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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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The Pharisee’s Rationale:

• The law forbade work on the Sabbath• Jesus had healed on the Sabbath• Jesus was a sinner

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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

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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)

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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

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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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What Blinds Us to the Truth?

•Preconceived Ideas•Anti-Supernatural Bias•Man-made Traditions• Fear•Arrogant Certainty

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How Can I Avoid Prejudice?

• By a willingness to do the Father’s will. (John 7:17) • Be open• Consider• Look at the evidence

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The blind man saw physically and spiritually because:

He listened to the words of JesusHe believed the words of JesusHe obeyed the words of Jesus