The Gospel Series Part 8d

TEACHING AT THE FEAST OF DEDICATION

Healing of a man born blind (Jn 9:1-7)

Jn 9:1-2 Poor health is not always the result of sin, although it can be. When Jesus heals a man in John chapter five He tells him to sin no more - a hint in that particular situation the man's problem was related to sin. However, that is not always true. Paul (in 2 Corinthians 12:7) asks the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, and God didn't - because the Lord had a reason for it (lest Paul become to prideful). God doesn't work according to a formula and we must be careful not to try and force Him into one.

Jn 9:3 In case anyone does think this mans problem is due to sin, Jesus refutes the idea - the real reason is to show God's glory. Remember the promise of Romans 8:28 (all things work together for good), but also notice it doesn't say we will always understand why things happen; only a promise from God they will work together for good. It's easy to trust God when we can see the good, but it's not so easy when we don't understand why something has happened. Nevertheless, God's promise still stands.

Sometimes we go through hard times so we can help others. The thought we are all alone is a lie from the enemy - even Paul became discouraged at times, yet he maintained the proper perspective. (See 2 Corinthians 1:8-11). God always has a reason for everything.

Jn 9:6 Again Jesus heals using a different method. God doesn't use set methods and it's a tragic mistake to assume He does. Sometimes when a great move of God occurs people try and duplicate the exact circumstances of it so it happens again. But God isn't bound by set methods - He works in various ways at various times. To try and re-create a move of God by recreating circumstances is religion - and Jesus is extremely anti-religious.

Jn 9:7 The man doesn't question Jesus' command. How often do we? It's unlikely he understood why Jesus acted the way He did, but nevertheless, the man followed His command. As a result of his obedience, he was healed.

Perhaps sometimes God does things a strange way to see if we will be obedient. Even if it doesn't make sense, we should follow God's commands - once we are truly sure we really have heard the word of God. Always test everything against the Bible - God will never contradict Himself.

Recall Joshua and the story of Jericho and what has to be the most absurd battle plan ever devised. You mean we're going to march around the walls for days, and then one day we'll blow the trumpets and the walls will fall down? Right. Yet that is exactly what happened as Joshua trusted God's plan.

Reaction of the blind man's neighbors (Jn 9:8-12)

Jn 9:8-9 This man was a living witness to the power of God, yet some people doubted and even tried to deny this miracle occurred. As a beggar, this man would be known to the whole town so it's unlikely his identity was in doubt. Rather, these people were so blind to God's work they looked for any reason to deny it.

Jn 9:10-12 Even when they ask the question, they won't accept the answer. It's easy to become engaged with people who ask questions but don't really want to hear the answer. Remember the warning in Matthew 7:6 about casting pearls before swine. Yes, you should witness to people, but also exercise discernment for those people who are wasting your time. Satan wants you to be unproductive and one of the ways to accomplish that is to engage you in useless situations so you won't have any time left for productive work. That's why Jesus warned about casting your pearls before swine.

Examination and excommunication of the blind man by the Pharisees (Jn 9:13-34)

Now we see the reaction of the religious people. Right before them was a miracle and they searched for any reason to disbelieve it. For some, no amount of evidence will ever be enough. It's no different today with people who cling to the dogma of evolution. Evolution is not about science, it's about denying everything we observe about the universe so God can be rejected. To accept evolution you must accept the following:

Explosions produce order (the "Big-Bang").
Matter comes from nothing (First there was nothing, and then it exploded).
Life comes from non-life (From the goo to the zoo to you).

All three of these ideas not only have not a shred of experimental evidence for them, they each contradict established scientific ideas (I'm still waiting for experimental, scientific evidence for any of these - if you know of any, send it to skeptic@dyeager.org).

How many scientific theories would last this long which contradict established laws? Evolution is (by definition) un-scientific yet survives because people deny the existence of God.

John McArthur sums up irrational unbelief:

This section in the story of the healing of the blind man reveals some key characteristics of willful unbelief: 1) unbelief sets false standards; 2) unbelief always wants more evidence but never has enough; 3) unbelief does biased research on a purely subjective basis; 4) unbelief rejects the facts; and 5) unbelief is self-centered.^[1]

Jn 9:13-14 Notice the statement of fact "him who formerly was blind" - no one disputed (including the Pharisees) the miracle; they just wanted to find a reason to reject it. And they did - for Jesus did His work on the Sabbath, and according to Pharisee teaching making clay on the Sabbath was illegal as it was a form of work.

Jn 9:15 The Pharisees asked him again as if the facts would change. It's either true or not, and simply retelling the story doesn't change it.

Jn 9:16 Jesus did, of course, keep the Sabbath. What He didn't keep was their law. The Pharisees taught many things not in the Mosaic law, and Jesus even warned about it (Matthew 15:9). Jesus isn't impressed by religion or rules. What He seeks is a relationship. The law is spiritual and not physical - that's the point of the sermon on the mount. You have no chance of keeping the law.

The Pharisees became entrapped by legalism. People are more comfortable with a set of rules to follow, rather than being led by the spirit. Questions such as is it acceptable for a Christian to drink are much easier if you only have to look up the answer on a chart. We have liberty in Christ to do anything that is not sin - yet we must also be careful not to use our liberty in such a way as to stumble a brother.

Jn 9:17 The Pharisees are so desperate to find something to accuse Jesus with they ask a former blind beggar for his religious opinion! Can't they analyze the facts for themselves? No. They are too blind for a rational, logical look at the facts. Just as today, too many people have pre-formed ideas and are not open to a rational look at the facts. So-called "open-minded" people are frequently the most closed. For example, on one web site the definition of "free-thinker" means someone who rejects all religion - in other words, an atheist. Yet if you reject an entire area, how can you be a free thinker, since you've already made up your mind? It's obvious they are so blind they can't even see how inconsistent they are.

But they also admit to the man Jesus "opened your eyes" - they didn't deny something happened, they just rejected the way it happened.

Jn 9:18 TheTeaching at the Feast of Dedication Pharisees were still looking for a reason to not believe - a crowd must have seen this miracle yet they still reject it. Their hard hearts cause them to go to desperate lengths to avoid truth. This is willful unbelief.

Jn 9:19-23 The parents fear being cast out - the synagogue was the source for social and business contacts and not being involved would cause considerable hardship in business and personal life.

Jn 9:24-25 The man didn't involve himself in their debate. He knows one thing - before he was blind, but now he can see. It's important to remember this point - don't get involved in futile disputes with people about petty things. Just remember before you were blind, and now you see.

Jn 9:26-27 They won't believe the story no matter how many times he tells it, so what's the point?

Jn 9:28-29 In frustration the verbal abuse begins. When people can't logically respond, frequently the response turns to anger. I've been called a Nazi and other strange names simply because I've answered someone's questions in such a way as they have to admit it's true and their preconceived ideas don't hold up to analysis. Yet they can't bring themselves to believe Jesus is God and creator, so they result to name calling and other unpolite responses.

Jn 9:30-33 This (probably) un-educated man gives them a lesson. When the Holy Spirit gives you words, speak and don't be afraid. Recall Stephen's discourse in Acts 7.

Jn 9:34 Once a rational discussion is over, their response turns ugly. As Jon Courson says:

It's interesting how the Pharisees resort to name-calling whenever they're backed into a corner. When you're sharing your faith, and people start calling you names, when they get uptight, when they get angry - rejoice. Be happy, because when you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that barks the loudest is the one that got hit.^[2]

Jesus' identification of Himself to the blind man (Jn 9:35-38)

Jn 9:35 The only question that counts - Who is Jesus? Don't get sidetracked on other issues (errors in the Bible, age of the earth, etc), but return to the main question - what do you think of Jesus? Skeptics want to engage about errors in the Bible, the corrupt history of the church, the age of the earth or other side issues - always try and bring the conversation back to one thing - Who is Jesus?

Jn 9:36 The true response - I want to know Him!

Jn 9:37-38 Notice the man's responses as his revelation and knowledge of Jesus increases. First Jesus is a man (verse 11), then a prophet (17), and finally the Lord (38).

Spiritual blindness of the Pharisees (Jn 9:39-41)

People are held accountable for the knowledge they have. People with little knowledge of God will be judged easier than someone who has heard the Gospel message for years but rejected it. Paul in Romans says even the creation speaks of God, so we are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

Allegory of the Good Shepherd and the thief (Jn 10:1-18)

Jn 10:1-3 Shepherds kept their sheep in a pen with an opening on one side. The shepherd would lay down in the opening and sleep there. He actually became the door to the sheep pen and protected the sheep with his body. The true shepherd (who was interested in protecting the sheep) entered by that opening, while a thief would avoid the protection of the shepherd by climbing over the pen's walls.

Shepherds led their flocks by using their voice - since they spent so much time with the sheep the sheep would react to the shepherd's voice and no one else's.

Notice Jesus leads the sheep instead of herds the sheep. You can choose to reject His leading if you wish.

Jn 10:4 Jesus leads and goes before us as our example. He doesn't send us into an area He Himself won't go - He leads us.

The Bible says Jesus was tempted as we are, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 2:18). Some people don't understand how (if Jesus never gave in to temptation) He can understand our condition. It's precisely because of that He understands. For example, if you've tried to quit smoking you know how hard it can be on the third or fourth day. But suppose you gave in on day five - would you be able to understand how someone feels after six months? No. But since Jesus never yielded to temptation, He can understand whatever you're going through.

Jn 10:5 False shepherds do exist and attempt to lead the flock astray. You must know the Bible for yourself - any honest Bible teacher will ask you to check things out for yourself. If a teacher implies you don't need to check up on them, don't listen. Cults would have fewer members if everyone just read the Bible for themselves.

Jn 10:6 It's common not to understand the first time. Jesus knows we have problems with attention and understanding and is patient to restate the ideas in a different way to help us with understanding, as He does here.

Jn 10:7 Note the definite article "the door". Many people say all paths lead to God - that's true in a sense. No matter what you do in this life, you will stand before the throne of God. Of course, where you go from there is up to you. Either enter into paradise or eternal damnation - it's your choice.

Jn 10:8-9 Jesus is exclusive. Anyone else is not the true door. Fill in the blank with whatever other religion you want, it just won't work.

Jn 10:10 Jesus' mission is to give life. A common misunderstanding of God portrays Him as a mean old guy who just wants to make life miserable for His subjects. But that's not true. God's real goal is to give you abundant life.

Jn 10:11-12 Only Jesus will stand with you in a crisis. Many people have found out when the chips are down their so-called "friends" desert them. But Jesus won't run away. When the going gets tough, He's right there with you.

Contrast that with false teachers and false shepherds. As soon as tough situations arise, they're gone. Satan himself declares "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. (Job 2:4)". The desire for self-preservation is the strongest desire a person has.

Jn 10:14 Each sheep is known personally. You're not like an employee of a large corporation where you're only known by a number. Jesus knows each one of His sheep personally, and He always maintains an "open-door" policy. You don't need an appointment or have to stand in line; any time you want to talk to Him He's available.

Jn 10:15 OnTeaching at the Feast of Dedicationce again we see Jesus knew of His future sacrifice. The myth Jesus was caught up in the moment and didn't know what was happening is pure junk. Jesus knew all along what was happening and controlled the situation.

Jn 10:16 Jews + Gentiles = Church

Jn 10:18 See later in the Gospel of John in the Garden in John 18 and notice who controls the events.

Further division among the Jews (Jn 10:19-21)

Another attempt to stone or arrest Jesus for blasphemy (Jn 10:22-39)

Jn 10:22 Feast of Dedication is Hanukkah. After the temple was defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes in 165 BC the Jews had to re-purify and rededicate the temple. This event is commemorated by Hanukkah.

Jn 10:23-24 How much more clearer can it get? Who else but God can do the Miracles Jesus has done? And yet the always ask for a sign. The problem is they didn't want to believe Jesus was God; no amount of miracles or signs would change their mind.

So-called "open-minded" people are frequently the most closed - and they aren't even aware of their logical inconsistency. No matter how much proof is offered, they won't believe.

Jn 10:25 Willful unbelief.

Jn 10:26-27 Jesus is very clear about their parentage in Matthew 23.

Jb 10:28-29 You can't lose your salvation if you try because it's God's job to keep the sheep.

Jn 10:30-33 Another clear claim to deity. It's sad today's "Jesus Seminar" tries to deny Jesus ever claimed to be God. Yet here again we see the Pharisees at least understood what Jesus claimed to be. They rejected it, but understood what Jesus was saying - He was God. That's exactly why they wanted to stone Him.

In Jesus' time, no doubt existed as to what He claimed to be. It's popular today to avoid the issue by simply saying Jesus never claimed to be God, but a causal reading of the Gospels shows that idea to be completely without merit. Why do people go to such great lengths to deny Jesus' claims? They simply don't want to be held accountable. But if Jesus didn't really say those things, you don't have to be accountable to it and can live as you want.

The reason people do this is given by Peter:

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11 NKJV)

IF the Bible is true, it requires a changed lifestyle and many people don't want to get rid of their sinful ways. Thus it's easier to go to any absurd lengths to deny what the Bible says rather than change lifestyle.

Jn 10:34 From Psalm 82 and refers to judges, not deity. Read the Psalm in context and this is clear.

Jn 10:37 Once again the Bible says for you to think on your own and check out the facts for yourself. If they aren't true, reject them.

Jn 10:38 Not yet time.

^[1] MacArthur, John The McArthur Study Bible page 1601

^[2] Courson, Jon John Volume III page 63-63

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