Spiritual Blindness Healed Through Worship (John 9)
This sermon examines Jesus' healing of a man born blind in John 9, a miracle used to unpack deep truths about human suffering and spiritual perception. It explores how we often misinterpret suffering and how true worship can open our eyes to grace and our own deepest needs.
This sermon explores Jesus' healing of a man born blind to reveal how suffering can display God's works, how spiritual blindness hinders our perception of sin and grace, and how genuine worship ultimately clears our spiritual sight.
Overview
The sermon begins by contextualizing Jesus' miraculous signs in the Gospel of John, explaining they were chosen not just for their power but because they symbolized deeper truths about Jesus. The healing of the man born blind in John 9 serves as a central example, illustrating lessons drawn from the disciples, the Pharisees, and the healed man himself.
First, from the disciples' question about the man's suffering, Jesus clarifies that individual suffering is not always a direct punishment for individual sin. Instead, he reveals that God works in such circumstances "so that the works of God might be displayed in him," shaping believers through challenges like a "gymnasium" to build strength and reveal weaknesses.
Next, the sermon examines the Pharisees' interactions with the healed man to define spiritual blindness as an inability to truly see one's own sin and the profound reality of God's grace. This blindness, often rooted in spiritual pride, distorts one's perception and prevents genuine self-awareness, leading Jesus to assert that the greatest blindness is not realizing one is blind.
Finally, the sermon turns to the healed man's response: belief and worship. It posits that worship is the ultimate healing for spiritual blindness, as anything placed above God as the measure of one's worth will inevitably distort perception. Jesus' ultimate act on the cross, experiencing spiritual darkness, allows humanity to gain spiritual sight and be reconciled to God.
Key points
- Jesus' miraculous signs in John's Gospel symbolize deeper truths about who he is and what he came to do.
- The disciples questioned if the man born blind suffered due to his own sin or his parents' sin.
- Jesus rejected the direct link between individual suffering and individual sin, stating suffering can occur "so that the works of God might be displayed."
- Spiritual blindness, exemplified by the Pharisees, is the inability to truly see one's own sin and the reality of grace.
- The gospel reverses worldly hierarchies, as those who admit their spiritual blindness are more likely to gain sight.
- The healed man's act of worship signifies the healing of his spiritual blindness.
- Worshiping God is presented as the cure for spiritual blindness, while worshiping other things distorts one's vision.
In Tim Keller's words
“There is no greater blindness than to be blind to your blindness.”
“Anything that's more important to you than God is going to distort your vision.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: Jesus' Miraculous Signs in John
- A. Purpose of Signs: Reveal who Jesus is and what he came to do
- B. The Story of the Man Born Blind (John 9)
- 1. Jesus heals the man (verses 1-7)
- 2. Man's friends and the interrogations (verses 8-34)
- 3. Jesus reveals himself to the man; man believes and worships (verses 35-38)
- II. Lessons from the Disciples: Understanding Pain and Suffering
- A. The "Why?" Question: "Who sinned? This man or his parents?" (John 9:2)
- B. The Disciples' Assumption: Individual suffering comes from individual sin
- C. Jesus Rejects the Assumption: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned"
- D. Jesus' Nuanced View of Suffering
- 1. General sin of humanity led to general suffering (Genesis 3, Romans 8)
- 2. Individual suffering is not always directly from individual sin (Job)
- 3. Suffering can be used "so that the works of God might be displayed in him"
- 4. God works through suffering as discipline, like a "gymnasium" (Hebrews 12)
- III. Lessons from the Pharisees: Spiritual Blindness
- A. The Miracle's Point: Jesus cures spiritual blindness
- B. Defining Spiritual Blindness: Inability to sense realities of sin and grace
- C. The Pharisees' Example (John 9:24-34)
- 1. Inability to see their own sin ("steeped in sin at birth")
- 2. Inability to comprehend grace (spiritual pride, "we are disciples of Moses")
- D. The Gospel Reverses Worldly Judgment (John 9:39-41)
- 1. The advantaged (proud, who "see") become blind
- 2. The disadvantaged (humble, who admit blindness) see
- E. Greatest Blindness: Being blind to one's own blindness
- IV. Lessons from the Man: The Healing for Spiritual Blindness
- A. The Man's Encounter with Jesus (John 9:35-38): "Lord, I believe"
- B. The Act of Worship: "And he worshiped him"
- C. Worship as Healing: Worshiping Jesus heals spiritual blindness
- D. False Worship Distorts Vision: Anything put before God
- E. How to Get There: See what Jesus did on the cross
- 1. Jesus had perfect spiritual sight
- 2. He experienced spiritual darkness on the cross ("My God, why hast thou forsaken me?")
- 3. His darkness allows our sight and reconciliation
Scripture references
- John 9:1-7
- John 9:8-12
- John 9:13-34
- John 9:35-38
- Luke 13
- Genesis 3
- Romans 8
- Hebrews 12
- Luke 16
- Luke 18
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Insights
Suffering does not always mean personal sin; God works within it.
Spiritual blindness prevents seeing one's deepest need for grace.
The greatest blindness is not knowing you cannot truly see.
Questions & answers
What is the main point of the sermon using the story of the man born blind?
The sermon uses the miracle of the man born blind in John 9 to illustrate how Jesus teaches about the nature of suffering, exposes spiritual blindness, and reveals worship as the ultimate healing for distorted spiritual vision and path to reconciliation.
How did Jesus answer the disciples' question about who sinned to cause the man's blindness?
Jesus stated, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. But this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." He clarified that while sin in general led to general suffering in the world, individual suffering isn't necessarily a direct punishment for individual sin.
What does the sermon mean by "spiritual blindness"?
Spiritual blindness refers to an inability to truly perceive the realities of one's own sin and the depth of God's grace. This prevents a person from seeing themselves, others, and life clearly, much like physical sight allows sensation of the environment.
How did the Pharisees demonstrate spiritual blindness?
The Pharisees showed spiritual blindness through their pride, their refusal to acknowledge their own sin, and their inability to accept Jesus' divine authority. They believed they could see and were righteous, thus remaining blind to their need for grace.
What is the "healing for spiritual blindness" according to the sermon?
According to the sermon, the healing for spiritual blindness is worshiping God through Jesus Christ. When Jesus becomes the primary object of love and hope, it clears one's spiritual sight, allowing honest self-perception and understanding of grace.
How does Jesus' experience on the cross relate to spiritual sight?
Jesus, who had perfect spiritual sight, was plunged into absolute spiritual darkness on the cross, experiencing the Father's forsaking. This sacrifice allows human spiritual darkness to end, enabling believers to gain spiritual sight and reconciliation with God.
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