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Are We Blind Also?

Are We Blind Also?. Text: John 9:1-41. Exposition of the Text:. Jesus’ disciples asked why the blind man was born blind? (John 9:1-5) Prenatal sin? Pre-existent of the soul? Consequences of parent’s sins? Jesus was focused on “WHAT” and not “WHO”. What could be done?

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Are We Blind Also?

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  1. Are We Blind Also? Text: John 9:1-41

  2. Exposition of the Text: • Jesus’ disciples asked why the blind man was born blind? (John 9:1-5) • Prenatal sin? • Pre-existent of the soul? • Consequences of parent’s sins? • Jesus was focused on “WHAT” and not “WHO”. • What could be done? • This was an opportunity to display the power of God.

  3. Exposition of the Text: • Jesus’ disciples asked why the blind man was born blind? (9:1-5) • Jesus restores the blind man’s sight. (9:6-7) • The neighbors question the blind man about his restored sight. (9:8-12) • The neighbors bring the blind man to the Pharisees. (9:13-17)

  4. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath • The man with the withered hand. (Mt. 12:9-14) • The demoniac in the synagogue in Capernaum. (Mk. 9:21-28) • Peter’s mother-in-law (Mk. 1:29-31) • The stooped woman (Luke 13:10-17) • The man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6) • The infirmed man at the pool of Bethesda (Jn. 5:1-15) • The man born blind (John 9:1-41)

  5. Sabbath Traditions • The making of saliva was an infringement of the Sabbath. • Dan King: “Among the thirty-nine works forbidden to Jews on the Sabbath (Mishnah Shabbath 7:2) was kneading, and Jesus had kneaded the clay with his spittle to make the mud.” (“The Book Of John,” Truth Commentaries, p. 188) • The non-emergency healing on the Sabbath.

  6. Exposition of the Text: • Jesus’ disciples asked why the blind man was born blind? (9:1-5) • Jesus restores the blind man’s sight. (9:6-7) • The neighbors question the blind man about his restored sight. (9:8-12) • The neighbors bring the blind man to the Pharisees. (9:13-17) • The Jewish leaders interrogate the blind man’s parents (9:18-23)

  7. Exposition of the Text: • The Jewish leaders interrogate the blind man’s parents. (9:18-23) • The questions of the Pharisees: • Is he your son? (19) • Was he born blind? (19) • How does he now see? (19) • The parents admit: • He is their son (20) • He was born blind (20) • They would not speculate regarding his sight. (21)

  8. Exposition of the Text: • Jesus’ disciples asked why the blind man was born blind? (9:1-5) • Jesus restores the blind man’s sight. (9:6-7) • The neighbor’s question the blind man about his restored sight. (9:8-12) • The neighbor’s bring the blind man to the Pharisees. (9:13-17) • The Jewish leaders interrogate the blind man’s parents (9:18-23) • The Jewish leaders interrogate the blind man again. (9:24-34)

  9. The Pharisee’s Rationale: • The law forbade work on the Sabbath • Jesus had healed on the Sabbath • Jesus was a sinner

  10. The Blind Man’s Rationale: • Jesus opened my eyes. • God does not hear the prayers of sinners. • If a man worships God and does His will, God hears him. • No man ever opened the eyes of one born blind before this man did. • Therefore if this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

  11. Exposition of the Text: • Jesus’ disciples asked why the blind man was born blind? (9:1-5) • Jesus restores the blind man’s sight. (9:6-7) • The neighbors question the blind man about his restored sight. (9:8-12) • The neighbors bring the blind man to the Pharisees. (9:13-17) • The Jewish leaders interrogate the blind man’s parents (9:18-23) • The Jewish leaders interrogate the blind man again. (9:24-34) • Jesus seeks to question the blind man. (9:35-39)

  12. Are We Blind Also? • The blind man was born physically blind. • He first understood that a man called Jesus opened his eyes. (9:11) • He later reasoned Jesus was a prophet. (9:17) • After the Pharisees’ interrogation he understood that Jesus was from God. (9:33) • Finally he understands Jesus to be the “Son of God” (9:35-38)

  13. Are We Blind Also? • The apostles were blinded by pre-conceived ideas. • Who sinned? This man or his parents? (9:2) • Their question was based on the presupposition that all suffering is a direct result of sin. (ref. Job 4:7; 8:20) • Suffering can be a direct result of our poor choices. (Prov. 23:29-35) • This was not the case in this instance. (John 9:3) • The apostles were blinded by preconceived notions.

  14. Are We Blind Also? • Some neighbors were blinded by a supernatural bias. • This would explain why they did not recognize the blind man. (9:9) • The world struggles with a supernatural bias. • Liberal Bible scholars • Evolutionists

  15. Are We Blind Also? • The Pharisees were blinded by tradition. • Sabbath Law: • Don’t kindle any fires (Ex. 35:3) • Don’t cook (Ex. 16:23) • Don’t leave your place (Ex. 16:29) • Don’t work (Ex. 20:8-10; Dt. 5:12-14; cf. Neh. 10:31; 13:16-18) • Don’t bear burdens (Jer. 17:21-22) • Rest (Ex. 23:12; 34:21) • Remember the Lord (Ex. 31:15-17; 35:2) • When Jewish leaders condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, (Matthew 12:12) Jesus responded by saying that it was if it was lawful to show mercy to an animal on the Sabbath, then it is right to show mercy and help a man on the Sabbath (Mt. 12:12) • JESUS BROKE THEIR TRADITIONS, NOT THE SABBATH

  16. Man Made Traditions • The immaculate conception of Mary • The perpetual virginity of Mary • The worship of Mary • The bodily assumption of Mary • Praying to Mary • Infant baptism • Candles, incense, rosary beads • Denominationalism

  17. Are We Blind Also? • The parents where blinded by fear of excommunication. • Fear of the Jews is a common theme in John’s gospel • Nicodemus came to Jesus by night (Jn. 3:2) • The people speculated privately about whether or not Jesus would come to the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn. 7:13) • Some “believing” rulers would not confess Jesus (Jn. 12:42-43)

  18. Are We Blind Also? • The Pharisees were blinded by arrogant certainty. • They were certain that Jesus was not from God because He broke the Sabbath. (9:16) • Therefore they decide the man could not have been born blind. (9:18) • Therefore they interrogate his parents looking for another plausible explanation. (9:18-21) • They interrogate the blind man again hoping to find another explanation to the miracle. (9:24-34) • “Admit the truth!” (9:24) • You are lying - you are a disciple of Christ. (9:28)

  19. Arrogant Certainty • “We know that this Man is a sinner!” (Jn. 9:24b) • “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples” (Jn. 9:28) • “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from” (Jn. 9:29) • “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” (Jn. 9:34)

  20. What Blinds Us to the Truth? • Preconceived Ideas • Anti-Supernatural Bias • Man-made Traditions • Fear • Arrogant Certainty

  21. How Can I Avoid Prejudice? • By a willingness to do the Father’s will. (John 7:17) • Be open • Consider • Look at the evidence The blind man saw physically and spiritually because: He listened to the words of Jesus He believed the words of Jesus He obeyed the words of Jesus

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