Sermon - John 9:1-41 - Light of the World

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pitts Creek Church

Sermon - John 9:1-41 - Light of the World

March 30, 2014

In the early church new initiates into Christianity would undergo a two year period of instruction from the Old Testament scriptures. Then, during Lent, the gospel of Jesus Christ would be revealed to them and they would be taught how Jesus had fulfilled the scriptures. This education in the gospel of Jesus Christ would start with John, chapter nine, where we have the amazing story of a man emerging from the blindness of unbelief into the light of faith. We will get to this, but first let's pray.

Good morning, Lord. The day has dawned with the gift of sunlight, and I awaken from sleep into the light and grace of Christ. Thank you for this new day. Stay with me, I pray, shepherding me through all that the day will hold. Lead me into pleasant places, and give me the provisions I will need if I find myself in difficulty or danger. Whenever the cup of gladness overflows, help me to recognize that it is filled with your goodness and mercy. In praise and anticipation I begin this day; in Jesus’ name. Amen..¹

Let's begin with the context of our story from John 9.

John 9:1-41 NIV John 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

So, we have a sign or a miracle. A man blind from birth now has sight. This all by itself is a remarkable event, but in this story it is just the beginning. Let's take a look at the reaction of his neighbors, those who knew him.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." 10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. 11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." 12 "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.

The neighbors barely recognize him. They know him only as a blind man. They have never looked below the surface of his blindness to see who he really is. So when his blindness is taken away they don't recognize him. Neither does the formerly blind man recognize who healed him. All he knows about his healer is his name, Jesus. Let's turn now to the religious leaders of the day to hear their reaction to this miracle.

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided. 17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet."

The Pharisees know who did the healing, and they suspect that he might be sent from God. But their expectation is that anyone sent from God would obey all of God's laws to the letter. Because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, some of the Pharisees did not recognize Jesus for who he truly was. But the man who had been healed sure did. He recognized that the man named Jesus must be a prophet of God. Let's turn now to the reaction of the people who knew this man the best, his parents.

18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" 20 "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

His parents knew full well who had healed their son. They had probably witnesses the healing and recognized Jesus as the rabbi and healer from Galilee. But fear prevented them from talking about their faith. This is the problem most Christians in North America have. We are fearful about sharing our faith with others. We fear what others will say or do if we talk about what God has done for us. So, like this man's parents we remain silent.

There is a very good new movie that shows us a different way. It's is Salisbury right now, and is called God's Not Dead. In this movie a university student is academically threaten by a professor if he publicly professes his faith. The student had a choice, either risk a failing grade by defending his faith, or remain silent. And unlike the parents of the formerly blind man, he accepted the risk and declared his faith. Let's go back to the interrogation of the blind man by the Pharisees.

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this man is a sinner." 25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" 26 Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses!

The formerly blind man who started out only knowing his healer's name, now confesses to be his disciple. He recognizes what Jesus has done in his life. He knows that Jesus is a man of God. So he is now ready to risk everything and follow Jesus, even if this makes the religious establishment angry, which it did. This is the true miracle in the story. A man healed of blindness came to faith in Jesus Christ. But the Pharisees wanted nothing to do with this man. They sent him out of their presence. So, Jesus went and found him. Let's listen to their conversation.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him." 37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

And with that the man who had been born blind, and lived in the darkness of unbelief was reborn to new life in the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Let's pray.

Lord God in heaven, we know that you do so much for us to bring us to faith. We believe in Jesus Christ, but we find it difficult to share our faith with others. We fear what will happen. Calm our fears and grant us courage to witness to our beliefs bringing others to faith. As his disciples we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

1Kimberly Long, Feasting On the Word Worship Companion (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 114.