Recap
Title: I Once Was Blind But Now I See
Series: Discovering The Real Jesus
Key Text: John 9:1-41
Key Message:
These well-known words from the famous hymn, Amazing Grace, have been sung all around the world. They describe the radical change that happened in the life of a former slave trader who became an anti-slavery campaigner and influential pastor.
When John Newton had a powerful encounter with Jesus, he had a whole new vision of God and his life.
A whole chapter of John’s gospel, John 9:1-41, is focused on this account of a man who had received his sight after Jesus had healed him physically and then opened his eyes spiritually.
Jesus can cause us to see what we haven’t seen before (Luke 4:18-19; Luke 7:22; John 9:17; John 9:33; John 9:35-38)
Jesus can work in all kinds of ways to show us His power and the state of our hearts (John 9:1-7; John 9:39)
Jesus wants you to share what you have experienced (John 9:8-9; John 9:11)
Apply
All through his life this man had not been able to see, but when he met Jesus, everything changed, and he was suddenly able to see.
Opening the eyes of the blind was evidence that Jesus was the Promised Messiah.
Sickness is the work of the Devil, while healing is the work of God. God is a miracle working God, not only in the past, but in the present and in the future.
Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday and today and forever is well able to open the eyes of the blind: both the physically blind and the spiritually blind. Both happened in this story.
Everyone needs their eyes opened spiritually. Do you see who Jesus really is? Can you see that no matter how good a person you may think you are, you are a sinner who needs to be made pure by the blood of Jesus to be able to see God?
God has many ways to bring miraculous change in our lives. It may be through the words of a little child; it may be through pain or a crisis in your life.
Sometimes the Lord will offend your ideas and traditions to get you to a point of revelation. He is not afraid to challenge your wisdom and pride to get you to see sense and to understand the calling and future He has for you.
Pride was the big reason people couldn’t and wouldn’t see who Jesus is.
The Pharisees believed that they were superior to other people on earth. Jesus on the other hand came to earth in such a humble way and showed how He could restore sight and vision in His own way to whoever He wanted.
Those who admit their need, and trust in God, are those who will be granted sight – just as the blind man was given both sight and knowledge by Jesus in response to his sincere faith.
Are you willing to admit your need for God? Will you humble yourself before God so you can be given sight?
Your miracle will be your testimony.
This once blind man was so bold in his testimony and he got bolder as he told his story and confronted them. He didn’t care what they would do to him, all he knew is that Jesus gave him his sight back.
As a Christian all you have to do is to be a witness, like a witness in court, to say what has happened to you. Even if you can’t answer everyone’s questions, just tell your story of God’s grace in your life. And people will listen because they can see something real has happened.
Today you too can have your eyes opened and when they are be sure to tell everybody the good news about Jesus.
