St John’s Gospel (27): Signs of Unbelief (John 9) part 2
John 9:24-41 - So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” . . . 28 They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 32 “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” . . .
The Seven Signs + One: The New Creation
1. New Creation Breaks In: Water into wine (2:1-11)
2. Healing with a Word: Prevents death of king’s man’s son (4:46ff)
3. Life of the World: True Sabbath - Paralyzed (38 years) at Bethesda pool (5:2-9) (sin no more)
4. The New Exodus: Bread of Life - Loaves (6:1-14) + Crossing the Sea (6:19)
5. Light of the World: Blind (born) cleansed at Siloam pool on Sabbath (9:1-7) (not his sin)
6. Resurrection & Life: Delays/death, then raises Lazarus (11:1-44)
7. Living Water: Water & blood on the cross (19:34-35)
+ 8. New Adam/Gardener: The resurrection (20:1-29) “First Day” (8th Day)
The Fifth Sign - This 5th sign in the Gospel shows Jesus to act like the Lord God who “formed man of dust from the ground” (Gen. 2:7), making new eyes for this man. This astounding sign of an actual unsurpassed healing testifies that only when the water sent by Jesus is applied will healing be forthcoming (contrast the 3rd Sign).
The Sign of Unbelief - Christ had made wine of water, healed a son with His word, healed an invalid (of 38 years), stupendously fed 10s of thousands, and miraculously crossed the water in a new Exodus, then opened the eyes of a man born blind - yet the Pharisees only see a man from Galilee, rumored to be born of fornication who breaks the Sabbath. It is this terrible reality of willful unbelief in the face of the Works of God that causes Jesus to declare, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”
Pharisaic Theology (the dominant group; exception is Nicodemus)
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Judge a case before the facts are established.
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Do not accept the facts established by multiple eye witness
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Use of Fear and Intimidation in Investigation
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Denial of the Truth due to Spiritual Blindness (Josh. 7:19)
Theology of the Formerly Blind Man
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He knows the facts of the case
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He speaks all the truth he knows
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He reasons according to Scripture
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He concludes that Jesus is Messiah and believes
Exhortations
If you confess that Jesus is Your Light, go to Him regularly this week to hear his voice in the Word;
If you confess Jesus can heal a man born blind, do you believe that He can strengthen you, give you hope, guide you into purpose, can you rest with Him?
If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in Him, do you worship Him? v 38