v.24
we know this man is a sinner
false assertion
v.26
What
did he do to you?
confrontational challenge
v.28
Then they hurled insults at him.
- denigrates
by abuse
2.
The Power of Relationship
There
is nothing more persuasive that people experiencing God:
v.25
I was blind but now I see!
he had experienced God's power
v.35
Do
you believe in the Son of Man?
that opens the way for Jesus to take him deeper
v.36
Tell
me so that I may believe in him.
he expresses his openness for more
v.38
Then the man said, "Lord, I believe,"
and he worshiped him. - fullness of relationship = worship
3.
Religion challenged by Relationship
v.2
His
disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?
- religion demands reasons
v.3
Neither this man nor his parents sinned,"
said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be
displayed in his life. Jesus seeks to break in with Holy
Spirit activity to change perceptions
v.15
Therefore the Pharisees also asked
him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes,"
the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see.
confusing information for religion!
v.16
Some of the Pharisees said, "This
man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath .
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?"
So they were divided . the truth will get through
to some, and confuse others religion divided in the face of truth.
v.17
Finally they turned again to the blind
man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.
the challenge because their perception is being challenged
they couldn't explain it away
v.19
Is this your son?" they asked.
"Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he
can see? they challenge out of unbelief which they insist
on holding on to.
v.20-23
We know he is our son," the parents
answered, "and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now,
or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will
speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged
that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was
why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
religion makes people afraid and being excluded
v.24
A second time they summoned the man
who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We
know this man is a sinner. religion purposes to miss
the point which is uncomfortable
v.28,29
Then they hurled insults at him and
said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even
know where he comes from. they retreat to the Law
safe territory, security in rules
v.40
Some Pharisees who were with him heard
him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?
defensiveness in the form of yet another attack.
v.41
Jesus said, "If you were blind,
you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see,
your guilt remains.
Jesus confronts their guilt no they are not blind, they see the truth
but refuse it, so they are guilty.
4.
Differences between Religion and Relationship
Rom
12:2 our minds being renewed to see as God sees - God thinks I'm wonderful
enough to send Jesus to die for me!
Examples:
i)
Loved unconditionally
1
Jn 4:10 This
is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son.
Jude
1:1 loved by God the Father
and kept by Jesus Christ
Eph
2:6 God raised us up
with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms.
ii)
Secure in God Psa 36
v.5,6
Your love , O LORD, reaches
to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness
is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great
deep. we experience
all these
v.7
How priceless is your unfailing
love ! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow
of your wings. this is our security.
We
are secure in Him even if outward things go wrong we are still loved
and secure.
Sunday Services
Back to Preaching Contents Page