Miracles #6 Healing a Blind Man (John 9)

18 September 2016
Pastor Art Brammer, Tay Street Baptist Church
http://www.taystreetbaptist.org.nz
There are 2 types of blindness: physical and spiritual.
I. A miracle of healing (v. 1-7).
A. There were purposes for the blind man being born blind.
1. To reveal the works of God in this blind man (in order that
others also would see and gain benefit).
2. To reveal the power of God in Christ (to point to and
authenticate His messenger).
3. To reveal Christ as the light of the world (giving spiritual
sight and understanding to those who lack it).
B. Jesus method of healing was unusual...but for a purpose.
1. Jesus wanted him to exercise faith (Go, wash...).
2. Jesus wanted his faith to be strengthened (he was left alone
to testify to what he knew).
II. The problems that arose because of the healing (v. 8-23).
- His neighbours did not recognise him.
- The Pharisees did not want to admit a miracle had been done.
- His parents are afraid to speak up for their son because of peer
pressure.
III. What the (former) blind man saw (v. 24-34):
A. He had physical sight to see materials things (v. 24-25).
B. He had social perception to see underlying issues (v. 26-27).
C. He had spiritual insight to grasp spiritual truth (v. 28-33).
1. He saw that Gods power and blessing were on those who
were obedient to God.
2. He saw that Jesus obviously was from God.
IV. The blind see and the seeing are blind (v. 35-41).
A. Jesus said that He came into this world for judgment: not
condemning them (3:17) but revealing where their hearts were.
B. Jesus condemned the Pharisees. Spiritually blind people
generally have no awareness of their sin.
Jesus is the light of the world.
To see things as they really are we have to see them in the light of His
teachings.