WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:04.719 Please turn in your Bibles to John chapter 9. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:09.199 So if you are able to, please stand for the reading of God's word. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:14.320 John chapter 9. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:21.519 As he, he being Jesus, was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:23.039 Start continuing in verse 2. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:25.039 His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned? 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.600 This man or his parents said he was born blind. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:30.559 Neither this man nor his parents sinned, Jesus answered. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.679 This came about so that God's works might be displayed in him. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:36.799 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.119 Night is coming when no one can work. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:42.799 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:48.320 After he said these things, he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:52.479 Go, he told him, wash in the pool of Siloam, which means sent. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.240 So he left, washed, and came back seeing. 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:02.240 His neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar said, Isn't this the one who used to sit begging? 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:03.520 And some said, He's the one. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.640 And others were saying, Nobody looks like him, and he kept saying, I'm the one. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:08.879 So they asked him, Well, then how were your eyes opened? 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:13.840 And he answered, The man called Jesus, made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, Go wash in Siloom. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.680 I mean, go to Siloam and wash. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.480 So, when I went and washed, I received my sight. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:19.120 Where is he? 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:19.519 They asked. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:21.120 I don't know, he said. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.480 So they brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:27.760 The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:34.959 Then the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight, and he put mud on his eyes, on my eyes, he told them, I washed and I can see. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:38.560 Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God because he doesn't keep his Sabbath. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:42.159 But others were saying, How can a sinful man perform such signs? 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:43.920 And there was a division among them. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:47.760 Again they asked the blind man, What do you say about him since he opened your eyes? 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:57.599 He's a prophet, and he said, The Jews did not believe this about him, that he was blind and received sight, until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.959 And they asked them, Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:02.480 How then does he now see? 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:06.400 Well, we know this is our son, and that he was born blind, his parents answered. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.199 But we don't know how he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:11.599 Ask him, he's of age, he'll answer for himself. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:14.080 Thanks, Mom and Dad. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:18.639 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:22.879 If anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.039 This is why his parents said he's of age. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:25.759 Ask him. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.960 So a second time they summoned the man who had been born blind. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:30.319 Give glory to God. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:32.000 We know that this man is a sinner. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:34.479 And he answered, whether or not he's a sinner, I don't know. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:37.680 One thing I do know, I was blind, and now I can see. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:40.319 And they asked him, What did he do to you? 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:41.599 How did he open your eyes? 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:44.400 I already told you, he said, and you didn't listen. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:44.719 Why? 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:46.240 Do you want why do you want to hear it again? 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:48.719 You don't want to become one of his disciples, too, do you? 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:50.080 They ridiculed him. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.039 You're this man's disciple. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:52.479 We're Moses' disciples. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.000 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but this man, we don't know where he's from. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.560 This is an amazing thing, the man told them. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.520 You don't know where he's from, and yet he's opened my eyes. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.319 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone's God fearing and does his will, he listens to him. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.159 Throughout history, no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.520 If this man were not from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:17.199 You were entirely born in sin, they replied, and you're trying to teach us? 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:18.719 Then they threw him out. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:24.000 Jesus heard they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he said, Do you believe in the Son of Man? 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:26.080 Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him? 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:26.560 He said. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:27.199 He asked. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:29.199 And Jesus answered, You have seen him. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:31.759 In fact, he is the one speaking with you. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:34.800 I believe, Lord, he said, and he worshipped him. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:43.039 And Jesus said, I came into the world for judgment in order that those who see will see, and those who those who do not see will see, and those who do see will become blind. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:47.759 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, We aren't blind too, are we? 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.639 If you were blind, Jesus told them, you wouldn't have sin. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.840 But now you say we see, your sin remains. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:58.719 And Lord, I thank you so much for this morning, and I ask that you would be glorified as we go through this passage. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.639 Please fill me with your spirit to teach your word. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:06.719 Fill the listeners with your spirit to rightly discern and divide as well, and be glorified today. 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:07.360 In your name. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.159 Amen. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.759 Feel free to have a seat. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:11.280 Okay. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.599 Little bit of foundational work here. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:18.560 Who is the central figure in this passage? 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:20.879 Jesus. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:28.480 Jesus! This was the easiest children's ministry question ever! And there was so much hesitation because you probably thought it's Ben, it's a trick question. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:29.279 Sorry. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.360 So yes, Jesus. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.759 Which is interesting because he's in the beginning and he's in the end. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:40.319 And there's this whole middle part where he's not even physically present there. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:43.920 And yet, this whole thing is about him. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:47.759 So that's the important thing to remember as we go through this passage. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:52.560 This entire passage is about Jesus and what he does. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:05:02.000 Because Jesus is either the light of the world, the restorer of sight, the healer, the son of man, i.e. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:10.319 the Messiah, or he is a false prophet and a troublemaker and can heal people through some demonic way. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:14.399 So that's the, or some other strange aberration of those things. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.879 So this is that's what we're encountering here is who is Jesus? 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:20.399 What did he do here? 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:24.000 So, starting in verse 1, as he was passing by. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.920 This is a loaded statement right here as he was passing by. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.040 Why is it a loaded statement? 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:33.040 We don't have the benefit of context because we're not going through this book. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:40.319 Um, the last thing that happened in the book of John recorded was a mob trying to stone him. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:47.920 And then he passed by and went out of the temple in verse 59 of John 8, depending on your translation. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.079 So he just passed through and was hidden and he went out of the temple. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:58.240 So the last thing we saw was a mob trying to kill Jesus for calling himself the Messiah. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:00.160 Kind of a theme. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:07.519 Here, starting right on, he's passing by and he sees a man blind from birth. 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.199 Okay, this is a duh, but we're still gonna say it. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:27.519 There is a difference between somebody who is uh has degenerative disease and can no longer see, or somebody who uh for some reason has gone, their eyesight has faded and they can no longer see, and someone who is born blind. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:32.879 So someone who is born blind, the dots have never been connected in that way. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:38.720 So it is uh that is something that that's like you know, miracle like 2.0 in that. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:43.279 That it's like you're making somebody see who has never seen before. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.040 How trippy would that be? 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:53.199 So we also know that he's a beggar, because in verse 8, the this the neighbors are saying, Isn't this the the one who used to sit begging? 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:54.399 So obviously that makes sense. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:07:11.600 If you're blind, you can't work, you can't continue the family business, you can't go into uh becoming a bondservant and work for somebody else, and so the only thing you can really do is just sit and beg and have the uh people give you money as a part of their uh alms in that sense. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:16.639 So he's sitting there, and his disciples ask him, Rabbi, who sinned? 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:19.600 This man or his parents, that he was born blind. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.839 So here's a philosophical question. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:26.160 They see this guy, this blind beggar, and they go, Whose fault is this? 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:35.759 And I we don't know if he's actually an earshot with that, but I re I'd like to think that the man sitting there is like, my ears work fine, by the way. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:37.839 So thanks. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:44.480 No, but it's interesting that his disciples see this and basically this has become a philosophical discussion for them. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:46.800 Why is this guy born blind? 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:51.040 Is it his is it this guy's sin or his parents' sin? 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.040 You can expand that even further. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:58.399 Uh, was it, you know, basically because he was born blind, so was it sin that he had yet to commit yet? 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:13.199 And therefore he was preemptively born blind because God saw that beforehand and uh has imputed this preemptively before it even happened, and then he sinned, or was it his parents' fault and he's living the bird, and so is there generational sin involved? 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.120 This all these different things in God's life. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:21.519 Jesus says, Neither is neither this man nor his parents sinned. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:31.040 He cuts through all of those different questions of the things, and instead goes straight to this came about so that God's works might be displayed in him. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.440 That's heavy. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:38.559 You know, this guy has been born blind, right? 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.559 And they're asking whose fault is this? 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.480 And he's saying it's nobody's fault. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.960 This is an occasion for the glory of God. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:48.480 And that's pretty heavy because what are the implications of that? 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:49.440 How old is this guy? 00:08:49.600 --> 00:09:00.000 I mean, he's of age, so we know he's so he has lived this whole life in blindness, and yet it's not because he has uh done something wrong or his parents have done something wrong. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:03.120 It's this is to bring about an occasion for the glory of God. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.600 That's really cool unless you're that guy. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:13.039 And then that sounds like a really raw deal that you've spent your whole life blind, you know, leading up to this moment. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:19.600 No, no, we're not saying that that's what Jesus is saying, that it was because of that that this is happening, but there's an implication with that. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:36.480 It's not crazy that um the disciples are asking who's who sinned that this would happen because that would be a common thought and a common belief in that, whether in Judaism or in pagan belief, that basically this bad thing happened because the gods are angered. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:47.200 And in the covenantal relation uh that is contingent upon our works that we see in the law, you can see that same idea and you can see that thread happening. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.200 You could interpret that through the Old Testament. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:57.279 The problem with that is the book of Job, which the entire book is about this guy didn't do anything wrong and still bad things happened to him. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:06.080 So, having that said, I'm not saying that the Old Testament teaches that suffering is a result of someone's wrongdoing. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:18.559 If I was to teach that illness is a result of wrongdoing, it would be really awkward because I am one of the three elders who does not have illness in their family right now. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:24.799 Just, you know, I'm not saying it, I'm just not not saying it. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:34.080 So with that in mind, this came about that God's works might be displayed in him. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:38.320 Verse 4 we must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:40.639 Night is coming when no one can work. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.000 As long as I'm in the world, I am the light of the world. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:52.159 Throughout this whole time, this whole passage, we see this imagery of seeing, not seeing, day, night. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:59.840 Uh, in this point in time, believe it or not, people would get up when the sun came up. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:02.879 And when the sun went down, not a whole lot you can do. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:05.519 And so they would tend to go to bed early with that. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:13.200 You would have lamps, you would be able to have fire, obviously, in your house, but really you could only do so much by lamp light or firelight. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:17.120 And so what he's saying, uh, night is coming when no one can work. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:23.200 Obviously, he's using this as a metaphor, but that was the real thing in their world, is that when it's dark, the day is done. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.960 In this man's life, everything's dark. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:34.080 He can't see, he has no light in that sense. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:39.360 And then he says in verse 5, Jesus says, As long as I'm in the world, I am the light of the world. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:46.559 This is one of our I am statements that we see in the book of John, which is cool because Jesus is not saying, I can lead you to the light. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:50.559 He's saying, I am the light. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:57.279 And that is what this blind man will encounter in this passage, and what others in the passage will neglect. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:06.799 So it doesn't center around right, doing right, doing wrong in that sense, to where they have, they've been enlightened, they haven't. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:12.399 It doesn't arrive at the right teaching or the wrong teaching, the connection to the Pharisees, the synagogue. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.320 It's all about Jesus. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:18.240 And it's all about do you have Jesus or do you not? 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:24.639 Because he isn't the guide to the light, he is the light, which is amazing. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:32.799 Verse 6, after he said these things, he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:35.360 So we're gonna go outside and we're gonna do this. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.440 No, no. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.000 That is uh unique. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:43.120 We'll call that unique uh in that decision. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:46.480 So he spit on the ground, he made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.440 Why did he do that? 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.240 We don't know, but we know that he did that. 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:55.039 And that's, you know, this is not a formula for how to heal people, obviously. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.080 Thank God. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:05.600 So, but here's what I think is cool, because he did that, spread the mud on the man's eyes, go, he told him, wash in the pool of Siloam. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:07.919 And so he left, washed, and came back saying. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:14.639 There are other people who are healed in the Gospels where the first thing they see is Jesus. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:21.120 Where they are calling out to Jesus, you know, uh, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:24.000 You know, please heal me, please have mercy on me. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:28.240 And then he heals them on the spot, and then they're healed right there, and they see him. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:32.320 We don't hear this man calling out to Jesus in any way, shape, or form. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:46.000 We don't see uh, we don't know that he didn't, of course, but he his first encounter is having something spread on his eyes and somebody told him telling him, Go wash in the pool of Siloam. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:51.519 Now he we know that he knows that his name is Jesus from later in the passage, because he says Jesus did these things. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:52.879 So there's more in the subtext. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:59.120 But ultimately here, the dude had to get up and go and wash. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:06.399 If somebody did this to me, number one, I would be very irate. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:13.440 Number two, I'm not totally convinced I'd be like, yeah, that's plausible. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.679 I'm gonna give that a try. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.519 This guy did. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.960 He got up. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:33.039 Whether he was guided, I'm assuming he was guided to the pool of saddle, and he washed, and he came back seeing what he was told he acted upon in faith. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.240 Which is cool. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:38.080 That's cool to see because he had no guarantee that he was going to come back seeing. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:46.080 So then in verse 8, his neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar said, Isn't this the one who used to sit begging? 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:47.440 And some said, Nah, he's the one. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.120 And others were like, No, he looks like him. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.399 And he kept saying, I'm the one, I'm the guy, yes, it's me. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:52.960 Hi. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:59.840 But obviously, you can see that skepticism there because this guy literally has spent his entire life not seeing, and now he is seeing. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.519 That is a big change. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:07.360 And the first thing you think is not necessarily, well, he must have been supernaturally healed today. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.759 It's so there's discussion on that. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:18.080 And he's it's stirring up a crowd amongst his neighbors here in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.559 And they say, Well, how were your eyes opened? 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.559 Well, if you can see why, how does that happen? 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:30.080 And he said, The man called Jesus, made mud, spread it on his on my eyes, and he told me, Go to Siloom and wash. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.399 So when I went, I washed and I received my sight. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.440 Well, where is he? 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.559 I don't know. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.480 Blind, remember? 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:44.720 And with that, we see he is giving, I love this. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:49.200 He's just giving very clear, specific, answer, honest answers. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:55.679 None of these are very uh spiritual or philosophical in the sense of him being like, well, where is he? 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.440 I think he has gone this direction and his. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.480 I don't know. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:05.360 I just know that I couldn't see and now I can see, which is cool, because that sets the bar in a place that's very accessible for all of us, which is awesome. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:20.399 So continuing in verse 13, they brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees, the artist formerly known as blind, is coming to the Pharisees, and that the day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:23.679 I don't think that was an accident. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:36.559 But with that, this is against the interpretive law of the Pharisees of the interpretation of Sabbath law in Scripture. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:47.360 Does it say in the Old Testament, in the law, that you may not spit on the ground and make mud on the Sabbath? 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.320 No. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:17:02.320 But in their zeal for upholding the law, well-intended zeal, they have gone further and further and further to this point to where the amount of rules that were are a part of this are uh crazy and are insane. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:12.079 And you know, the ones that we like, the one we like to spit out is that uh, I mean, to this day in Jerusalem, you have the uh the Sabbath elevators so that you don't push a button and work. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:20.640 It literally stops on every single floor on the way up and down, so that you're not you're not you're not doing work by pushing the button. 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:22.880 Which sounds crazy, except I've seen it with my own eyes. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:25.680 So, with that, it's a real thing. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:32.640 So here they're concerned that he did something on the Sabbath. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:39.680 At no point do we see the Pharisees going, dude, you're healed. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.839 Is that weird? 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.279 That's kind of crazy. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:50.319 That part has been excluded from their mental paradigm that they're not going, this is amazing. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.960 It's more like we have to get to the bottom of this. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:54.799 Let's figure this out. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:01.839 So they asked him again how he received his sight. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:05.599 He put mud on his eyes, he told them, I washed and I can see. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:10.319 Again, there's no flowery words here, no extrapolation. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:15.119 He's like, I sit in there, he put mud on my eyes, I washed, and here I am. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:19.119 And some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God because he doesn't keep the Sabbath. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:22.640 And others were saying, How can a sinful man perform such signs? 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:24.559 And there was a division among them. 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:38.480 Now, this is interesting, it ties, there's this is like a very, very thin thread that goes into 1 Corinthians, which we are normally going through on Sundays, is that we saw in chapter 1 that the Jews seek signs and the Greek seek wisdom. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:44.960 But we preach Christ, which is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, but to us it is the power of God to salvation. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:57.759 So signs are a big deal, obviously, because it is a in that context and culture, it is a seeming manifestation of the supernatural. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:01.440 And that's why they would be like, no, that's a big deal, obviously. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:07.039 And so there are some that are like, well, that can't be godly because it happened on the Sabbath. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:08.720 That doesn't work within my rules. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:16.160 And then there are some that are saying, this has to be something bigger because look, it happened. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.519 But neither of those people have met Jesus yet. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:34.880 So it's an interesting argument in there, but there's a division among them of whether the main character here, Jesus, is either a sinner not from God, or someone sent from God. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.920 And so they asked the blind man, what do you say about him since he opened your eyes? 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.799 So they put him on the spot. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.200 What do you say? 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.680 What do you say? 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.920 Well, he's he's a prophet. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:46.240 That seems, I mean, like he's he's he at least gave him them. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.240 The Jews did not believe this about him. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.440 What did they not believe? 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:54.559 They didn't believe he was blind and received sight until they summoned the parents of the one who received his eyes. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.839 So they're like, this is a trick. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:07.119 This is clearly a uh one of those little, okay, I'm just gonna say, it's one of those things that you see on TV that they did this crazy supernatural thing that happened, you know? 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:11.920 And it's yeah, it uh is definitely uh can't be real in that sense. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:19.440 And so they summon the parents, the one who had received his sight, and they ask them, is this your son, the one you say was born blind? 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.720 How then does he now see? 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:33.359 So, how many of you who have kids or who have had kids, when somebody in authority says, Hey, can we talk to you about your child? 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.680 Go, maybe this is good news. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:41.039 Not a good moment for mom and dad. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.160 It's also on the Sabbath. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:44.160 You know, this is there's this is a lot going on here. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:48.799 It's like, great, we're being called to the synagogue before the rulers. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:50.960 What did you do? 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:56.880 And they say, Is this your son, the one you say who was born blind? 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.920 How then does he now see? 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.559 They ask him two questions, they ask the parents two questions. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.079 Is this your son? 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.559 Why he seeing? 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:08.799 And in verse 20, they see the response. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:12.799 We know this is our son, and we know that he was born blind. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:16.160 So it's like they're very, very careful in their answer. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:22.319 This is a good courtroom answer, to where it's like, yes, that is our son, and yes, he was born blind. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:27.599 But we don't know how he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:31.119 Ask him, he's of age, he will speak for himself. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:46.880 So they basically punted back to the guy, which is, I mean, to the to their defense, they weren't there, probably, but still, they are being cagey and protecting themselves in that sense because they know what this is about. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:50.319 There's no uncertainty what this is truly about. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:59.759 Jesus at this point has made multiple trips into Jerusalem, on this, particularly on feast days, and has in the eyes of the Pharisees. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.960 Caused an insane amount of trouble each time. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:08.160 And so when they hear what's going on, they've heard this testimony, they see he's now seeing. 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:10.400 Wait a minute, hold on, let me stop for a second. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:12.400 They see he's now seeing. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:23.039 We don't see yet the parents being amazed and overjoyed that their child who was born blind can't can now see that may be happening in the subtext. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.519 We don't know. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.640 But isn't that crazy? 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:29.519 That their biggest concern in this moment is I do not want to be banned from the synagogue. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:36.480 If I'm banned from the synagogue, these people who have power over me, who have banned me from the synagogue, are cutting me off from God. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.480 Which is crazy. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.720 Because who's the light of the world? 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.920 Jesus. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.799 Yes. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.599 Who healed the man born blind? 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.559 Jesus. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.359 Yes. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:23:04.240 And so it is an interesting thing that in the midst, they are not even, we don't even see them celebrating the miracle of their in their own child because of fear that these people who they think are the gateways to God will cut them off. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:09.519 And there's also so many cultural societal implications of that as well. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:11.279 That's a big deal. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:15.119 Your career's over, your friends are gone, family's gone. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.400 That's a big deal. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:21.759 So they were afraid of the, in verse 22, they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:24.720 If anyone confessed him as the Messiah, they would be banned from the synagogue. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.880 So Jesus is cut out of the equation in their mind. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.480 This is a non-option. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:34.799 Jesus being the Messiah is not a possibility in the eyes of the religious leaders here. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.240 So 24, for a second time they summoned the man who had been blind. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.359 They said, Give glory to God. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.559 We know this man's a sinner. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:42.880 It's like, come on, just just let us know. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.079 We know this guy's a sinner. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:47.359 He's like, well, whether or not he's a sinner, I don't know. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:51.359 But what I know is I was blind and now I see. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.480 Which is so cool. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:24:00.720 That is like the best testimony ever in this sense. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:09.440 This was talked about, I believe, last week, uh going through 1 Corinthians that it this whole the power of the testimony. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.039 And this is his testimony. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:15.119 All I know is that I couldn't see and now I do see. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:24.559 The questions you are asking are relevant to me because what is important to me at this moment, I couldn't see and now I do. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.799 And they asked again, why what did he do to you? 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.759 How did he open your eyes? 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:39.599 And just being like, So, one of my favorite things in the world is when uh somebody asked me the same question over and over and over again. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.799 Love it. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:46.400 I handle it so amazingly maturely every single time. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.279 Well, it's like there's an I deal with this, it worked a lot. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:56.240 They ask question, I give them the answer, they ask the same question a different way and be like, see below. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:00.319 So, save answers. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.119 What do you do? 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.160 Why do you open your eyes? 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:05.680 And so when first of all said, I already told you, and you didn't listen. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.160 Why? 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:08.319 Do you why do you want to hear it again? 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:13.200 And here's where he go he kind of overextends his hand a little bit here. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:15.599 You don't want to become his disciple, too, do you? 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.480 You went a little too far there, buddy. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:24.880 And they ridiculed him. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.640 You're this man's disciple. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:28.960 We're Moses' disciples. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:36.799 Um threatened never really looks good in church leadership. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.960 Just throwing that out there. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:45.599 That never ends up being good decision making when it's basically like, no, no, you're you're one of those people, we're those people. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.480 How could you? 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.920 How could you say that? 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:53.119 We know this, that we know God has spoken to Moses, but this man, we don't even know where he's from. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:26:01.680 So once again, no, hey, congratulations on seeing. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.960 It's still this crazy thing. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:10.799 And now they're upset because he basically questioned their spiritual heritage. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.960 Are you one of this guy's disciples too? 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:14.480 And they're like, How dare you? 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:17.200 We are Moses' disciples. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:20.400 And this is why this is the beautiful thing. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:24.000 My God doesn't put me in these kind of situations because I'd be like, Well, I start track. 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:26.400 Moses didn't get into the promised land. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:31.599 So, verse 30. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:35.039 This is an amazing thing, the man told them. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:39.759 You don't know where he's from, yet he's opened my eyes. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:47.519 You don't see, you don't know, and yet me, a nobody who was blind a moment ago, I can see. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:55.680 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God fearing and does his will, he listens to them. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:59.119 Maybe I'm not born in sin. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.400 After all. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:06.960 I mean, above the normal human condition, of course, but maybe I'm not, maybe I'm not cursed to be blind because I was a sinner. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:14.640 Throughout history in verse 32, no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:17.440 This is this is like a super miracle here. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:20.720 Somebody who has never seen before suddenly is seen. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.480 Can you imagine what that would be like? 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:24.319 How crazy that would be? 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:27.359 That just duh I mind blowing. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:32.640 You open your eyes and you're like, that's what people look like? 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.559 Huh. 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.160 Interesting. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.599 Good to know. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.039 Verse 33. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:45.039 If this man were not from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything. 00:27:47.200 --> 00:28:02.319 So he's like, look, I'll he opened my eyes, and look, I apparently God heard my prayers, because here we are, and I'm not born into sin, and therefore a born into sin as a human being, but not cursed as a blind person. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:04.960 And if this person wasn't from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:08.480 And here I am seeing when I could not see. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:15.519 And their response, you were born entirely in sin, they replied, and you're trying to teach us. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:17.200 Then they threw him out. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:25.039 This is not the model of a soft heart, by the way. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.960 That's intense. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:29.200 Super, super intense. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:34.000 This is this guy's the best day of his life. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:36.799 Without any equivocation. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:48.000 And how and and yet the first thing that he's experiencing here is the Pharisees like ridiculing him and just bearing down on him in that sense. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.880 Isn't that crazy? 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:51.359 Like, and that's that's rough. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:29:06.559