‘I Was Blind, But
Now I See!’ John 9:13-40
Basil Howlett - Carey Baptist Church - 12 November 2005
When the formerly blind man’s neighbours and acquaintances
realised he could now see they were puzzled. Some just would not believe it was
the same man, so in their bewilderment they brought him along to the Pharisees
(v13), feeling that the religious leaders should investigate the matter.
The Pharisees began to interrogate the man mercilessly. ‘How did you receive
your sight? How could this man Jesus, who breaks our religious rules about the
Sabbath day, possibly give you your sight? How can he possibly do a miracle?’
In their small mindedness they hurled their pathetic questions at this poor
man, trying to tie him up in theological knots. Then, (v18) they had a go at
his parents. How pathetic some people are! The man suddenly makes a brilliant
statement (v25). He says in effect, ‘I can’t answer all your tricky questions.
You can run circles round me, but one thing I do know, I was blind but now I
see.’ Every true Christian, even the newest, youngest, weakest Christian is
able, in a spiritual sense, to say, ‘I was blind but now I see.’ They may not
be able to answer tricky, religious questions but one thing they do know.
A. What are some of the things that the Christian can see now?
1. A Christian can see the seriousness of their sin. Before we became
Christians we were blind to our sin and guilt. This blind man didn’t realise
how awful his condition was until he got his sight. But now, by God’s grace we
have come to see that we are guilty sinners. That’s the great difference
between the genuine Christian and someone who is merely religious. Merely
religious people, like these pharisees in John 9, think they are paragons of
virtue. They can’t see that their pride and self righteousness is as vile as
immorality (v34) .
2. A Christian can see the importance of their soul. At one time we
didn’t bother about our souls at all and didn’t even know we had one. The soul
is a spiritual faculty but it’s as real as any physical organ.
3. A Christian can see something of the greatness of the Saviour. The
man in John 9 didn’t immediately understand everything about Christ. He
realised (v17) that he was a special prophet, and that he was sent by God (v33),
but he didn’t understand the meaning of the name ‘Son of Man’ (v36-37). That
title comes from Daniel 7:13 and refers to the Messiah and his all-powerful
rule. The new Christian doesn’t see everything about Christ immediately, but
they do see him as someone special sent by God into this world. In particular
they have come to see that he alone can save them. But if, like these
Pharisees, we still think we can put ourselves right with God then, to be sure,
we are still spiritually blind .
4. A Christian is someone whose eyes have been opened to see the reality of
eternity. The non-Christian is so taken up with the fleeting, temporary
pleasures of this passing world that he can’t see the awesome reality of an
endless eternity.
B. If we are true Christians then there are five things we need to know.
1. We should be a bit of a puzzle to our friends and neighbours. They
should notice a change in us which they can’t really explain (vv8-10).
2. We should tell others of what Christ has done for us (vv10-11 &
v15).
3. We should not be ashamed to confess that we are disciples of Christ (v27). This
former blind man confesses that in a striking way in v27. The Pharisees kept
plying him with questions about Jesus and he replies ‘......do you want to
become his disciples too?’ There was a touch of sarcasm there, but also an
acknowledgement that he himself was a disciple. That was a brave admission
because the Pharisees had already decided (v22) that anyone who acknowledged
that Jesus was the Christ would be thrown out of the synagogue, (literally:
unsynagogued). That was serious. That’s why this man’s parents were so very
cagey about the way they answered the Pharisees (vv 20-23).
4. We must also expect opposition. This man got it (v28, v34). But
in the midst of all the opposition Jesus took care of him (v35), helped him to
see the truth more clearly. and strengthened his faith (v38).
5. We should worship and praise the Lord with all our hearts (v 38)
John 9:39 does not contradict John 3:17. John 3:17 says Jesus came to save:
John 9:39 says he came to judge, but there is no contradiction. Jesus did come
into this world to give men and women spiritual sight and eternal salvation and
all who trust in him do have that. But if, like the Pharisees, men and women reject
Christ and in their arrogance and pride think they ‘know it all’ and have no
need to Christ, then they will judged and will become more and more blind.
There is no one so blind, no one so lost, no one so doomed, as the proud person
who claims he is so virtuous that he does not need Christ.