READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l The healing of the blind man in John chapter 9 parallels the physical healing of the lame man in John chapter 5 and builds on the fundamental truth that Jesus is the light of the world who will heal our spiritual blindness (Jn 8:12). John chapter 9 goes beyond physical healing to spiritual healing. In the Old Testament God is the one who brings light and opens the eyes of the blind (Is 42:6-7,16, Ps 146:8). When Jesus says He is the light of the world, it means Jesus is God, Messiah and Saviour.
Jesus gives spiritual light so we may have spiritual sight to see our sins, our need for God, then the grace and glory of God and our need for Jesus to save us. Without the light of God, our darkened souls cannot see spiritual reality no matter how hard we try. Gift of spiritual sight is a divine grace of God.
Three Spiritual Lessons on Spiritual Sight:
- A truth about suffering
The disciples asked leading questions to draw the conclusion that sin leads to blindness. There is ancient Jewish thinking that suffering is punishment for wrong doing. Though broadly all suffering is the result of sin, the reality is sometimes sin cannot be traced to any particular reason. We cannot explain why good people suffer and bad people seem to prosper and get away scot free.
Jesus debunks the idea that suffering is punishment for sin but this man’s blindness is occasion for works of God (V3). The miracle points to Jesus as the one giving spiritual sight and Jesus directs us from asking why (causation) to what (what can God do in suffering). The evil and suffering Jesus endured on the cross is used by God to display his glory. Suffering is pointless and futile without God. It has meaning when God is in it and value when we see through spiritual eyes and grasp spiritual truth. Fanny Crosby, who became blind six weeks after birth, gave glory to God that her blindness kept her from distractions and enabled her to write many hymns of praise. What is your response to the suffering and uncertainties you are facing?
Scriptures debunk the idea of generational sin (Ez 18:20, Jer 31:30, Deu 24:16). We stand on our own moral grounds as in Christ we are a new creation. We have a chance to break free from the past and live a future surrendered to God’s purposes and redemptive goodness. Tim Keller: we are to get off the tracks of anger (blaming others for suffering) and guilt (blaming self and repent if needed to get right with God). - An irony about blindness
When you claim you can see, you are actually blind. When you admit you are blind, that is when you truly see. Spiritual blindness is caused by spiritual arrogance, stubbornness, self-reliance (instead of God dependence) and deep-seated biases.
The gospel is the great spiritual reversal. We can be like the Pharisees when we do not admit we are blind and bankrupt, depend on our brilliance instead of begging for God’s grace. The deepest blindness is when we are blind to our blindness. We desperately need God to see our motives and true self, then grace becomes real and beautiful to behold and the gospel becomes real.
John chapter 9 begins with a blind man assumed to be a sinner and ends with Pharisees declared sinners because they assumed they can see. Who is really blind? Who is the one with true physical and spiritual sight?
How to guard against spiritual blindness?
a) Check in God’s word
b) Seek God’s revelation (motives, disposition) e.g. through regular Examen
c) Pursue godly counsel
d) Stay humbly accountable (spiritual community) - A process from encounter to worship
The journey of our spiritual sight encompasses:
- Personal encounter – an intimate encounter when the Holy Spirit opens your eyes
- Willing obedience – faith needed for the man to go to the pool trusting Jesus, enter the water, receive healing and living water
- Growing revelation – the man grew in spiritual sight of who Jesus is, from a man who heals (V11), to prophet (V17), to man from God (V33) and finally Lord (V38).
- Reverent worship – What we worship tells us what we “see”. Spiritual sight is about worshipping God, seeing spiritual reality and grasping the beauty of God. When we worship any other thing like possessions, career, abilities etc. we worsen in spiritual blindness. The more we worship God, see His beauty, His love for us as a measure of our worth, the more clearly we see. Worship is not just with our lips but giving our hearts and lives to Jesus.
May God open our eyes to see the amazing grace of God’s love that we may come to Him in humility and lean on Him at all times. With spiritual sight to see God for who He is, we worship him with faith and obedience and become courageous to love others as God sees them. Like the man we can say “though I was blind, now I see”.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
- Read John 9:1-41. What stands out to you about this passage?
- Recall Sermon
- What is the significance of this sign in John 9?
- What were the key discipleship lessons highlighted and which one resonates most with you?
- Relate Personally
- How does Jesus’ insight about suffering challenge and convict you?
- What is the irony of spiritual blindness? How is that a personal warning to us?
- Recall your spiritual journey of encountering and knowing Christ. How can you grow in spiritual sight?
- Commit to Action
- In what ways is Jesus calling you to act in response to the message?
- What steps will you take this week to help someone gain spiritual sight?
