:22:46] Monday morning right and early
[00:22:48] we can't help you today
[00:22:50] we're closed God's closed on Sundays apparently
[00:22:53] so here in John 9 again we find Jesus healing a man again on the Sabbath
[00:22:58] and it was against the law
[00:23:00] quote-unquote to need
[00:23:03] dough or to mix clay or to mix mud
[00:23:07] on the Sabbath
[00:23:11] that is I should say I should qualify this
[00:23:14] it was against the Pharisees interpretation of the law
[00:23:17] that they had wrong
[00:23:19] and so when Jesus had determined to heal this man
[00:23:22] on the Sabbath he had no problem doing it of course
[00:23:24] he's the Lord of the Sabbath
[00:23:27] Matthew 12, let's just know that
[00:23:30] he thought not only am I going to heal this man on the Sabbath
[00:23:33] and a few chapters back I healed another man on the Sabbath
[00:23:36] but this time I'm going to heal him on the Sabbath
[00:23:38] after I work a little bit more
[00:23:40] mixing some mud in the sand
[00:23:42] then I'm gonna heal him
[00:23:44] so he did that he pushed the envelope even a little further this time
[00:23:48] as Jesus was known to do and he mixed mud first
[00:23:51] and he used the mud to force the question
[00:23:55] put the Pharisees to the test
[00:23:58] what are you gonna do about this
[00:24:00] and so to further make the point that
[00:24:04] if you leave love behind
[00:24:07] while trying to fulfill the law
[00:24:10] you missed the point of the law
[00:24:12] you missed the whole point
[00:24:14] your next note
[00:24:16] you say well what's the point of the law
[00:24:17] your next note says the law shows us the holiness of God
[00:24:21] and our need for a Savior
[00:24:24] if you just went to someone and said hey
[00:24:27] you guys all need a Savior they'd probably say why
[00:24:30] and that's where you'd enter the law
[00:24:33] because here's how holy you have to live
[00:24:35] to be accepted by God because you know
[00:24:37] it's not us that accepts Jesus
[00:24:39] it's Jesus that accepts you
[00:24:42] He says be perfect like my father is perfect
[00:24:45] and you know Jesus never asked anyone to believe in him
[00:24:48] he told people to believe in him
[00:24:50] he commanded you
[00:24:52] and me to believe the gospel
[00:24:54] and all the apostles commanded
[00:24:56] the people to believe Christ is King
[00:24:58] he is here repent and believed
[00:25:00] is that so I can invitation
[00:25:02] it's a command
[00:25:04] do it or else you'll lose your soul
[00:25:07] but today we can't decode it all the time
[00:25:10] the law is here to show us
[00:25:12] this is a perfect gift to be can you do it
[00:25:14] once you realize I can't
[00:25:17] then you say but Jesus can
[00:25:19] put your faith in him
[00:25:21] and he'll give you his righteousness
[00:25:23] that's the point of the law
[00:25:25] the point of the law wasn't actually to
[00:25:28] fulfill it because you can't
[00:25:30] and God knows you can't only his son Jesus can fulfill it
[00:25:33] but boy the Pharisees were
[00:25:35] bent on fulfilling it
[00:25:37] and they let you know about it
[00:25:39] even though they weren't doing it
[00:25:44] well I also think Jesus used mud for another reason
[00:25:47] and we see this throughout Scripture 2
[00:25:49] and your next note quickly after this other note
[00:25:51] says God uses means to accomplish his work
[00:25:55] he uses means
[00:25:57] what's a means?
[00:25:59] a means is an instrument
[00:26:01] it's a way to do something
[00:26:03] it's a way to get something done
[00:26:05] because God delights in utilizing his creation to get his work done
[00:26:10] he uses means
[00:26:11] Jesus used mud here when he could have just said
[00:26:14] eyes see
[00:26:16] but he used something
[00:26:19] he used mud
[00:26:21] a couple different examples here
[00:26:23] he told Moses to put your staff into the water before it splits the red sea
[00:26:28] well he didn't have to do that he could have just said water split in half
[00:26:31] why do you have to put the thing down?
[00:26:33] well it helped Moses stretch his obedience and his faith in God for one
[00:26:37] God has his reasons
[00:26:38] and he uses means to do it
[00:26:41] he had the Israelites sacrifice the Passover lamb and put the blood over the doorpost
[00:26:46] he didn't have to do that why did he do it?
[00:26:48] because he likes doing that
[00:26:50] he likes using his creation
[00:26:52] and his people growth through those obedient acts
[00:26:56] and their faith grows and he has his reasons
[00:26:58] he uses means
[00:27:01] and God also uses you and me as means
[00:27:03] to do his work think of the great commission
[00:27:06] now as you go
[00:27:08] proclaim the gospel to all nations make disciples teach them
[00:27:12] baptize them he uses us to get the gospel message out now
[00:27:16] why he could just make everybody Christians
[00:27:18] well he does want to do that
[00:27:20] he wants to use his creation he wants to use means
[00:27:22] and we are his means to get his work done
[00:27:25] being the church being the body of Christ now
[00:27:27] we are the means
[00:27:29] because he's determined that
[00:27:31] he's delight he delights in that
[00:27:33] and he's glorified by that
[00:27:35] he's glorified when his creation
[00:27:37] obeys him and accomplishes as well
[00:27:41] one example here is
[00:27:43] how a father who may be a carpenter
[00:27:45] is building a treehouse for his son
[00:27:48] and his son may say, Dad I want a treehouse
[00:27:50] well he might be able to go
[00:27:52] put one up on one day over the weekend
[00:27:54] just make a quick treehouse for him
[00:27:56] and then he can be done with it
[00:27:58] what? He asks his son to come along and help him
[00:27:59] you know hand me the board and give me the nail
[00:28:02] and you know you put on this nail in and help me do this
[00:28:05] and what do you think of this? Do you want a window here
[00:28:07] or the ladder down there? What do you think son
[00:28:09] and they work together and then when they build that treehouse together
[00:28:12] they can look back
[00:28:14] step back and look at it and say
[00:28:16] the carpenter my look at it and say
[00:28:19] me and my son built that to his neighbor
[00:28:22] it just means something little extra or his son can look to his neighbor friends
[00:28:25] and say I help my dad build a treehouse
[00:28:26] so there's mutual benefits there
[00:28:30] it's just it'll hold now a
[00:28:34] closer place to your heart
[00:28:36] sentimental value no that's priceless
[00:28:39] and God is like that he's our good father
[00:28:42] he wants to work with us to get his work done
[00:28:44] he doesn't just want to
[00:28:46] though he could just make the treehouse on his own
[00:28:49] and say there you go have a treehouse
[00:28:51] he wants to do it together
[00:28:53] because he's determined that he delights in it
[00:28:56] and he's determined that he's going to do it
[00:28:59] these unique benefits together
[00:29:01] we both benefit from this just like the man born blind
[00:29:04] he received his sight
[00:29:06] he could see now as a benefit
[00:29:08] and God was glorified that day
[00:29:10] because of this act
[00:29:12] and people learn more about who God is
[00:29:15] so we receive blessings when we do our fathers will
[00:29:19] and when we obey him
[00:29:21] and he's glorified when we obey him
[00:29:23] and accomplishes will with him
[00:29:27] they call that a what's the term
[00:29:30] symbiotic relationship
[00:29:32] write that one down for the test
[00:29:34] things working together they both benefit from it
[00:29:38] verse 8
[00:29:40] the neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying
[00:29:44] is this not the man who used to sit in big
[00:29:46] I know that guy
[00:29:48] some said it is him others said no but he is like him
[00:29:51] he kept saying I am the man
[00:29:53] so they said to him
[00:29:54] then how were your eyes opened
[00:29:57] he answered the man called Jesus made mud
[00:30:00] anointed my eyes and said to me
[00:30:02] go to the go to the sideline wash
[00:30:04] so I went and washed and received my sight
[00:30:06] they said to him where is he?
[00:30:08] he says I don't know
[00:30:10] they were saying aren't you so and so
[00:30:12] you've been blind since birth I know
[00:30:14] I've seen you there now tell me again what happened
[00:30:16] well he did this
[00:30:18] washed my eyes and now I see
[00:30:20] I don't know he didn't stick stick around
[00:30:21] this is happening and he's just telling him what happened
[00:30:25] there's nothing secretly hidden or about this
[00:30:29] it just happened to him
[00:30:31] he's as much surprised as anyone
[00:30:34] and so now this investigation begins with the townspeople
[00:30:37] who knew him and they're asking him questions
[00:30:39] they're interviewing him
[00:30:42] and they had a hard time reconciling that he was born blind
[00:30:46] and was healed
[00:30:48] we've never seen that before
[00:30:49] we've never even heard of that before
[00:30:52] this just has never happened before
[00:30:55] it just didn't happen
[00:30:57] and then they doubted it was really him
[00:30:59] and he says no it's me you know me it's really me
[00:31:02] and they say I know you though
[00:31:04] how is it that you're different?
[00:31:07] how is it that you now can see I don't understand
[00:31:12] so people have become Christians
[00:31:14] they might experience this if you experienced this
[00:31:15] there's a lot of people who have known you before
[00:31:18] asking you now that you know Jesus
[00:31:21] I used to know you what happened to you
[00:31:23] how did that happen?
[00:31:25] you're different now
[00:31:27] after you found Jesus
[00:31:29] you gained this sight thing that they don't understand
[00:31:32] and all you say is I can't do Jesus
[00:31:34] there's no big secret here
[00:31:37] it's simple
[00:31:39] did you do anything?
[00:31:41] how did you work that?
[00:31:42] I didn't he just he just healed me
[00:31:47] they interviewed him they couldn't understand the interrogated him
[00:31:50] he told them again what happened
[00:31:52] a simple story Jesus made mud
[00:31:55] touched the mud to my eyes told me to go wash it off and I saw
[00:31:58] I could see
[00:32:00] it's like the parable in Mark 4
[00:32:03] where the farmer goes out
[00:32:05] and he throws seed in the ground and then he goes to bed
[00:32:08] and he gets up and starts sprouting
[00:32:09] well how did that happen? I don't know
[00:32:11] all I am supposed to do is put the seed out
[00:32:13] God does the rest
[00:32:16] but this story didn't satisfy them
[00:32:18] so they went up the chain of command
[00:32:20] and they brought him to the Pharisees of course
[00:32:23] in verse 13 we see how this goes
[00:32:25] they brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind
[00:32:29] now it was the Sabbath day again
[00:32:31] reminded of that when Jesus made the mud
[00:32:33] and opened his eyes
[00:32:36] so the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight
[00:32:39] and he said to them
[00:32:41] he put mud on my eyes
[00:32:43] and I washed
[00:32:45] and I see
[00:32:47] he went step by step
[00:32:49] I mean it's small of the details you can get
[00:32:52] he says that's all I got
[00:32:54] that's all it happened
[00:32:56] verse 16 some of the Pharisees said
[00:32:59] this man is not from God
[00:33:01] before he does not keep the Sabbath
[00:33:03] oh that's how we know of course
[00:33:05] but others said
[00:33:06] how can a man who is a sinner do such signs
[00:33:09] he says he wouldn't be able to do the works of God
[00:33:12] if he's a sinner is he a sinner you're saying he's a sinner
[00:33:14] if that's true how does he do this
[00:33:16] they can't get it straight
[00:33:18] something's off kilter here
[00:33:20] and there was a division among them
[00:33:22] all they're being divided now
[00:33:24] so in verse 17 they said again
[00:33:27] what do you say about him
[00:33:29] what do you have to say about him
[00:33:31] since he's opened your eyes
[00:33:33] and he said he's a prophet
[00:33:36] it's almost like he says
[00:33:39] what else can I say
[00:33:41] I'm healed
[00:33:43] he must be a prophet
[00:33:45] and just look at how many times certain things are mentioned here in this passage
[00:33:52] Jesus making mud
[00:33:54] and it being the Sabbath day
[00:33:58] let's try to make a connection here
[00:34:01] just to see the point of this account
[00:34:03] the fact that Jesus uses mud
[00:34:06] that he made is mentioned four times
[00:34:09] in this short passage
[00:34:11] the fact that it's the Sabbath is mentioned twice at least
[00:34:14] and Jesus mentions the word work
[00:34:17] four times in one verse back in verse three alone
[00:34:20] I'll read it
[00:34:23] Jesus answered in verse three
[00:34:25] it was not that this man sinned or his parents
[00:34:28] but that the works of God might be displayed in him
[00:34:30] we must work the works of him who sent me while at his date
[00:34:31] night is coming when no one can work
[00:34:34] it being the Sabbath
[00:34:36] I'm working with the mud and I'm healing a person
[00:34:38] a lot of work going on on the Sabbath day
[00:34:41] connection is being made here
[00:34:44] relating to work
[00:34:48] so what's more important to God
[00:34:51] just checking some boxes off and saying okay there I worked
[00:34:54] I did the work
[00:34:56] I went to church
[00:34:58] I did some work, checked it off
[00:35:00] it's more important to God just checking off the boxes of work
[00:35:03] or loving obedience in doing his work
[00:35:06] the Lord's work
[00:35:09] because you can do the work of God with a cold heart
[00:35:12] okay I got to go
[00:35:14] okay I did it
[00:35:16] but I did it
[00:35:18] God says keep your sacrifices
[00:35:20] I don't want to hear it, Jeremiah talks about that
[00:35:22] why do you even bring sacrifices?
[00:35:24] You know heart's not in it just keep it don't even go through it
[00:35:26] when you sing new songs he says I can't even stand to listen
[00:35:27] because it's not from your heart
[00:35:29] you just check in the boxes
[00:35:31] doing work with a cold heart
[00:35:34] but we can also do the Lord's work with a loving heart
[00:35:38] an obedient heart
[00:35:40] you can love to do the Lord's work
[00:35:43] because now that's just who you are
[00:35:45] I love going to church
[00:35:47] I love Robin shoulders with my friends and family
[00:35:50] because they're internal family
[00:35:52] and we love to do the work of the Lord
[00:35:54] whatever it might be being patient with somebody
[00:35:55] you know spiritual warfare is things like running from temptation
[00:35:59] it's not necessarily casting all demons every week
[00:36:03] it's saying notice in
[00:36:05] it's doing private daily devotions
[00:36:08] it's fasting and not telling anybody
[00:36:11] that's spiritual warfare
[00:36:13] that's the Lord's work
[00:36:15] we can be encouraged and energized by doing the Lord's work
[00:36:19] or we can do with a cold heart and say there I did it
[00:36:22] and let everybody know you did it
[00:36:24] Matthew 6 talks about that
[00:36:26] don't be out there flaunting how great you're doing for the Lord
[00:36:30] just do it privately and God will see is that he's gonna bless you
[00:36:32] more than anyone else will bless you
[00:36:34] we can do with a loving heart
[00:36:36] your next note says
[00:36:38] doing the good works of the Lord is a labor of love
[00:36:44] we should enjoy working for our Lord
[00:36:47] and it wouldn't even feel like work
[00:36:49] some people say boy I love my job so much
[00:36:50] I do it for free
[00:36:52] I can't believe they're paying me to do this kind of thing
[00:36:54] you've heard people like that
[00:36:56] and that's the kind of work
[00:36:58] it is when we work for the Lord
[00:37:00] it's just being you
[00:37:02] if we're imitating Christ
[00:37:06] when we're doing the Lord's work
[00:37:08] the good works of God were free to do them
[00:37:11] there's no law against that
[00:37:13] look at the fruit of the spirit
[00:37:15] there's no law against things like love
[00:37:17] you can't be too loving
[00:37:18] you can't be too peaceful
[00:37:20] or too kind or too patient
[00:37:22] or too long suffering you know what I mean?
[00:37:24] that's the fruit of the spirit
[00:37:26] there's no law against these things Paul says
[00:37:28] we're free to do them as much as you can
[00:37:31] we're encouraged to do these things
[00:37:33] and we're gonna love doing these things
[00:37:36] when we're in Christ because it's who we are
[00:37:40] but the Pharisees did it with cold hearts
[00:37:44] and so it made you wonder are you really believers
[00:37:47] and the Pharisees were interrogating this man
[00:37:50] and they were making assumptions about Jesus
[00:37:52] well he must be a sinner
[00:37:54] he's working on the Sabbath
[00:37:56] he's mixing mud doing work that way too
[00:37:58] I mean come on guys can you not see the evidence here
[00:38:01] he's breaking the Sabbath
[00:38:03] of course it was according to their own interpretation of that
[00:38:07] and they were divided amongst themselves
[00:38:10] and this is what Jesus promised what happened
[00:38:12] this is why he came he said in Matthew 10
[00:38:14] I didn't come to bring peace
[00:38:16] I came to bring a sword
[00:38:18] I came to bring division with the truth
[00:38:20] either you believe in me or you don't
[00:38:23] and these Pharisees are becoming divided because they can see what their own eyes
[00:38:25] well he's doing a good thing
[00:38:27] he's healing a guy that's pretty good
[00:38:29] but it is the Sabbath
[00:38:31] and he did mix the mud
[00:38:33] but how could he do it you know see the struggle in their own minds
[00:38:35] is coming through here
[00:38:37] and he's dividing with the truth
[00:38:38] some believe and some don't
[00:38:42] and that's the ultimate division of people in this world
[00:38:46] either believe in Jesus Christ
[00:38:48] or you don't
[00:38:50] that's the only real dividing line there's going to be on judgment day
[00:38:54] the sheep and the goats
[00:38:56] it will say to the sheep
[00:38:58] well done my good and faithful servant
[00:39:00] and to the goats he'll say I never knew who you were
[00:39:03] I never knew you
[00:39:05] you said you knew me
[00:39:06] but I didn't know you
[00:39:08] unbelievers
[00:39:11] at verse 17
[00:39:13] so they said again to the blind man
[00:39:16] what do you say about him
[00:39:18] since he's open your eyes
[00:39:20] and he said he's a prophet
[00:39:25] it's almost like he
[00:39:27] he could say isn't it plain to see
[00:39:30] he's a prophet
[00:39:32] a man who's been born blind
[00:39:33] never saw a day in his life
[00:39:36] so that day he could say isn't it plain to see
[00:39:39] he's a prophet
[00:39:41] you're not seeing this
[00:39:43] I can see it
[00:39:45] and I was blind five minutes ago
[00:39:47] how can you not see it
[00:39:49] but they couldn't see
[00:39:51] they couldn't see that
[00:39:53] who's the blind one
[00:39:56] they didn't want to see that
[00:39:59] today we've been talking about the spiritual blindness
[00:40:01] but it's about the spiritual blindness
[00:40:04] really
[00:40:06] by this physical story
[00:40:10] the blindness of the physical eyes
[00:40:12] of the man born blind
[00:40:15] the blindness of all mankind
[00:40:17] who was born spiritually blind
[00:40:19] to God's truth
[00:40:22] until Jesus gives spiritual sight
[00:40:27] and I want to ask a question as
[00:40:31] we come beginning to close here
[00:40:35] we just read the first 17 verses of John 9
[00:40:39] and I want to know if you can remember where the man
[00:40:41] asked Jesus to give him sight
[00:40:44] or if you can remember where
[00:40:47] he was following Jesus
[00:40:49] and he decided one day
[00:40:51] I'm going to see today
[00:40:53] or Jesus can you heal me?
[00:40:55] The man doesn't ask
[00:40:57] he's just sitting there
[00:40:59] and Jesus is just passing by
[00:41:01] you're going to see today
[00:41:05] because for me it's maybe a little different
[00:41:09] maybe for you it's a little different
[00:41:11] I grew up in the church
[00:41:13] so my dad was pastor
[00:41:15] but the closest I can think of
[00:41:18] when my eyes were opened was
[00:41:20] in a church service when I was probably
[00:41:22] teenager somewhere
[00:41:24] youth group somewhere
[00:41:26] where hey this is actually real
[00:41:29] and this is having a different effect on me today
[00:41:32] you know
[00:41:34] my eyes were being opened
[00:41:36] my spiritual eyes to say wait a minute
[00:41:38] let's just not something I do every week
[00:41:40] or I go to this place every week
[00:41:42] there's a reality here
[00:41:44] that has an eternal
[00:41:46] effect on my soul
[00:41:51] and I wonder if you can remember back to a day
[00:41:54] the day that you were saved
[00:41:56] maybe the day that you had your spiritual eyes opened
[00:41:58] back and I asked yourself did I ask for that
[00:42:02] or did it just happen
[00:42:04] and that's when I came to Jesus
[00:42:06] that's when I went after my eyes were opened like this man
[00:42:10] in the end here it says he came to Jesus
[00:42:13] he went and he washed
[00:42:15] and he came to Jesus why because Jesus used mud
[00:42:19] did something to his eyes
[00:42:21] he says now go wash
[00:42:23] he obeyed Jesus did the washing
[00:42:25] and when he opened his eyes he could see
[00:42:29] then he came to Jesus
[00:42:31] the man didn't come to Jesus in the beginning
[00:42:33] he was just there
[00:42:35] Jesus passed by him
[00:42:37] and said you're gonna see today
[00:42:39] gave him a sight and he came to Jesus
[00:42:41] is that how it was for you?
[00:42:43] or did you come to Jesus first
[00:42:45] and then Jesus says now you can see
[00:42:47] in scripture we see
[00:42:49] Jesus comes to you, finds those last sheep
[00:42:52] gives them sight, calls their name and they come to him
[00:42:56] when you saw Jesus for the first time for who he really was
[00:43:00] you came to him didn't you?
[00:43:02] because many people see Jesus
[00:43:04] but they don't really see him
[00:43:08] they physically see him
[00:43:10] in movies
[00:43:12] they hear about him all the time
[00:43:14] they see him on the chosen
[00:43:16] whatever yeah
[00:43:18] but they're not believers
[00:43:19] but until their spiritual eyes are open that's when they see
[00:43:22] and then they come to him
[00:43:24] otherwise the man could have said why I really went through this course about how to see
[00:43:29] and then I followed all the steps and now I can see
[00:43:32] and then he would have something to brag about
[00:43:34] I did it, you just didn't work hard enough
[00:43:36] you got to study harder
[00:43:38] get a decide harder
[00:43:40] but that's not how it works
[00:43:43] there is no place in this account where he pleads with Jesus
[00:43:46] give me sight now other places in scripture people
[00:43:50] plead for healing
[00:43:52] and plead for different things and Jesus heals them of their illness
[00:43:56] but sight is different
[00:43:58] sight has the
[00:44:01] association of consciousness or being aware
[00:44:05] I'm now aware of this room because my eyes are open
[00:44:08] had my eyes closed I wouldn't know if there was a wall right in front of me or not
[00:44:11] but now I can see I'm aware of things
[00:44:12] I can see things as they are
[00:44:15] and Christ gives us those spiritual eyes to see things as they are
[00:44:18] oh no now I can see my state of sinfulness in front of God's holy throne
[00:44:23] and I need help with this and Jesus gives us that help
[00:44:28] this man wasn't looking for sight that day
[00:44:31] he wasn't looking for Jesus that day not in the scripture
[00:44:35] he hadn't made a decision to see that day
[00:44:38] or made a decision to follow Jesus that day
[00:44:40] not in the scripture we don't see it
[00:44:43] before Jesus gave him his sight all we know about this man from verse 1
[00:44:47] is that he was there
[00:44:50] first one says as he passed by he saw a man blind from birth
[00:44:54] man didn't say anything
[00:44:57] Jesus disciples asked him who sined Jesus said doesn't work that way
[00:45:01] but it's for God's glory God's going to be glorified today
[00:45:05] Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath makes mud on the Sabbath
[00:45:08] and he tells the man to go wash
[00:45:11] he obeys Jesus and after he did the man came to Jesus
[00:45:15] with his sight
[00:45:18] and God was glorified
[00:45:20] that day and even today God's been glorified
[00:45:25] your last note says God is glorified when we rest
[00:45:29] in the work that he alone has done for us
[00:45:33] for our salvation
[00:45:39] he brings sight
[00:45:42] he saves us
[00:45:44] we rest in it
[00:45:46] all the man had to do afterwards to say
[00:45:49] how are you seeing now?
[00:45:51] I've known for years, you're blind
[00:45:53] you've been blind from birth
[00:45:55] he says I don't know
[00:45:58] he put one on my eyes and now I can see
[00:46:01] like amazing grace we heard it earlier
[00:46:04] at once was blind
[00:46:05] and did you just say okay I'm done being blind?
[00:46:09] No God gave you sight
[00:46:11] and you came to him
[00:46:14] Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath
[00:46:16] he provided his people with a Sabbath rest in the person and work of Christ
[00:46:21] the man born blind is like all men
[00:46:24] born without spiritual sight
[00:46:27] without the spiritual ability to see the truth
[00:46:30] that's all of us
[00:46:32] he's every man
[00:46:34] until the Lord opens our eyes
[00:46:36] we'll remain blind
[00:46:38] and there's a lot of blind people out there today
[00:46:40] and like in Romans 10 it says how will they believe if they don't hear the gospel
[00:46:43] and how can they hear the gospel
[00:46:45] if no one will tell it to them, no one sent the preacher to them
[00:46:47] we have to be those preachers
[00:46:49] to our friends and family on our street
[00:46:51] so that they can see the light of Jesus Christ
[00:46:56] this man didn't earn his sight
[00:46:58] Jesus graciously blessed him with it
[00:47:01] and this man did not have to work to maintain his sight after this day either
[00:47:05] he didn't earn it in the first place
[00:47:07] it was a gift for him
[00:47:09] he wasn't having to maintain his sight every day of his life after that
[00:47:13] because it was given to him by the Lord
[00:47:16] it was bestowed upon him by Jesus
[00:47:18] the work was done
[00:47:20] and so it is with our salvation
[00:47:22] again in like in Jonah
[00:47:24] we read salvation belongs to the Lord
[00:47:25] and he can give it to anyone he wants
[00:47:30] it's from the Lord and we only receive
[00:47:33] and we rest in the completed work of Jesus Christ
[00:47:36] that's why it's such a burden off our shoulders
[00:47:38] that's what peace is and joy like thank God it's on you
[00:47:42] and it's done
[00:47:45] and God's glorified by that
[00:47:47] he knows his plan and it's a righteous plan
[00:47:50] and we trust his plan
[00:47:51] and we should be good stewards of the time he's given us
[00:47:55] we know that God by this passage uses his creation as the means to do his work
[00:48:00] and that's you and me
[00:48:02] and he alone is the one who finds us
[00:48:05] gives us sight
[00:48:07] heals our blindness
[00:48:09] he's not glorified when we boast in our work towards
[00:48:13] our own salvation toward our own sight
[00:48:17] our own figuring it out
[00:48:18] he's not glorified by that
[00:48:19] you're glorified by that
[00:48:20] if you say well I did it
[00:48:22] no he's glorified by us resting in the fact that he's done it all
[00:48:28] and so if you've never looked at salvation this way
[00:48:31] before I hope that you're able to see
[00:48:33] it a bit more clearly now like this man did
[00:48:36] what Jesus did for you after you came to him with the sight he gave you
[00:48:40] I believe we're all believers here in this room
[00:48:43] hopefully now we can joyfully embrace that fact that his amazing gift of spiritual sight
[00:48:50] it's just like our salvation he gave it to us
[00:48:53] we didn't deserve it demanded deserved sight necessarily
[00:48:56] it was just his state of being
[00:48:58] lost blind
[00:49:00] and it was his work on the cross when he died for us in our place
[00:49:03] took care of our sins
[00:49:05] secured our salvation because we believe
[00:49:08] and by resting in his finished work that's how he's glorified
[00:49:13] praise him for him doing his work
[00:49:16] we can try try try try
[00:49:18] and the Pharisee sure tried
[00:49:20] and they made everyone else look at them
[00:49:22] God does like that
[00:49:24] He says I did it for you
[00:49:26] glorify me alone amen
[00:49:28] amen
[00:49:30] on that note please stand with me as I close in prayer
[00:49:34] I'd like to sing that last hymn if we could
[00:49:37] then we'll close for today
[00:49:49] Dear Lord Jesus
[00:49:51] I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you so much for giving us sight
[00:49:56] we can see who you are
[00:49:58] we can see you for who you are
[00:50:01] and Lord I pray that again you
[00:50:04] utilize us as your creation as your means to get your word out the gospel
[00:50:09] to our friends and family members
[00:50:11] put a burden on our hearts for them
[00:50:13] who are still lost who may know of you but they really don't know you
[00:50:17] give us opportunities to talk to them about you about your gospel
[00:50:22] prepare their hearts as we pray right now for opportunities that will be having in the future with them
[00:50:29] it might be this week it might be down the road
[00:50:31] but Lord I pray that you prepare those hearts to hear from these people here
[00:50:35] that will be your hands and feet
[00:50:39] get your word out so that more people can gain their sight about you Jesus
[00:50:44] because they're lost as we all once were
[00:50:47] but Lord be glorified in this as we obey you
[00:50:50] and do your work joyfully
[00:50:52] we pray that your blessings are always fall upon us
[00:50:55] but also help us to see sometimes hardships are also blessings
[00:50:58] so we can grow in Christ
[00:51:01] become more like you
[00:51:03] and better equipped to deal with struggle as it comes because in this life it will come
[00:51:07] it's a fallen world
[00:51:09] but your eyes glorified and help us suffer well as we go through these things
[00:51:14] continue to get people on the wellness track as they're still out with different ailments that aren't here today
[00:51:20] but Lord we love you
[00:51:22] and we will glorify your name no matter what state we're in
[00:51:25] until we see you in glory we pray in Jesus name
[00:51:29] Amen
[00:51:30] this is called the Cairo have you heard of that?
[00:51:33] and the Cai is the X looks like an X to us
[00:51:36] it's a Greek letter Cai
[00:51:38] and the P it's actually an R it's a Rho
[00:51:41] it's a Greek letter Rho
[00:51:43] so this is the symbol for Jesus
[00:51:46] it's what the early church used
[00:51:48] it's the first two letters in the Greek name for Christ Christ
[00:51:51] the Cairo the X and it's actually an R
[00:51:56] so if you ever see it it's not a Catholic symbol
[00:51:59] it's a Christian symbol
[00:52:01] and just like some factions of our society have taken some Christian symbols
[00:52:07] I want to take one of these back
[00:52:09] this is a Christian symbol for Jesus Christ
[00:52:12] Cairo it's like saying CHR in English
[00:52:17] so if you ever see this that's what it means