## Jesus: The Light Of The World

## John 9:1-12

Read Text: "I Now Can See"

As a little boy Robert Louis Stevenson was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighter who went about the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland with a ladder and a torch, lighting the street lamps each evening. As young Robert stood watching with childish fascination, his parents heard him exclaim, "Look, look! There is a man out there punching holes in the darkness!" That describes the plan and purpose of the life and ministry of the Lord. Jesus came into this world and accomplished many great and miraculous wonders, yet His primary purpose was to punch great gaping holes in the spiritual darkness that shrouded this world. He came to be The Light Of The World. Our text this morning details the healing and salvation of a poor, blind man. It stands as an example of what Jesus came to do. He came to give light to those who are in bondage to darkness. If you are in darkness this morning, I am here to tell you that Jesus can and will lead you into the light if you will but call upon Him and come to Him by faith.

I. The Misery Of The Sightless Man

A. Consider His Blindness

1. This man, according to the Scripture was born blind.

2. To my way of thinking, this would be one of the most horrible of physical handicaps.

3. To never se a sunset, the face of a child, the face of a loved one would be a terrible thing.

4. Yet, this man had lived his entire life in this state of darkness.

B. But there is a blindness that is far worse than having sightless eyes?

1. It is far worse to be in spiritual darkness.

2. And, that is the place where the entire world, apart from Jesus, finds itself.

(2 Cor 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

3. If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, according to the Scripture, you are in deep spiritual darkness.

4. However, there is hope in Jesus!

C. Consider His Birth.

1. This man was born not only blind, but he was also born into poverty.

2. His family wasn't able to provide for him.

3. Many would say that he would have been better off if he had never been born.

4. However, we find that Jesus felt otherwise.

5. He tells the Disciples that this man's blindness was allowed by God so that God could get glory from this man's life.

D. What a wonderful truth!

1. We need to realize that God can take any life regardless of how others may view it, and make it into something beautiful.

2. That is the grace of God!

3. A life that has been ruined by sin can be transformed by His grace and become a life of endless blessing and joy!

(2 Cor 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

4. God specializes in salvaging old, wasted lives.

E. Consider His Begging

1. This man was unable to find employment and as a result he was reduced to begging for what food and money he received.

2. Bad enough to be blind, but to be blind and a beggar…this was a pitiful state in which to be.

3. It seems that no one cared about him, until Jesus passed by!

4. This is where every person is today who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

a. God has created us to be in fellowship with Him.

b. But without Christ…there can be no fellowship.

c. Without fellowship…our lives are empty, and we are spiritually bankrupt.

d. We seek to fill the void and satisfy that longing, but we fail miserably.

e. The things of this world cannot bring us satisfaction…only Jesus can bring true spiritual peace.

II. The Ministry Of A Sovereign Master v13-38

A. He Was Exposed To The Light.

1. When Jesus passed by, this man's life was forever changed.

2. Jesus, first, healed him of his physical handicap.

3. When the man went to Siloam and washed his eyes, he was healed of his blindness.

4. Being able to see with these physical eyes is never enough.

5. We must also come to the place where are able to see spiritual truth.

B. Notice the progression this man went through as the light began to dawn in him life.

1. First he knew Him only as 'a man who is called Jesus'. v11

a. That is where I was for many years in my life.

b. I knew about Jesus…but I never knew Him personally.

c. Many people know about Him, they know His name…they use His name…but they do not know Him as their Savior!

2. Next, he called Him a prophet. v13-34

a. When the Pharisees heard of the miracle, they called the blind man to them and tried to get to the bottom of the thing.

b. Some of them were upset that Jesus had done this miracle on the Sabbath day.

c. They concluded that if He would do something considered to be work on the Sabbath, then he must be a sinner.

d. They asked the fellow that had been blind and he said that Jesus was "a Prophet." Cf. v17

e. In other words, "He is a man to be listened to."

1) This man had listened to Jesus once and that obedience had resulted in his healing.

2) Therefore, he concludes that Jesus is worthy of being listened to.

3) There are many who have this opinion of Jesus.

4) He is that He is a wise man, a great teacher…a prophet.

5) He is a religious leader like so many others.

6) However, before a person can ever come to biblical salvation they must realize that although Jesus is a prophet, He is so much more!

3. Finally he comes to realize who Jesus really is. v35-38

a. The Pharisees had heard enough from this man.

b. They threw him out of the synagogue.

c. Jesus comes to the man personally and when He does, He reveals His true identity to this man.

d. At this point, the man confesses Jesus to be the Son of God and is gloriously saved.

e. This man had progressed from seeing Jesus as one among many, or one to be listened to, or one to be followed.

f. He now sees Jesus as one who is worthy of faith and worship. He sees Him for who He truly is!

4. This is the conclusion all must arrive at before they can ever be saved!

a. Either He is the Son of God as He said, or He is not worthy of our worship and our faith.

b. If He is not the Son of God, then you and I are headed for Hell this morning.

c. There is no hope apart from Jesus!

(1 Cor 15:19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

d. This fellow moved from seeing Jesus as "A Good Man", to seeing Him as "The God Man."

e. And that is where every one of us must be if we ever expect to be saved.

III. The Message Of A Supernatural Miracle

A. Jesus Is A Shining Light

1. He continues to shine forth in the darkness of this sin cursed world.

2. Believers are also called to be lights that are faithful to point others to Christ.

B. Jesus Is A Seeking Light.

1. When the Jews had cast out this man, Jesus went looking for Him.

2. This is why He came!

3. Luke tells us, "…the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

4. And He is still seeking souls to save this morning!

C. Jesus Is A Saving Light.

1. When this man bowed and received Jesus, He was eternally saved!

2. The work that God does in saving the sinner is an eternal! John 10:28-29; 1 Pet. 1:5)

(John 10:28-29) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. {29} My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

- This man never expected that he would be healed of his blindness when he woke up that morning.
- He no doubt planned to live that day like everyday before in the blackness of darkness.
- But when he met Jesus his life was changed forever.
- Have you met Jesus, the Light of the world?
- Christian, are we faithful to let our light shine that others might see Christ in us?
- Come now.