compassion for a blind man

Compassion For a Blind Man

John 9:1-12

Another miracle..Some will argue that this miracle is the one that gets Him killedThrough out the rest of this chapter, this young man will be center stageWe’ve established that Jesus did miracles to meet human needs, but he mostly did them as a “launch pad” for a message conveying spiritual truthToday there are several neat nuggets for us to learn, but the take-home will be simple: Do I want to be more like Jesus?

The Compassion of JesusWhile preparing this message, I tried hard to find the perfect illustration to begin withCouldn’t find the right one– shed some tears reading great ones, but couldn’t hit the nail on the headI realized something– none of us who can see have a clue what blindness is likeI also realized it must be worse to lose one’s vision than to be born blind like this guyOr maybe not….?

9 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?”

9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.” John 9:1-12

A. GENERATIONAL CURSE?John 9:1-3When the disciples passed the blind beggar, their curiosity about why this man was suffering outweighed the prospect of reaching out to help him Why is it that when we hear about someone who is suffering, we are too often more interested in the details of what, why, when, and where than we are about how we can help?Their quiz for Jesus revealed they were out of step with His heartbeneath their question was an already-made judgmental spirit – a desire to know whom to blame

“Pre-Natal Sin”Ancient Jewish Rabbis had a theology that they called ‘Prenatal Sin’ They insisted that in the fetal stage, even all the way back to the embryonic stage, a baby could sin in the wombDunno where they got that The disciples of Jesus were taught that way also before they met Jesus.

“Pre-Natal Sin”The idea of ‘Prenatal Sin’ has not changed a whole lot. But it has a new name now – ‘Generational Curses’ This theology is adopted by many charismatic Bible teachers, especially those on TVIf you’re not familiar with it, let me explain

The Bible mentions “Generational Curses” in several places Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9Sounds unfair for God to do that, however there are 2 major flaws in the theology

The Scripture references are out of ContextIn context, you will know that the Lord was speaking to the Israel people as a nation regarding their idolatry, not individual sins

The Bible mentions “Generational Curses” in several places Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9Sounds unfair for God to do that, however there are 2 major flaws in the theology

The Scripture references are out of ContextGenerational Curse Theology contradicts other Scripture

We should not interpret and apply what Scripture says against other verses. Because the Bible never contradicts itself since it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and has inerrancy.

God knows that the effects of sin…Are passed from one generation to the “The sins of the father are visited on the heads of the sons…”It’s not a curse, but rather a statement of fact

If my Dad was an alcoholic, abuser, etc…See what I mean?

If you commit the same sins your ancestors did, God is not punishing you for their sin, he’s punishing you for yours…

Generational CursesThis theology is absolutely UN-biblical When we become Christians, we are new creations. Old things have passed away; all things have become newRomans 8:1 teaches us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ JesusThe cure for generational curses is salvation through Jesus Christ and life-time obedience to Him!

His sin was NOT the cause...This man’s blindness was not a result of personal sin His blindness was the result of sin in general, just like natural disasters, disease, and suffering are the result of original sinAlso note: Jesus sought him out…

B. WORKING THE WORKS OF HIM (God)John 9:4-5 The growing hostility from the unbelief of the Jewish religious rulers warned Jesus that His time was short (Shadow of the Cross)The use of “we” shows that He included His disciples in His ministry They also would pass through perils and opposition, but they would have the support of God the Father who had sent Him

B. WORKING THE WORKS OF HIM (God)There are many born-again Christians who do absolutely nothing for the Kingdom of GodThey go to church as their Sunday morning routine and they go home, their idea of serviceEvangelism is for pastors and deaconsServing other Christians is something for other Christians do for them

B. WORKING THE WORKS OF HIM (God)To people like that, giving to the Kingdom of God is giving a few dollars to the church once in a blue moon, not because they don’t have money, but because they are greedy and disobedient to the Word of God They expect others to carry the load and they expect others to pay for the expenses to run the church

B. WORKING THE WORKS OF HIM (God)Some would say, “Since I do a little more than what the preacher said, I am OK.” Would you be comfortable to give that answer to the Lord Jesus face to face when He asks you what kind of works you’ve done for HimYou will face this very question in Heaven (1 Cor.3:11-15)

11 “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Cor. 3:11-15, NASB

C. ONCE HE WAS BLIND, BUT NOW HE SEES John 9:6-7The Lord’s method of healing was unique: He put clay on this man’s eyes and told him to go wash Once Jesus healed two blind men by merely touching their eyes in Matthew 9 He healed another blind man by spitting on his eyes in Mark 8

C. ONCE HE WAS BLIND, BUT NOW HE SEES Same healing power, but different methods– WHY?Lord varied His methods so that people cannot focus on the methods of healing and miss the message in the healingGet that?The METHOD is unimportant, only the MESSAGE is!

Some other cool stuff here…The Apostles raised the dead, healed the sick, etc. but ONLY JESUS gave sight to the blind. Specific work for the MessiahWhy dirt? Don’t let this confuse you– don’t limit God’s potentialDirt as an irritant…

“Is he? No, he’s not. Yes he is!”John 9:8-12 Was this really the blind beggar, and who caused him to see? Throughout the rest of John 9, a growing conflict takes place around these two questionsThe religious rulers did not want to face the fact that Jesus had healed the man, or even that the man had been healed

“Is he? No, he’s not. Yes he is!”John 9:8-12 Was this really the blind beggar, and who caused him to see? Throughout the rest of John 9, a growing conflict takes place around these two questionsThe religious rulers did not want to face the fact that Jesus had healed the man, or even that the man had been healed

Application (Take Home!)4 times they will ask him these questions in this chapter– he’s not saved yetRemember: he doesn’t even know Jesus yet, never seen Him, only heard His voiceDo you want to be like Jesus? Replace curiosity with compassionServe Him and do His works for His Glory NOW! God cares about your faith more than your health, and your character more than your comfort

Remember who only healed the blind?

How’s your spiritual eyesight?Jesus can heal your blindness nowThink of the words to “Amazing Grace”