Once I was blind but now I see

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2024 pm

JOHN 6 VERSES 1 – 12

 

The earthly work and ministry of Jesus is undeniably extraordinary.  He could take the most ordinary things and use them to perform many mighty miracles.  He was the capable solver of any circumstances.  Nothing was beyond him.  Nothing was beneath him.  He was capable of doing the impossible.  He was adequate to meet any need.  He had he resources for any situation.  He turned tragedy into triumph.  To many of the commoners he was a great header.  Many were struck down with infirmities only he could cure - the blind man is an example of this.  The man was blind from his birth.  Nothing ordinarily man could do to help but one day the master saw him, had compassion for him and wonderfully healed him.  Of all the back drops that can hinder man blindness has to be the worse.  But there was one yet worse, more serious than physical blindness – spiritual blindness.  The condition is so disastrous that God saw it necessary to send his son into the world.  Not only to live a good life and perform miracles but to die on the cross and open the eyes of the spiritually blind.  There are 3 points to note.

 

The blind man’s night – verse 1.  What a serious condition this man had.  Blindness is a fatal and most deteriorating disability.  We who can see effectively have no idea of the disabling effect it can have on their condition.  Many have done wonderful things although blind.  Francis Crosby was 6 weeks old when she was blinded.  Later on in life she wrote many great hymns we still sing today.  Blindness was a great disability.  Sitting in darkness of a physical need.  The picture is one of spiritual blindness caused by sin.  Without the Lord the sinner walks in the darkness of sin.  They are unable to see or hear of the great spiritual truths from God’s word.  2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them that believe not less the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them.”  Why you are not saved?  You are walking in sin and darkness.  The god of this world, the devil has blinded you to the great spiritual truth in holy scriptures.  Satan will try his best to put many barriers between you and the truth – pride, rebellion or even self-righteousness.  All of these things will blur your vision and hinder you from seeing the truth.  This man was blind.  This was the condition he had from his birth – verse 1.  He did not become blind later on in life.  He didn’t have an accident that deprived him of his sight.  He never had the opportunity to see the sunrise or sunset.  He never saw the extent of God’s wonderful creation.  “He that is blind has no enjoyment of the light.  He that is born blind has no idea of it.” Matthew Henry.  He had no idea of the light.  This man’s blindness was from birth.  It is a description of a sinner.  Every man and woman is born a sinner. They don’t become sinful later on in life, don’t become sinful when they reached a certain age.  Every man and woman on this face of the earth is born in sin.  They will be spiritually blind until they receive the glorious light of the gospel.  Psalm 51 verse 5 “Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  It doesn’t matter our class, where we are from.  It doesn't matter who we are.  Each and everyone of us, we are born sinners.  We were born on the broad road that leads to destruction.  Unsaved friend you will continue in sin if you don’t repent and turn to the Lord who is the light of the world.  Sin is an old age problem which only the Lord can solve.  He was blind from his birth and his blindness reduced him to a beggar.  Verse 8 “is not this he that sat and begged?”  He couldn’t live a normal life therefore he was unable to work to make a living.  There was only one source of survival for this man – begging.  He was a beggar.  That is what sin does.  It robs individuals of a good quality of life and reduces them to spiritual beggars.  If you continue in sin it will make you a beggar not just for time but for all eternity.  Don’t go down the road of the prodigal and spend your substance on sinful things.  You will end up broken.  Praise the Lord Jesus is the answer to spiritual poverty.  2 Corinthians 8 verse 9 “for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye and that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  The blind man’s night.

 

The blind man’s sight.  At this point in the narrative the Lord did something unusual but very effective.  He would heal the blind man by spitting, stirring and spreading.  He spat and used it to make clay and then it was spread on the man’s eyes.  As far as common man was concerned it was a strange and peculiar way to restore sight.  Scripture does not say why Jesus does it this way to restore sight.  He made the blind man’s eyes from the dust of the earth.  To many the gospel is strange but it is effective.  1 Corinthians 1 verse 21 “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” When he spread the clay he commanded him to go and wash – verse 7.  The promise of the blind man when he obeyed this command from the Lord.  He obeyed immediately the Saviour’s precepts.  He wisely obeyed God’s commands.  “Those who would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him.”  Matthew Henry.  He didn’t waste any time.  As soon as given the command to go and wash he went – verse 7.  This man must be commended for his prompt obedience.  An absence of promise would have delayed the blessing Christ wanted him to enjoy – why would he want to delay such a wonderful blessing?  I fear there are many blessings from the Lord delayed because of a lack of promise to obey God.  Christian friend are we delaying some blessing>  Are you reluctant when it comes to obeying the Lord? The blind man was prompt and he did exactly what the Lord told him to do – verse 7.  “Go wash in the pool of Siloam.  He went his way and washed.”  This man was in the right place as far as obedience was concerned.  He went to the right place and he did the right thing.  We must be particular when it comes to obeying the Lord.  We need to do exactly what he tells us to do.  The more particular we are the greater the blessing will be.  What was the product of the blind man’s obedience – he went, washed and came seeing.  The result of obedience was sight.  Something he never had.  What a wonderful miracle took place.  It had to be a delightful surprise for him to look on the world he never saw.  This miracle was instantaneous.  He was able to use his eyes immediately.  This miracle came as a result of his prompt obedience.  Christian friend obey God’s command and blessing will be yours.  The blind man’s night.  The blind man’s sight.

 

The blind man’s light.  What wonderful light the Lord brought to this man.  “I am the light of the world.”  No wonder he could say that.  No doubt the blind man heard these wonderful words.  The Pharisees tried to undermine the Lord – verse 24 “we know that this man is a sinner”.  The Pharisees were unsuccessful, they brought more honour to him.  The blind man had a wonderful testimony and story to tell.  “Whether he be a sinner or not I know not one thing that whereas I was blind now I see.”  A clear cut testimony.  The Pharisees could not deny this blind man’s statement.  Gives us great confidence.  The world would tell us there are many things we don’t know which we can know with great certainty.  I know that my redeemer liveth.  I know whom I have believed.  I know I am saved.  I know all things work together for good to them that believe.  I know that when Jesus returns I shall be like him.  To know him with certainty.  Have you a testimony that no one can deny?  Do you  know that you have eternal life?  But the man who was once blind quickly realises that now he can claim the light of certainty without encountering unbelieving enemies.  Verse 34 the world system cast him out.  Following the Lord will certainly be a costly business.  It costs to be a follower of the master.  It can cost you your job, your friends, your possessions, even your life.  It can cause you many hard times ahead.  Cast out.  Ex-communicated but what is that compared to knowing the Lord with great certainty.  Those who are cast out by the world are received by Jesus Christ. 

 

The blind man’s night.  He never saw the light of the day.  He was born blind.  Every man and woman is born a sinner.  They will be continually blind until they receive the light of the gospel.  Have you received it?  Maybe you are still spiritually blind.  The blind man’s sight – the blind man obeyed the divine command.  He was prompt, he did exactly what the Lord commanded him to do and blessing followed.  True obedience to God’s commands leads to lasting blessing.  The blind man’s light.  He had great certainty.  Once I was blind but now I see.  No doubt he could say with the words of the hymn writer “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see.”  Have you the certainty to night?