John 9:35-41 “A Blind, Blind man sees the Spiritual Light”

Introduction: Having been cast out of the Temple and out of the Synagogue the story of what has happened spread quickly. The Pharisees want every one to know that this formerly blind man was to be shunned. He was not to be allowed on the Temple grounds nor was he allowed in the Synagogues. His parents had feared such action and had strived to avoid this punishment themselves. It is not surprising that Jesus would hear of this action for even if someone had not come to Him with the news He would have known what took place.

We shall learn from this text what is the proper answer to the most important question any human being will ever be asked. We shall learn what the most important question a lost person will ever ask. We shall learn that Jesus is God. We shall learn what we should do in light of this great truth. We shall learn why Jesus came into the world. We shall learn about the danger of self righteousness and pride.

I. The most important question one will ever be asked in this life.

(John 9:35) 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?

Jesus seeks and finds this formerly blind, blind man. Jesus has come to seek and to save that which was lost. This young man was born blind so that men could see the works of God manifest in him. It took God to heal him of his physical blindness and it will take God to heal him of his spiritual blindness. When this day is through mankind will have seen the power of God working in this man’s life.

What Jesus is about to do for this young man far excels what He has done for him in the past. This man is about to receive eternal life. What a great moment when a lost man comes to know Jesus Christ as his savior. What great rejoicing is about to take place in heaven among the angles of God over this sinner who comes to repentance.

Jesus asks the most important question this young man will ever be asked. “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” What is meant by this question? What does it mean to believe on some one? Who is THE Son of God? What does that term imply? These are the questions that must be settled in our minds before we can answer the question.

To believe on someone is to trust them. Trust what they say is true. Trust what the do is right. Believe that they are who they say they are and that they can do what they say they can do. In the case of Jesus to believe on Him is to know without a doubt that He is God almighty who has come to the earth to die for our sins. To know without a doubt that He is able to save us from the penalty of our sins. To know for certain that He is the only one who can save us. That is what it means to believe on Jesus.

The Son of God is a term used to describe Jesus. He is the Son of God. This means He is a part of the triune God head. There is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three make up the one and only, true and living, God. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not parish but have everlasting life. Jesus is God. Jesus is the one whom God sent to save the souls of men. He has redeemed us unto God by shedding His precious blood. He has paid our sin debt and because He has satisfied the demands of God’s justice we may be justified in His sight.

Do you believe on the Son of God? Are you convinced that what God has said concerning your sin and your condemnation is true? Do you believe that the Son of God died for you on the cross? If your answer is yes, have you asked Him to forgive your sin and to save your soul? If you have you are saved and no longer spiritually blind. If you have not then why not? Why not believe on Him now?

II. The most important question a lost person can ask.

(John 9:36) He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

Who you trust, who you believe in, is paramount. There are some who teach that God is a God of love and would never send anyone to Hell. They would have you to believe that you have nothing to worry about so just go about your business and don’t worry about a thing. If you believe this doctrine you will end up in Hell. There are those who teach that salvation is achieved through good works. To believe this is also dangerous for it too leads one to hell. Mohammad, Buda, and a whole host of god’s worshiped by the Hindus are thought by millions to be the source of man’s salvation. If you believe these you are in great danger. There is only one way to be at peace with God and that is to believe on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Be certain that you have trusted in the one and only savior ask this question. Who is He? Ask it that you might be sure that you are trusting in the true savior of men.

III. The answer to life’s greatest question.

(John 9:37) And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the savior of men. No one cometh to the Father but by Jesus Christ His Son. The young man now uses his eye sight for Jesus says you have seen Him. He has been looking at Jesus and hearing His voice and knows that this is the man who has healed his physical blindness. The voice is un-mistakable He is seeing and hearing the one he had said was a prophet. He now finds out that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the promised Messiah. This young man now must make a choice. He has heard the truth and seen the evidence and power exhibited in his life. Will he believe that God is indeed standing right there in front of his eyes? Can it be that he is standing in the very presences of the Lord God of all creations? Is it possible that God would stoop down so very low to help such a worm as I? Can such a wonderful thing as salvation be offered so freely to such an undeserving person? Can eternal life in the paradise of Heaven where there are no more tears, no pain, no sorrow be so simple to acquire? Can salvation be that simple? All I have to do is believe! Yes sinner friend Jesus has paid the awful cost and salvation is offered freely to all who will believe!

IV. The most important response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

(John 9:38) And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

These are the words God is waiting to hear from every sinner. I BELIEVE!! He believes that Jesus is much more than a prophet. He believes that Jesus is the promised Messiah; The one who would come and die for the sins of the world; The one who will sit on the throne of David and rule the nations with a rod of iron. He believes that Jesus is indeed the way the truth and the life.

Knowing for a fact and beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus is the Son of God causes this man to do what every man who ever saw God did and that is worship. He worshipped Jesus for God is worthy of worship. He is the only one who is to be worshipped. One day every knee shall bow before Jesus and acknowledge that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

V. The most important mission of Jesus Christ.

(John 9:39) And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Jesus now speaks so that the Pharisees could hear what He had to say. He has come into the world to accomplish a very important mission. He has come for judgment. There are two ways to interpret what Jesus means by the term “for judgment.” The first is that He has come to take upon Himself the judgment of God for our sins. In so doing He will make those who realize their spiritual blindness to see. This means He will save those who repent of sin and seek God’s forgiveness and salvation through Him. Those who refuse to repent thinking that they are already righteous will remain spiritually blind.

The second interpretation is that Jesus will pass judgment on mankind. Those who realize their spiritual blindness and come to saving knowledge of Jesus will be judged spiritually sighted. Those who do not repent will be judged by Jesus as spiritually blind. Jesus will judge all men. The lost will stand before Him and the saved will stand before Him. The saved will be judged and rewarded for what they have done in the flesh. The lost will be judged for having refused to believe in Jesus Christ and will be cast into the lake of fire.

VI. The danger of self righteousness and pride.

(John 9:40) And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

(John 9:41) Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

The Pharisees, after overhearing Jesus, say “are we blind also?” By this they are asking if Jesus thinks they are spiritually blind also. They see themselves as having perfect spiritual vision. These men can not see themselves as being spiritually blind. They think that Jesus is implying that they are ignorant of spiritual things.

Spiritual blindness is caused by pride and self-righteousness. Those who think that they are worthy of heaven because of there good deeds are deceived. They are blind by choice. Jesus had said to the Pharisees (John 5:39) “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” The Pharisees thought that they would have eternal life because they were obedient to the Laws of Moses. They thought that good works and being a descendant of Abraham was all they needed to be assured of a place in Heaven. They thought that the Messiah would come to set on the throne of David and nothing more. He would save them physically from their enemies and nothing more. They had the light of the truth right before their eyes but they chose not to see the truth. Jesus is saying to these men because you refuse to believe the truth that you are spiritually blind but say rather that you do see the truth their sin will remain.