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 want to begin the message today by talking about something similar to what a
[00:00:06] brother Andy said about remembering and this day 112 years ago don't raise your
[00:00:16] hand if you were there 1,519 people lost their lives in the sinking of the
[00:00:23] Titanic 112 years ago today Captain Smith was on the Titanic's maiden voyage and
[00:00:31] it was to be his final assignment before he retired he was quoted as saying
[00:00:35] I could not imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder modern
[00:00:39] shipbuilding has gone beyond that it was further reported that a
[00:00:44] porter on the ship had told a passenger that God himself could not sink this
[00:00:48] ship and on her maiden voyage the Titanic struck an iceberg at 11.40 pm and was
[00:00:56] underwater in less than three hours in the darkness of that Atlantic night they
[00:01:04] couldn't see the danger that lied ahead of them they didn't have the correct
[00:01:07] binoculars they were blind to it in front of them it was dark the moon couldn't
[00:01:14] be seen if only they would have had enough light perhaps that would have helped
[00:01:20] if only they would have had the correct mechanism to see and I wonder what
[00:01:29] their thoughts were in their general attitudes that night or even before as
[00:01:33] they boarded on a Titanic back in 1912 maybe they were contempt the engineers
[00:01:39] thought no one can sink this thing
[00:01:43] maybe they were complacent they thought I will be fine maybe they were prideful
[00:01:50] of what they had accomplished like the builders of the Tower of Babel or
[00:01:56] maybe they had faith faith in the technology other day in any case that night
[00:02:03] passengers were instructed to board the lifeboats and the first many did not
[00:02:07] want it because they feared the thought of getting into a rickety boat lowering
[00:02:11] 90 feet into the pitch black freezing cold sea that fear was enough to keep
[00:02:18] them out of those boats and the alternative was to remain on board the
[00:02:21] Titanic and trust the security and the comfort and the warmth and the stability
[00:02:26] of the vessel and at first the alternative was preferable because it was
[00:02:30] inconceivable to them that the Titanic wasn't any danger at all from what they
[00:02:35] have been told what they believed where they put their faith but as a ship
[00:02:38] again taking on water and with their bow beginning to dip lower and lower into
[00:02:42] the sea became clear that the faith in the ship had been misplaced and would
[00:02:50] lead them to their doom fast forward to the present day today in a spiritual way
[00:02:56] people are still having to consider where to put their faith in the ship of
[00:03:03] life it seems warm and comfortable and pretty much on course or in something
[00:03:09] else we've been talking about the blindness of people in John chapter 9 I think
[00:03:18] many of those people who lost their lives that night lost their lives due to lack
[00:03:22] of sight lack of what was coming the danger they didn't have the back
[00:03:27] there's they didn't have the light they couldn't see clearly and and also for their
[00:03:33] misplaced faith and so as we work through our text for today I want you to
[00:03:38] think twice about where you might have blind spots and what you might have placed
[00:03:44] your faith in or your trust in other than Jesus at times even as Christians
[00:03:49] we do that we put faith in ourselves sometimes and then we call God when we need
[00:03:53] them and so with that in mind when we get into John chapter 9 and I want to
[00:03:58] think our brother Barry for giving us this information today if you don't know
[00:04:05] Barry is encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to ships and cruise lines
[00:04:11] and everything so if you're interested in going on a cruise talk very he knows a
[00:04:15] lot not just about the cruise industry but about historical facts like this
[00:04:20] and we can tie this into our message for today sight is so important
[00:04:23] spiritual sight it can cost us not our physical lives only but our eternal
[00:04:29] eternal life's eternity and so if you think back about last week we saw the man who
[00:04:37] received his sight after being born blind and his sight was bestowed upon him by Christ
[00:04:44] but thought he was asking for it in fact Romans 10 20 Paul recounts what God said to Isaiah
[00:04:52] and he says I've been found by those who did not seek me and I've shown myself to
[00:04:57] those who did not ask for me and remember back to one of the parables who's about the
[00:05:03] man in the field who found a great treasure
[00:05:05] and there was also a parable about the man who found a pearl of great price
[00:05:12] and one of those men was searching for treasure one wasn't but they both found that treasure
[00:05:18] that pearl some people search for God some people don't sometimes he shows up for them
[00:05:24] and we see today as well this man who was born blind didn't even know Jesus he didn't know
[00:05:32] who he was and true to form just like growing his three says no one seeks for God
[00:05:39] Paul lets us know in that chapter which is really an indictment against mankind we don't seek
[00:05:44] for God we're too worried about ourselves and this man in John 9 wasn't seeking for God
[00:05:49] didn't even know who he was didn't even know who he was after he healed him
[00:05:54] and we can think of the the man born blind as every man we all come into this world spiritually
[00:06:00] not knowing up from down and unless and until Jesus gives us our sight we'll remain blind
[00:06:06] and so John chapter 9 is conveying an important message about blindness and sight
[00:06:10] and it's a real story but it's also a metaphor the story is about a real man who received
[00:06:17] real sight that day but more importantly the truth of this account is that we are all blind
[00:06:24] without the intervention of Jesus Christ and thus far in chapter 9 we've looked at the event
[00:06:32] itself and its meaning and now we're going to look at the second half of chapter 9 which is
[00:06:36] the reaction of the Jews and the teaching of Jesus through this miracle and before we get into
[00:06:42] John chapter 9 we'll pray. Your Heavenly Father you brought us here once again today we thank you
[00:06:49] for that we thank you for our health and our safety and security there are many things going on
[00:06:53] across the world where people are not safe today but Lord we know that no matter what happens even
[00:06:59] if our lives our physical lives are taken Lord will be with you forever in eternal life because you
[00:07:04] are King and so Lord have your way with this service guide these words as they come out of my mouth
[00:07:10] and prepare the hearts of the people who will hear them so that you will be glorified as always
[00:07:15] we pray in Jesus name amen and so now we get into John chapter 9 the second half will finish on
[00:07:24] nine today and beginning in verse 18 when we read the Jews did not believe that he had been blind
[00:07:32] and received his sight until they called the parents of this man who had received his sight and
[00:07:37] asked them is this your son who you say was blind how then does he now see his parents answered
[00:07:45] we know that this is our son and we know that he was born blind but how he sees now we do not know
[00:07:50] nor do we know who opened his eyes ask him he's of age he will speak for himself
[00:07:56] as parents said these things because they feared the Jews for the Jews had already agreed that if
[00:08:02] anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue therefore his parents
[00:08:08] said he's of age ask him we see here that the Jews didn't believe the story when they heard it and
[00:08:16] I can't blame them who would so they make attempts at verifying the story and your first note
[00:08:25] says it is good to verify the things that people claim to happen in God's name
[00:08:31] it's good to verify those things because sometimes they're really not done in God's name
[00:08:36] and maybe sometimes they haven't even happened at all and people are trying to get something from us
[00:08:42] might be trying to scam us or get our money or something well it's good to verify these things if
[00:08:47] you say that's happening in God's name we can try to verify how do we verify now we'll be go to his
[00:08:52] word and we verify and if things line up maybe he did a miracle today he does miracles today
[00:08:59] but if you just find someone who keeps claiming things in God's name and they're not really
[00:09:03] happening it's a red flag about whoever's saying that now the Pharisees did a good thing they say
[00:09:09] let's verify this but if they were being honest they would have found out that Jesus was from God
[00:09:15] but they didn't want to find that out they were doing from the start they asked the man's parents
[00:09:21] they say that themselves maybe they really didn't happen they're just they're just saying this so
[00:09:26] they go to his parents how did this happen man's parents said here's what we know we know this
[00:09:31] is our son we know who is born blind we know now he can see but we don't know how this happened
[00:09:40] we don't know who's responsible once you go ask him he can speak for himself he's old enough that's
[00:09:47] it and so again in verse 22 we're given the reason that the parents were a bit vague in their
[00:09:52] response because I think they knew more than they were saying and that reason that they were vague
[00:09:58] is fear particularly in this case fear of excommunication from the synagogue and kick them out of church
[00:10:09] as parents said these things because they feared the Jews for the Jews had already agreed that if
[00:10:14] anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue they say if you
[00:10:19] don't told the line we can't have you here and his parents want it to be there they wanted to be
[00:10:25] part of the synagogue of the church body maybe there was some social aspect to that maybe it
[00:10:32] was shameful to be kicked out of the synagogue I'm sure it would have been would have been
[00:10:37] and remember as we read this John uses the term Jews to refer to religious leadership
[00:10:42] this could be Pharisees they could be members of the Sanhedrin they could be temple priest that
[00:10:47] type of person but as a principle should the leaders of our faith make us fearful
[00:10:53] should they strike fear into the hearts of the people if we don't kind of told their line even
[00:11:00] to the extent that the people would rather lie or cover the truth rather than speak the truth
[00:11:10] despite how hard it may be to hear I mean the truth sometimes is hard to hear the truth is
[00:11:15] sometimes hard to speak and if you're getting pressure socially from leaders even spiritual leaders
[00:11:22] to kind of tamp down on what you're saying here if you know it's the truth you should proclaim it
[00:11:26] from the mountaintops that might give you an insight about there maybe is an agenda here why can't
[00:11:35] the truth come out if you don't say what we want you to say we can't have you here that should
[00:11:40] speak to our spirits and the Holy Spirit would should testify to our hearts to say stand on the
[00:11:45] truth matter what any man or woman says if you know it's the truth because God's words says so
[00:11:52] don't be afraid to proclaim it and it shouldn't be that way we should not fear our leaders within
[00:11:57] the faith within the church if we do I think there's something wrong unless they're preaching the
[00:12:02] straight gospel to you and it's convicting you and you're afraid of your punishment internally
[00:12:07] that's a little different we should thank them for that but if you know something's just not right
[00:12:13] stand on the truth and proclaim it because truly we should all be eager to champion the truth
[00:12:19] congregants pastors any other leaders in the church but sadly the Jewish leaders of that day
[00:12:24] relied upon this fear and they relied upon the fear to wield over these people and to oppress the
[00:12:32] people because think about it over 90% they say of people in those days were illiterate they
[00:12:39] depended on the Pharisees and those types of people to give them the truth of God's word so they
[00:12:43] had to trust them they figured I don't know I can't read I have to trust what my leaders say
[00:12:49] and by doing that they suppressed the truth because they could read they knew it was in the
[00:12:54] scriptures but they didn't give it all to the people or they even spoke against it at times
[00:13:01] Romans 118 speaks about this where Paul writes for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
[00:13:06] against all undodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth
[00:13:13] it's bad enough if you're speaking the falsehoods but if you're keeping back the truth that's just as bad
[00:13:21] it says God the wrath of God has revealed from heaven against all undodliness and unrighteousness
[00:13:28] of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth it's you might as well I
[00:13:34] to keep the truth from coming to light and later in Romans 1 Paul says though they know God's
[00:13:40] righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but
[00:13:46] give approval to those who practice them there's certain people that will sin but there's other people
[00:13:53] some of the same people who encourage others to sin too your religious leaders were happy to deny
[00:14:00] Jesus as Christ they they were happy to deny that and they were trying to get others to deny him too
[00:14:06] they were strong arming others to deny Christ because he'd been around for a year and a half or so by
[00:14:13] now making waves and they had come to an agreement to say if anyone says he's Christ they're out
[00:14:18] and the people knew this your next note says be careful not to tempt or even coerce others to sin
[00:14:27] rather resolve to bring the truth to light no matter the cost no matter the cost it might cost you
[00:14:34] your job it might cost you fellowship in a specific quote unquote synagogue or church but if
[00:14:40] you stand on the truth you can sleep well at night knowing that on judgment day your conscience is
[00:14:46] going to be clear in verse 24 where you continue so for the second time they called the man who had
[00:14:55] been blind and said to him give glory to God we know that this man is a sinner he answered whether
[00:15:02] he is a sinner I do not know they're speaking of Jesus being a sinner one thing I do know though
[00:15:07] is that I was blind now I see they said to him what did he do to you how did he open your eyes
[00:15:16] he answered them I've told you already and you would not listen why do you want to hear it again do
[00:15:21] you also want to be as disciples now he's becoming bolder what makes you that bold the truth does
[00:15:28] I was blind this morning now I can see and he's speaking to the Pharisees who have the ability to
[00:15:34] kick him out of the synagogue and he says oh do you want to be his disciples too you know he knows
[00:15:39] he's kind of slapping them in the face by saying that but the truth gives us boldness
[00:15:45] verse 28 and they reviled him saying you were his disciple but we're disciples of Moses we know
[00:15:51] that God has spoken to Moses but as for this man we do not know where he comes from
[00:15:56] and the man answered why this is an amazing thing you do not know where he comes from and yet he
[00:16:01] opened my eyes verse 31 we know that God does not listen to sinners but if anyone is a worshiper of God
[00:16:08] and does his will God listens to him never since the world began as has it been heard that anyone
[00:16:15] opened the eyes of a man born blind this man were not from God he could do nothing
[00:16:21] and they answered him you were born an utter sin and would you teach us
[00:16:28] and they cast them out I guess they had no argument after he said that because he was speaking
[00:16:36] the truth to power there's nothing left you can say you know you really become kind of embarrassed
[00:16:41] and put in a unfortunate position when you find yourself arguing against what you know is the truth
[00:16:47] and a father of people hear that you look foolish and so first these Pharisees talk to the man when
[00:16:53] they heard about it well let's verify this let's talk to him so they did you told them a story
[00:16:58] then they went to his parents told them the same story then he went back to the man they can't
[00:17:03] find the answer they're looking for they accuse him of being a sinner they accused Jesus of being
[00:17:08] a sinner they pretried to persuade the man toward their perspective about Jesus oh yeah he's a
[00:17:15] sinner too in your center they try to plan his emotions and a sense of religious duty saying come
[00:17:23] on do the right thing glorify God and deny Christ but he wasn't persuaded and he stood upon the truth
[00:17:36] and it was really something they should have been doing all along they had come up with their
[00:17:40] traditions and they were stalwarts for their traditions their interpretation of the law as an
[00:17:46] oppression to the people and they told the people if you don't believe the way we believe you don't
[00:17:49] practice the way we practice you're just not up up to snuff you gotta go they weren't worried about
[00:17:56] the truth they had their own truth and they kind of liked where they were sitting because they had
[00:18:02] all this power and influence in the people if someone came along and said actually I'm the Lord that
[00:18:09] you say you're serving they wouldn't want to hear that they think oh no we got a really good thing
[00:18:13] going here thanks but no thanks Jesus and they wanted to just snuff him out too right away because he
[00:18:20] actually threatened their system your next note is another warning for us says beware spiritual leaders
[00:18:28] who play on your emotions or suppress what you know is the truth this man in the afternoon as
[00:18:36] opposed to the morning could see for himself and when you can see something for yourself
[00:18:42] and you know because you've seen it with your own eyes and somebody comes by and says hey by the way
[00:18:46] the sky is green and you say no it's not the sky's blue I can see it with my own eyes
[00:18:53] that's a red flag if you know the truth but if you don't know the truth let's say you've never
[00:18:59] seen the sky you've been blind from birth no one's given you sight yet take that analogy and take
[00:19:05] to the scripture if you don't know what the Bible says and someone comes along and tells you what
[00:19:09] the Bible says you could either believe them or you could go to the Bible yourself and find out
[00:19:15] for yourself and you go to the Bible and you say I've seen it for myself I know what it says
[00:19:20] what you're saying is true because I verified it I went to his parents I went to the man I went back
[00:19:24] to the parents I went to the source I went to the word no if you never know the source never
[00:19:29] know the word you take everybody yet they're a word now you're putting your faith in your
[00:19:34] basing your the foundation of your faith on how honest a fallen man can be at any particular moment
[00:19:43] and that's a dangerous place to be we want to stand on the foundation of the solid rock of the
[00:19:48] the word of God not on what any particular man or woman would say to us without checking first
[00:19:58] with God's word and so now we find ourselves in verse 27 and for the third time
[00:20:04] the man tells a story the truth just doesn't calculate with the Pharisees they don't want to hear it
[00:20:13] he told this story now for the third time overall the second time to the same people
[00:20:17] but they wouldn't have it and they resort to accusing now him of being a sinner too they figure
[00:20:21] we can't argue the facts let's argue against the man his credibility he's a sinner they say in
[00:20:28] the legal sphere if the facts are on your side pound the facts he said and they say
[00:20:36] if the facts are not on your side pound the table you just make a lot of noise
[00:20:42] and argue against the man instead of the facts let's not get bogged down with the facts they say
[00:20:46] right well we want to know the facts the facts of the scripture of God's word that's where truth is found
[00:20:54] and so once they heard it again they did what they said they would do they cast them out
[00:21:00] and they resort to what they call the adhamanim attack you're attacking now the man
[00:21:04] not the message which is the important part you're just attacking me instead of dealing with
[00:21:09] the issue at hand which was Jesus Christ claiming to be the Messiah doing miracles on the Sabbath day
[00:21:15] that's what the issue was about now they're just focused on all you're just a sinner we can't
[00:21:20] believe anything you say bad argument because the facts stand they scoffed at this man and they said
[00:21:30] oh will you teach us your sinner are you gonna teach us where the Pharisees it's so prideful
[00:21:35] you can just hear the pride dripping from these lines here they weren't willing to learn
[00:21:41] anything new they thought they knew everything there was nothing to learn
[00:21:46] but the man responds again with truth and he says God doesn't listen to sinners he's saying right
[00:21:53] this is a premise that you have taught us God doesn't listen to sinners he's giving back to them
[00:21:57] what they have taught to him that's why they put down their arguments at the end and says you know
[00:22:01] what just go he says if Jesus was not God of God he could do nothing isn't that right Pharisees
[00:22:09] isn't that what you told us God doesn't listen to sinners and if Jesus was not of God he couldn't do
[00:22:14] anything and you know this has never happened before no one born blind has ever gained sight
[00:22:20] they knew it and he says you don't know him but you say you're from God
[00:22:29] your next note
[00:22:32] it says truth always trumps baseless emotional accusations and at this time in the conversation
[00:22:39] the Pharisees were getting pretty emotional and they started lobbing these accusations out of
[00:22:45] their emotion at the man and all he responded with was truth truth always trumps
[00:22:55] these baseless emotional accusations so don't focus on the emotion if you have the truth it's just
[00:23:00] the truth the truth is on your side don't fold under the pressure of society
[00:23:06] of an employer of a neighbor or a family member if you have the truth and you know it
[00:23:14] it could be biblical truth but it could be a truth in business or if you know the account
[00:23:19] numbers you just know what they are if someone's given you the business and you have the proof
[00:23:24] you see here is the proof I don't have to yell and get all excited to just look at the facts
[00:23:29] same thing in our spiritual way we got to stand up for the truth of God's message in the heat of
[00:23:34] those moments you stand on the truth today we've heard that axiom I said it earlier speak the
[00:23:41] truth to power we probably heard that you speak truth to power someone comes and starts attacking
[00:23:47] you personally let's say you're an employer an employee comes in and they're upset because
[00:23:51] they got suspended because they relate to work three times in a week or whatever it is and
[00:23:56] they're yelling at you and you're the boss and you let them spot off and then at the end you say
[00:24:00] but you sign the contract that says if you're late three times in a week you're suspended see
[00:24:05] you're signature and you show calmly what do they say they might just say all your jerk and walk
[00:24:12] out but that's not arguing the facts it's just responding truth here's the truth
[00:24:21] truth the truth always has a way of deescalating or diffusing or removing arguments
[00:24:28] in the end here the Pharisees had no more arguments they just said you got to go I'm done with you
[00:24:36] that's what this man did he spoke truth to power and the truth prevailed we're reading about it two
[00:24:41] thousand years later verse 35
[00:24:48] Jesus heard that they'd cast him out and having found him he said do you believe in the Son of Man
[00:24:55] and I love this verse he answered and who is he sir that I may believe in him
[00:25:03] Jesus said to him you have seen him and it is he who is speaking to you he said Lord I believe
[00:25:10] and he worshiped him remember how we must pay attention to not only the physical event
[00:25:18] of Jesus actions here but the spiritual truth within it as well and this is the same throughout
[00:25:25] scripture in verse one from last week we saw that this man was not seeking Jesus he was just there
[00:25:35] but that Jesus passed by and saw the man and gave him sight
[00:25:42] now in verse 35 and 36 Jesus asks him if he believes in the Son of Man
[00:25:48] and the man admits he doesn't even know who the Son of Man is
[00:25:51] and who is he sir that I may believe
[00:25:58] Jesus responds and I like how Jesus responds here he says you have seen him this man has never
[00:26:04] seen anything as light before that day you have seen him and it's he who's speaking to you
[00:26:12] and it is then that this man says Lord identifies him as Lord and he confesses I believe
[00:26:22] this man received his first his sight first before he confessed Jesus as Lord didn't even know who he was
[00:26:31] and this is also how we come to Jesus once he opens our eyes to recognize him for who he is
[00:26:39] and it's then that we believe and come to him like the man did
[00:26:44] you don't walk through your life saying I believe in Jesus who is he I don't know I don't know yet
[00:26:49] you see him you realize who he is because he's he's showing you the truth of him and you say
[00:26:56] you're my Lord and when we come he acts first he makes the first move toward us gives us light
[00:27:05] through the word to the gospel and then our eyes are open and say oh I can see in them we respond
[00:27:13] look at first John chapter 4
[00:27:19] John the Apostle of the same author here says there is no fear in love we shouldn't fear our leaders
[00:27:24] but perfect love casts out fear don't be afraid don't be afraid to come and talk through scriptures or
[00:27:31] talk through issues with Christian brethren leaders are not he says for fear has to do with
[00:27:37] punishment and whoever fears has not been perfected in love we don't fear our eternal punishment
[00:27:43] as believers anymore because it's been dealt with by Christ we don't fear that anymore the world
[00:27:47] may fear it verse 19 John writes we love because he first loved us and what's another way to say
[00:27:55] that we love because he loved us first this man the blind man had no fear of the Pharisees you
[00:28:04] could see it in his words he was going toe to toe with him but his parents did his parents feared
[00:28:11] the Pharisees his parents feared men more than they feared God I think it's healthy sometimes to ask
[00:28:21] ourselves when we're faced with doing something that may offend people or cause some emotions to
[00:28:32] rise and maybe make a conversation uncomfortable but we know it's right are we more fearful in those
[00:28:40] moments of man's consequences or or gods maybe your god's man or god's woman in that moment to
[00:28:49] deliver a message and if we shy away from it god has to find someone else and he will but if we're
[00:28:56] putting that place we should be obedient to the truth of God's word are we more fearful of
[00:29:04] man's consequences than of gods are we more concerned with the glory that comes from man rather
[00:29:11] than the glory that comes from God on judgment day we're not looking for our best friend or
[00:29:15] a neighbor to say well done good good faithful servant we're looking for God to say that to us
[00:29:21] because on judgment day you're not going to see your best friend in front of you with the keys
[00:29:26] to the kingdom we're going to see God Almighty think back have you ever held back think of a time
[00:29:36] maybe you've held back on fighting for the truth for the sake of someone else's feelings for the
[00:29:43] sake of comfort for the sake of let's just sweep it under the rug maybe they'll go away
[00:29:50] maybe for the sake of someone not liking you anymore for the sake of staying comfortable the sake
[00:29:57] of avoiding awkwardness confrontation looking back was it worth it was it worth it to cover from that
[00:30:11] when now you have to answer for that to the Lord when you give an account in we all have to give an
[00:30:16] account what would have happened if the more the man who born blind who received his sight that they
[00:30:24] knew that Christ had healed him and he saw the Lord and came to faith well what would have happened
[00:30:28] if in this story he would have caved to the pressure of the Pharisees and denied Christ that day
[00:30:34] I mean we might be still reading about this story but it would be in a different light
[00:30:38] we'd still be getting the same lesson of don't cave to the pressure stand on the truth no matter
[00:30:43] what it costs you we'd be reading instead of a travesty of truth when an opportunity presented
[00:30:51] itself for him to give glory to God to Jesus Christ walking on earth and he let it go
[00:30:58] and when it happens to you like it happened to this man when Jesus changes you you can't deny
[00:31:05] you know it's true look at all the disciples who went to their death proclaiming Jesus Christ's Lord
[00:31:11] they said if you don't deny him we're gonna crucify you upside down we're gonna stone you to death
[00:31:16] we're gonna skin you alive we're gonna boil you an oil they said I want to deny it I know it's true
[00:31:21] I've seen it I've touched him I've heard it's true take my life I know what's on the other side of death
[00:31:26] they all went to their grave never renouncing Christ because they knew it it happened to them
[00:31:34] like this man it happened to me I was blind now I see sorry guys that's the truth
[00:31:41] even when it cost him the synagogue and I'm sure he probably would have been ready to fight
[00:31:49] for losing more he met Christ it happened to him you're next note says as Christians we should
[00:31:59] always stand for the truth come what may if it cost me my job if it cost me my life like the disciples
[00:32:10] I know what's what's on the other side I know what's coming eternal life
[00:32:17] sure this man lost his place in the synagogue but that was no consequence to him he knew who
[00:32:24] was running the place anyway once you saw their true color see thought why do I want to be a part of
[00:32:27] that anyway you guys are suppressing the truth you're not standing on the truth I know the truth
[00:32:32] I'm living the truth it literally happened to me you're not with me on this I'd rather not be with
[00:32:38] you anyway he saw what was more important that day and he'd never seen anything in his life
[00:32:48] he proclaimed the truth that Jesus who he now knew as the son of man had healed him
[00:32:57] and those who would seek to suppress the truth would have to answer to the Lord for their own
[00:33:01] actions and he was okay with that and so now Jesus teaches us from this interaction throughout
[00:33:10] chapter 9 at the end he gives us three verses he says in verse 39 for judgment I came into this world
[00:33:19] that those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind some of the Pharisees near him
[00:33:28] heard these things and said to him are we also blind Jesus said to them if you were blind you would
[00:33:35] have no guilt but now that you say we see your guilt remains Jesus set out to proclaim this
[00:33:45] teaching this day and knowing this he again decided to use a miraculous object lesson first
[00:33:51] this was the day that he would teach us the message about who he was but he's the judge
[00:33:57] that he's the son of man and he says I'm gonna give them a message about spiritual blindness today
[00:34:04] and I think before I do that I'll give him an object lesson I'm going to heal a man who is born blind
[00:34:08] something that's never been done that'll get their attention then I can give him the message
[00:34:12] that I've come to give today so he uses this miracle first and he says when when the kind of dust
[00:34:18] settles over this he says I came into the world for judgment oh you think okay fine what does
[00:34:27] it judge do even as far back as the first century and even prior to that a judge is understood
[00:34:33] to determine the facts of a case determine the law in the case and Jesus is the ultimate judge
[00:34:40] he came to divide with the truth with judgment here's the truth what side you fall on
[00:34:49] he's the judge who determines who is truly a child of God despite any appearances by the Pharisees
[00:34:55] they looked apart definitely or claims they made they make claims where of God and we should we
[00:35:00] know better he's the judge of that he knows their hearts he determines who is a true child of
[00:35:08] God in the heart and who isn't but just looks the part he knows the truth because he is the truth
[00:35:19] and your next note says Jesus is the judge of truth because he is the truth I'm the way and the
[00:35:28] truth and the life
[00:35:30] he's the ultimate judge you can't argue with the judge the ultimate judge
[00:35:39] verse 39 he says that those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind now we
[00:35:47] like the first part of that oh he's gonna give a sight to the blind what a sweet savior that is
[00:35:51] praise God but he also says that those who see he'll make blind why's that how does that
[00:36:00] how do you reconcile that well the Lord gives sight to those who are blind we've just seen this
[00:36:06] in throughout chapter 9 he gives spiritual sight to those who are spiritually blind and he
[00:36:12] spiritually blinds those in judgment as a judgment who claim to have spiritual sight but they don't
[00:36:19] because they're frauds this is what little you think you have and you're claiming you have this
[00:36:26] sight I'm gonna take that away from you I'm gonna out you to the people and you've met people like
[00:36:35] this and they don't have to be in the church but the church is the worst the church is the worst
[00:36:41] place to have these type of people these frauds who say they're one thing but they're not but in
[00:36:46] business in politics there's frauds out there they say they're one thing or they say they have the
[00:36:52] the key to success or are on and on or like you know whatever it might be but they don't have it
[00:36:59] they're imposterous if you ever meet anyone who claims that they've got the Christianity thing the
[00:37:08] the whole god thing nailed down that's a red flag okay that they've mastered the utter Christianity
[00:37:17] or similar things I don't know if anyone would be so bold to say those things but you don't have
[00:37:21] to say the words to kind of get the message across you can see where people are going and say
[00:37:25] you know I think you're making some big claims here let's check that and let's verify that
[00:37:29] against the word but people who do this and they know they're doing it they don't have Jesus in their
[00:37:33] hearts they're in it for themselves or they're teaching for shameful gain as we're told in the
[00:37:39] word those types of people should make themselves known by their actions and and the Lord will reveal
[00:37:44] them this is what little you have here to scan people I'm gonna take that from you too in time
[00:37:49] and if it's even on judgment day you'll get yours no one gets away with anything
[00:37:56] these people who do that who use and this is really what it means to use God's name and vain
[00:38:01] to use it for other me for other things to gain from it I'm gonna go to war in God's name
[00:38:08] I'm gonna have a business in God's name and it's about God but I'm not even Christian there's
[00:38:14] people out there like that I watch a documentary about atheist pastors a while back I might have
[00:38:19] shown a clip a while back and they had their faces darked out and their voices are changed
[00:38:25] some some are on there with their faces and their voices and they say I can't give it up it's a
[00:38:30] good job and I can't do anything else but I don't believe these people don't have the Holy
[00:38:36] Spirit living within them they're doing it for other agendas and the Lord will confirm their
[00:38:44] unbelief in their hearts if they continue to abuse his name as a judgment upon them unless
[00:38:51] until they truly repent now we see from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 we went through this
[00:38:57] a while back we were reading verse 29 for to everyone who has more will be given that sounds great
[00:39:05] we like that part and he'll have an abundance yes thank you Jesus but from the one who has not
[00:39:12] even what he has will be taken away what and Jesus goes on and he explains in Matthew 10 the
[00:39:20] purpose of these parables same idea the disciples came and said to him why do you speak to them in
[00:39:25] parables and he answered them to you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven
[00:39:29] but to them it has not been given for the one who has more will be given and he will have an abundance
[00:39:37] but from the one who has not even what he has will be taken away you see the message here this is
[00:39:43] why I speak to them in parables because seeing they do not see they only claim to see
[00:39:49] and hearing they do not hear nor do they understand they say they understand but they don't
[00:39:55] those who have those who have what those who have the spirit of God within them those who have
[00:40:02] the truth those who have truly God in them those who are born again will receive more truth
[00:40:10] in abundance as they go on in their spiritual life because the spirit will lead them into all truth
[00:40:15] what little knowledge of the truth that they think they understand as unbelievers on the other hand
[00:40:23] will be taken away so you think you know who God is look at how many times Jesus has said I'm
[00:40:30] the son of man before Abraham was I am claiming to be God the God of the Old Testament and they said
[00:40:35] no you're not no you're not you're crazy you're a sinner they rejected him over and over and over
[00:40:41] this is fine you have some truth because you're in the temple as a Pharisee you know the Torah
[00:40:47] you know the scriptures somehow it's in your mind but it's not in your heart and I'm going to take
[00:40:51] away your understanding of it too as a judgment if you continue down this path and you don't
[00:40:58] repent and come to me you're gonna be blinder than you are now further away from me than you are
[00:41:04] now as judgment how can I do that because he's the judge he gets to
[00:41:12] because for people like that it's not a genuine faith it's a counterfeit faith
[00:41:18] it's a faith that can't save it's a phony faith imitation
[00:41:25] and it's an ornamental faith it looks good but it can't save
[00:41:31] look at how good the Pharisees looked they look pretty good ornamental a Christmas tree you put
[00:41:38] ornament on it so it looks nice they looked good but the faith that they had couldn't save them
[00:41:46] because it wasn't about the heart it was about looking good your next note
[00:41:52] says be as discerning as possible
[00:41:55] that you as well as your spiritual leaders do not merely have an ornamental faith
[00:42:02] one that you know looks good you got to put on a show
[00:42:07] dress nice say the right things and all that
[00:42:11] keep up appearances but if it's not the true faith it's a waste of time
[00:42:20] and it's interesting here some of the Pharisees had understood the distinction that Jesus
[00:42:24] was now making between physical blindness and spiritual blindness and at the end of this conversation
[00:42:30] with him a few then came up to Jesus and said Jesus are we also blind and it could have been
[00:42:37] taken two ways I think one is they would say scoffingly are we blind too like ha ha
[00:42:44] never that what could never be possible are we blind to Jesus is that what you're saying
[00:42:49] or were some of them legitimately asking him Jesus am I blind tell me am I blind
[00:42:59] in a repentant way I think some came like that too because we were out of
[00:43:06] Nicodemus people like that who were Pharisees but really were intrigued by him
[00:43:13] and I think some might have said are we blind too but some might have said hey Jesus am I
[00:43:19] blind I don't want to be
[00:43:26] they did look the part all of them looked the part they were all were lea dorned with
[00:43:32] all the extravagant guard with the long tassels of the big headdresses
[00:43:36] but their hearts were wicked and wretched and Jesus knew it as the judge
[00:43:43] so when Jesus gives us sight through the gospel message it is only then that we become conscious of
[00:43:49] our sin in a way like we had never been conscious before we become conscious of our previous blindness
[00:43:56] we said I can't believe I never saw this before I couldn't see this before I couldn't see how
[00:44:00] my sin affected my eternity before how it affected God before it's an offense to the holy God
[00:44:06] of the universe I never sought that way before I have a different perspective now he gives us
[00:44:11] this spiritual sight and we realize that we were blind until Jesus gave us the sight
[00:44:17] through the gospel now we realize our blindness
[00:44:21] so I think spiritually speaking you can either either don't know your blind spiritually speaking
[00:44:26] you don't know your blind or you know that you used to be blind
[00:44:32] but you can never say I'm spiritually blind and I know it because your pride won't let you say that
[00:44:41] because we think we know everything if someone came to you and said oh I've knowledge and
[00:44:48] you're blind to it and it's salvation the world might say no I'm not I'm not blind to it there is
[00:44:55] no salvation or I'm not blind to it your religion is a bunch of holy I'm not blind to it I've seen it
[00:45:01] and I've rejected it spiritually speaking you either don't know your blind or you know that you
[00:45:08] used to be because now humble you can say that well you can never say yeah I'm spiritually blind right
[00:45:14] now and I know it because of our pride God wants to humble our hearts so that we can say yes Lord
[00:45:27] I couldn't see until I came to you not oh I have it all figured out I don't need you to see Lord
[00:45:34] I got it pride in the heart of man that's what was happening here at the end of John 9
[00:45:42] the Pharisees asked Jesus in whatever way they did are we also blind
[00:45:51] now we know that some did respond in that prideful way because of Jesus response he says in verse 41
[00:45:59] if you were blind you would have no guilt meaning if you were actually blind I wouldn't hold it against
[00:46:05] you because you just don't know but now that you say we see you say oh I can see
[00:46:16] because you say that your guilt remains because I know you can't see
[00:46:22] he's saying if you're really blind fine you'll get there I'm not holding it against you but
[00:46:26] you're claiming to have sight but you really don't have it and because of that you stand guilty
[00:46:33] before me claiming that you have something of mine that I didn't give you I know I didn't give
[00:46:39] it to you it's mine to give spiritual sight it's his alone to give look at Psalm 146 says the Lord
[00:46:49] opens the eyes of the blind only the Lord does that it had never been done to that point before
[00:46:54] someone warned blind only the Lord can do that and it was apparent that there was still blind even
[00:47:01] to those who were believers in Christ but not Christ Christ Jesus knew that
[00:47:08] but for those around Jesus who were believers could also see that they were blind how
[00:47:13] they gave themselves away they didn't recognize Jesus as Lord it's a dead giveaway
[00:47:20] if Jesus gives you sight you'll proclaim him as Christ well they were saying we have sight but
[00:47:24] you're not the Christ oh sorry dead giveaway you obviously cannot see the sight with the sight
[00:47:30] that Christ gives you're just seeing with your own sight which is blindness really you're claiming
[00:47:37] to know you're claiming to have this sight but denying Christ and so it wasn't their words that
[00:47:43] gave them the way they could talk a good talk oh we have sight we have the prophets and we we
[00:47:47] memorize the scriptures we dress like this look at how great we dress their words
[00:47:53] because aren't what gave them away but their actions did you deny Christ sorry you can't get
[00:48:01] around that wasn't there words that gave them way it was their actions people today can talk a
[00:48:09] good talk well how do they live their life that's fruit of a Christian walk as your life
[00:48:15] someone once said our whole life is a sermon I forget who said that but
[00:48:27] our whole life is worship you don't just say your Christian on Sunday and say the right
[00:48:30] things and then you go off and you live completely against Christ and deny him through your actions
[00:48:35] all week again like Jacob said the law isn't about doing good enough or impressing guy with your
[00:48:43] good works to achieve the law that's not why we do things it's just we do the things of God because
[00:48:51] now it's who we are and we glorify him through that and we have a holier, more sanctified life
[00:48:57] by living by obeying his law and David said I love following your law it's not even hard if you
[00:49:02] just walk with God you have less trouble in this life now we're gonna have trouble or it's gonna
[00:49:08] be easier to get through the trouble but verse 32 I want to get to this point he says never since
[00:49:18] the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind this haven't
[00:49:22] happened before this just has not happened ever but God did because he's the only one who can
[00:49:29] and the Jews were claiming that they had this site when they didn't how do you think that man felt
[00:49:35] he thought no I actually was blind this morning and I actually can see today and you guys are
[00:49:40] telling me that you can see so Jesus and judgment took what little they they thought they had
[00:49:46] away from them he's the light of the world that brings sight to the blind he's the judge that
[00:49:53] determines who's that person of God and who isn't no matter what they say and so it is he who we
[00:50:02] should seek to please not man don't worry about what man says and I'll leave you with this
[00:50:10] in this account the parents of the man crumbled under the social pressure and did not confess
[00:50:14] the truth about Jesus for the sake of their status or their feelings or of others feelings but the
[00:50:21] man born blind didn't crumble he stood upon the truth no matter what it cost him and I want to read
[00:50:27] John 12 to close John 12 verse 40 says he has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart
[00:50:37] less they see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them Isaiah
[00:50:42] said these things because he saw the glory his glory and spoke of him nevertheless many even
[00:50:47] of the authorities believed in him but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it
[00:50:55] so that they would not be put out of the synagogue for they loved the glory that comes from man more
[00:51:01] than the glory that comes from God so much so that they didn't confess Christ please don't do that
[00:51:10] please don't put so much stock into what man says that you would not confess Jesus
[00:51:16] in your faith walk be humble be teachable be concerned more with God's consequences than man's
[00:51:27] don't be superficial Christian be genuine guard against those whom the spirit shows you are
[00:51:34] inauthentic it shows in authenticity shows people can tell pray for those who can talk to talk but
[00:51:45] don't walk the walk and that might be you or me today let the pray for ourselves
[00:51:51] their words may not betray them but their actions always will our actions will be treas
[00:51:59] if we try to put up a front that were Christian but really not
[00:52:03] pray they'll see the true Jesus come to true and humble faith and as we as well must make sure
[00:52:08] that we say true to the faith true to Jesus taking a stand for the truth being genuine in our
[00:52:14] walk for him in our family and our workplace may come to cost it may come to cost but standing
[00:52:21] upon the truth is always worth it and we serve the God of truth he sent his son who is the light
[00:52:31] of the world that brings sight to the blind calls himself the way the truth in the life
[00:52:38] we can't gain access to God through anyone else put him Jesus Christ in fact John 3 says we can't
[00:52:43] even see the kingdom unless Jesus opens our eyes to see it he's the one who made a way for us by
[00:52:50] paying our debt for our sin by placing our eternal trust in him rather than man or in a ship
[00:53:00] he'll save us through our faith in him amen amen please stand with me as we pray in closing
[00:53:13] Father in heaven
[00:53:20] John chapter 9 we talked about blindness and sight and Jesus I pray that you show us
[00:53:25] our blind spots if we have any I'm sure we do we're human beings show us our blind spots and I pray
[00:53:30] that you give us the wisdom through your word and through prayer to bring light to those blind
[00:53:39] spots Lord we want to reflect you in our lives so please help us to see where we can't see right
[00:53:43] now see what we're missing help us to to know where where we need to address more prayer
[00:53:52] more ways that we can reflect you in our lives help us to see others around us that need you
[00:53:59] to invite them to church to hear the gospel for themselves so they can have the spiritual life
[00:54:04] for themselves and our family but Lord as we go I pray that you bless people in this congregation
[00:54:09] that need still physical healing to come back to full health or other things that are happening
[00:54:15] financial issues you've got all that in your control Jesus pray for blessings upon this congregation
[00:54:21] now we go go out and find others to bring in and we pray in Jesus name amen amen