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John 9:1-41 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Father of my children, as well as my very own mother this morning.
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Glad to have both of those precious women here.
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! I'm glad for each of you moms.
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We see you and the hard work you're doing.
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It's a picture of God's grace in your life and to our church
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and for your husband and your children.
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We're glad for each and every one of you.
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We have some ground to cover today.
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We're going to look at the entirety of John chapter 9.
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And so I'm just going to get right to it.
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I'm going to read the chapter.
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And then we'll go back and work through its content together.
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So let's begin John chapter 9, beginning in verse 1.
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As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
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And his disciples asked him,
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Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?
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Jesus answered,
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It was not that this man sinned or his parents,
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but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
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We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day.
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Night is coming when no one can work.
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As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
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Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva.
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Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him,
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Go wash in the pool of Siloam, which means scent.
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So he went and washed and came back seeing.
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The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying,
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Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?
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Some said, It is he.
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Others said, No, but he is like him.
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He kept saying, I am the man.
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So they said to him,
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Then how were your eyes opened?
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He answered,
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The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me,
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Go to Siloam and wash.
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So I went and washed and received my sight.
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They said to him,
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Where is he?
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He said,
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I do not know.
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They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.
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Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
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So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight.
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And he said to them,
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He put mud on my eyes and I washed and I see.
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Some of the Pharisees said,
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This man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath.
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But others said,
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How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?
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And there was a division among them.
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So they said again to the blind man,
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What do you say about him since he has opened your eyes?
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He said,
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He is a prophet.
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The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight
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until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight
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and asked them,
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Is this your son who you say was born blind?
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How then does he now see?
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His parents answered,
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We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
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But how he now sees we do not know,
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nor do we know who opened his eyes.
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Ask him,
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He is of age.
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He will speak for himself.
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His parents said these things because they feared the Jews.
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For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be the Christ,
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he was to be put out of the synagogue.
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Therefore his parents said,
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He is of age.
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Ask him.
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So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him,
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Give glory to God.
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We know that this man is a sinner.
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He answered,
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Whether he is a sinner I do not know.
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One thing I do know,
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that though I was blind,
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now I see.
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They said to him,
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What did he do to you?
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How did he open your eyes?
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He answered them,
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I have told you already,
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and you would not listen.
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Why do you want to hear it again?
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Do you also want to become his disciples?
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And they reviled him,
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saying,
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You are his disciple,
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but we are disciples of Moses.
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We know that God has spoken to Moses,
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but as for this man,
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we do not know where he comes from.
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The man answered,
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Why, this is an amazing thing.
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You do not know where he comes from,
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and yet he opened my eyes.
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We know that God does not listen to sinners,
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but if anyone is a worshiper of God
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and does his will,
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God listens to him.
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Never since the world began
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has it been heard
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that anyone opened the eyes
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of a man born blind.
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If this man were not from God,
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he could do nothing.
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They answered him,
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You were born in utter sin,
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and you would teach us,
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and they cast him out.
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Jesus heard that they had cast him out,
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and having found him, he said,
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Do you believe in the Son of Man?
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He answered,
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And who is he, sir,
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that I may believe in him?
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Jesus said to him,
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You have seen him,
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and it is he who is speaking to you.
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He said,
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Lord, I believe,
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and he worshipped him.
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Jesus said,
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For judgment I came into this world
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that those who do not see may see,
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and those who see may become blind.
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Some of the Pharisees near him
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heard these things
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and said to him,
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Are we also blind?
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Jesus said to them,
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If you were blind,
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you would have no guilt.
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But now that you say,
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we see,
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your guilt remains.
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Okay,
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there's a lot of text to cover here,
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and we're not going to look at every single word
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and every detail found in this chapter,
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but I promised you,
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at the beginning of our study,
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that I was going to follow the chiastic structure
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through John.
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All of chapter 9 is chiasm.
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I'll make a couple of other comments about that later,
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although not massively significant.
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This probably, as a text,
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could be broken up into three sermons.
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I'm going to move pretty quick past some of it
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to not keep us too long today,
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but I think that the main thing
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being communicated to us here by John
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would be lost,
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you know,
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the forest for the trees,
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so to speak,
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if we spend too much time in this chapter.
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So let's look first,
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before I give you an outline,
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at the first seven verses
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and talk just a bit about the setting,
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where do we find ourselves in the narrative,
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and the miracle that's performed.
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So we see right away in verse 1
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that Jesus passes by a man.
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He's just left the temple
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where the Jews were looking to stone him.
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He hides himself,
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and he escapes.
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At the time,
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we're not totally sure,
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although we find out later in the text
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that it's on the Sabbath.
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So some days have passed.
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We don't know exactly how many
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from the concluding words of chapter 8.
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How many doesn't really matter,
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but John's setting for us
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that this is happening on a Saturday,
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on the Sabbath.
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We see Jesus send the man
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that he heals to the pool of Siloam,
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which is located in Jerusalem.
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So they're still in the city,
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or they're very near the city,
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perhaps on the outskirts of the city.
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Now, do you recall a mention
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of the pool of Siloam
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in our previous study?
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Now, this is the first time
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that we see the name of the pool
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in John's Gospel,
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but you may remember my explanation
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of the Feast of Booths
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in chapter 7,
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and the carrying of water
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from this pool to the temple
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as part of their ceremonial tradition.
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This is where that water originated from
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that paraded through the city
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to the temple
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for that water ritual
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performed at that feast.
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You may remember
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that it was in that setting,
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John records,
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chapter 7, verse 37 and 38,
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on the last day of the feast,
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the great day,
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Jesus stood up and cried out.
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Remember, there's all of this
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water ceremony going on.
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He says,
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If anyone thirsts,
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let him come to me and drink.
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Whoever believes in me,
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as the scripture has said,
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out of his heart
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will flow rivers of living water.
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So that's where they're at.
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On the Sabbath day,
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encounter this man
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as he passes by him,
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performs this miracle,
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sends him to this particular pool
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in the city.
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It bears some significance.
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And his disciples ask him
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in response to seeing this man,
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rabbi, teacher,
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who sinned,
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this man or his parents,
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that he was born blind.
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Misunderstood Bible text
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and poor rabbinical tradition
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had many first century Jews
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believing that all disablements
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were directly tied
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to either the sin of an individual
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or the sin of their parents.
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To be sure,
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all ailments are a result
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of the fall generally,
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and some sins carry with them
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consequences,
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but not in the systematic way
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the disciples are assuming.
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This man born blind,
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they want to know exactly
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what did he do
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or exactly what did his parents do
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for this to be the case.
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A lot could be impacted here,
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but Jesus is making
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the necessary correction
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for our text today.
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He says in response,
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it was not this man sinned
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or his parents.
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Had they sinned?
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Of course they had.
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But that the works of God
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might be displayed in him.
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He's not blind
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because of his particular sin
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or their particular sin,
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but that the works of God
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might be displayed in him.
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I could spend all morning
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talking about verse 3.
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What a profound pronouncement this is.
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Not ultimately the point of the story,
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but what Jesus is saying here
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is that there's divine sovereignty
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in this man's disability
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disability that is purposed
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for the glory of God.
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Divine purpose
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for the glory of God.
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F.F. Bruce in his commentary on John
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says this,
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quote,
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This does not mean
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that God deliberately caused
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the child to be born blind
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in order that,
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after many years,
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his glory should be displayed
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in the removal of the blindness.
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To think so
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would again be an aspersion
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on the character of God.
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It does mean
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that God overruled
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the disaster of the child's blindness
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so that when the child
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grew to manhood,
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he might,
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by recovering his sight,
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see the glory of God
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in the face of Christ
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and others.
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Seeing this work of God
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might turn
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to the true light
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of the world.
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God reigns in all things
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for his good purposes.
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He didn't smite the man
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that he might then heal him,
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but rather used this tragedy
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in his life
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for his glory.
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The tragedy of this man's life
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and all the very tragedies
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of your lives,
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however major
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or minor,
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are not outside
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the sweep
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of God's control.
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right?
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So,
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Jesus goes on.
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We must work
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the works of him
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who sent me
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while it is day.
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There's a work
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to be done here.
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Night is coming
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when no one
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can work.
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There'll be a
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final judgment
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when the work
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will cease.
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And he says,
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as long as I am
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in the world,
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I am the light
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of the world.
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So after saying
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these things,
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he spits on the ground,
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makes mud
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with saliva,
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and he anoints
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the man's eyes
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with the mud
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and says to him,
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go wash
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in the pool
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of Siloam,
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which John inserts,
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which means
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in the Hebrew,
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sent.
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So,
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he went
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and washed
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and came back
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seeing.
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Note the obedience
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of the man
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and the complete
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healing
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in verse 7.
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total obedience,
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total sight.
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There's a lot
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of charlatans
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in our day
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that claim
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to have
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the gift
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of healing
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and somebody's
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knee is a little
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bit achy
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and then it's
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not achy
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anymore
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after the fact.
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Beware of this.
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Obedience
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and then
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total sight.
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His sight
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is
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restored.
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But why mud?
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I think
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the thing
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that happens
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here begs
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the question.
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Jesus certainly
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could have
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simply spoken
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and the man
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would have
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been healed.
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We've seen
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this elsewhere.
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Jesus wasn't
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bound by any
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formula
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to enact
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his power.
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I thought that
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blindness required
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this kind
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of action.
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So,
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why
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did he make
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mud
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with saliva?
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And oh,
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do the guesses
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abound.
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some odd
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guesses out
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there about
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this.
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I'm going to
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give you two
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reasons that I
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believe sufficiently
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answer the
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question and
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are clear
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and I think
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textual.
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Number one,
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he is
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creating
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contractions
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for the man
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to go wash
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the mud
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off.
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This is the
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Sabbath and
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the Jews
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have missed
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the point of
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the Sabbath
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and heaped
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up extra
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laws in
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self-righteous
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effort.
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All of
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these hedge
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laws that
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required all
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of this
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particular
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activity or
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lack
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thereof.
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Do you
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recall at the
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beginning of
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chapter 5 when
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Jesus first
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visits Jerusalem
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in John's
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narrative,
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he heals a
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man who had
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been paralyzed
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for 38
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years.
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Much of
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his life.
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Everybody
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knew the
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man to be
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a paralytic.
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Where?
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At a pool.
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The pool of
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Bethesda.
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When?
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On the
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Sabbath.
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In the same
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way, he
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heals a
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man known
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by everybody
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to have an
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ailment on
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the Sabbath.
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John records
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in chapter 5
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beginning in
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verse 16,
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and this was
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why the Jews
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were persecuting
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Jesus.
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Because he
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was doing
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these things
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am working.
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this is why
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the Jews were
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seeking all
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the more to
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kill him.
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Because not
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only was he
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breaking the
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Sabbath, but
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he was even
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calling God
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his own
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father, making
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himself equal
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with God.
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The controversy
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really starts
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there, and it's
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carried all
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throughout.
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It's reached
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this white
15:15
hot fever in
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chapter 8, and
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then even as
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Jesus escapes
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being stoned,
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because it's
15:20
not yet time
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for him to
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die, and
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that's not
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the way he
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was meant
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to die, he
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goes off, and
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he continues
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to poke
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the bear.
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Jesus is
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God.
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He is the
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Lord of the
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Sabbath, and
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in perfect
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obedience to
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the Father, he
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is having this
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blind man with
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mud on his
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eyes travel
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through Jerusalem
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to a significant
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location to be
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healed on the
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Sabbath.
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He's sent to
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a place that
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people would
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see him and
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know that
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Jesus had
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healed him.
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God's
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love.
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A second
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reason that
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I think is
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helpful to
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us, John
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Piper said
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this in a
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sermon on
16:04
this text,
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quote, the
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second reason
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for the mud
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is to show
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that God
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usually uses
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means in
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doing his
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wonderful works
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in this
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world.
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Jesus could
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have simply
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spoken, and
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the man's
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eyes would
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have been
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opened.
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But most
16:20
of the wonders
16:21
of God in
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the Old
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Testament were
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brought about
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by the use
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of human
16:24
means.
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God is
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decisive in
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the victory,
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but he
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uses means.
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He doesn't
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need the
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horse, but
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he uses
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the horse.
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Ponder this
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in the bigger
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picture of
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life for a
16:47
moment.
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What this
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means is that
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God does not
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despise the
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physical world
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he has made.
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he uses the
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means of
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food to
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sustain life.
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He uses the
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means of
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sex to
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beget children,
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and he
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uses a
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thousand
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remedies to
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bring about
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healing from
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sleep to
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penicillin,
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from vitamins
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to radiation,
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from sunshine
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on the skin
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to cough
17:09
syrup for
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the throat.
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And I
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will interject
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here on
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Mother's Day,
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essential oils
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and tinctures
17:16
of various
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kinds.
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Back to
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Piper.
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And lest
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you think
17:22
this removes
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the mystery
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of God's
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wonderful work,
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consider boring
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down through
17:28
layer after
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layer after
17:30
layer of
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physical causes
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for why
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antibacterials
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work against
17:36
strep.
17:37
Forty or
17:38
fifty layers
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down into
17:39
the molecular
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subatomic
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activities of
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the smallest
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particles or
17:43
non-particles,
17:44
there comes a
17:45
point where
17:46
there is no
17:47
explanation inside
17:48
this closed
17:50
material system.
17:52
The final
17:53
explanation is
17:55
always God.
17:58
And if our
17:59
hearts are alive
18:00
and humble
18:00
and worshipful,
18:02
we will not
18:03
stop until we
18:04
see God at
18:05
the bottom
18:05
of everything.
18:08
End quote.
18:09
So this
18:10
miraculous thing
18:11
happens and it
18:12
happens in a
18:12
particular way to
18:14
incite the
18:15
controversy that
18:16
we're going to
18:16
see more of
18:17
in this chapter
18:19
and on to
18:20
the day of
18:21
the Lord's
18:22
crucifixion,
18:23
but also that
18:23
we might see
18:24
that there's
18:25
means at
18:27
play.
18:29
Now for the
18:29
rest of the
18:30
text, let's
18:31
look at four
18:32
categorical
18:34
characters.
18:35
So here they
18:36
are.
18:36
Number one,
18:37
the confused.
18:38
Number two,
18:39
the fearful.
18:41
Number three,
18:41
the proud.
18:42
And number
18:43
four,
18:45
the believer.
18:47
First, the
18:47
confused.
18:48
Verses 8
18:49
through 17.
18:52
The neighbors
18:53
and those who
18:53
had seen him
18:54
before as a
18:55
beggar were
18:56
saying,
18:56
is not this
18:57
the man he
18:58
used to sit
18:58
and beg?
18:59
Because he
18:59
was blind,
19:00
he begged
19:01
for his
19:02
income.
19:03
Some said,
19:04
is he?
19:04
Others said,
19:05
no, but he
19:06
is like him.
19:06
He kept
19:07
saying,
19:07
I am the
19:08
man.
19:10
So they
19:10
said to
19:10
him,
19:11
then how
19:11
were your
19:12
eyes open?
19:14
So we see
19:14
this confusion
19:15
about the
19:17
blind man
19:17
from the
19:18
neighbors.
19:20
So he
19:20
goes on to
19:20
explain in
19:21
verse 11,
19:22
the man
19:22
called Jesus
19:23
made mud
19:23
and amoyed
19:24
to my eyes
19:24
and said
19:24
to me,
19:25
go to
19:25
Siloam
19:25
and wash.
19:26
Rehearsing
19:27
this pattern.
19:28
So I
19:28
went and
19:29
washed and
19:29
received my
19:31
sight.
19:32
They said
19:32
to him,
19:33
where is
19:33
he?
19:33
He said,
19:34
I do
19:34
not know.
19:36
So then
19:36
we see
19:37
this confusion
19:37
about the
19:38
location of
19:39
Jesus,
19:39
which I
19:40
believe John
19:41
is using
19:41
to highlight
19:42
the confusion
19:44
of the
19:45
Pharisees.
19:45
He's like
19:46
building this
19:46
confusion
19:47
pattern
19:48
leading up
19:49
to verse
19:50
13,
19:51
where they
19:51
bring to
19:52
the Pharisees
19:53
the man
19:54
who had
19:55
formerly
19:55
been blind.
19:57
And this
19:58
is where
19:58
John tells
19:58
us in
19:59
verse 14,
19:59
it was the
20:00
Sabbath day
20:01
when Jesus
20:01
made the
20:02
mud and
20:03
opened his
20:04
eyes.
20:05
First century
20:06
Jewish readers
20:07
would have
20:07
gone,
20:07
oh,
20:08
he's got
20:08
a problem
20:09
now.
20:10
So now
20:11
the Pharisees
20:12
asked the
20:13
man,
20:14
and he
20:14
said to
20:15
them,
20:15
he put
20:15
mud on
20:16
my eyes
20:16
and I
20:16
washed
20:17
and I
20:17
see.
20:18
His
20:18
explanation is
20:19
getting more
20:20
condensed.
20:21
He put
20:21
mud on
20:21
my eyes
20:22
and I
20:22
washed
20:23
and I
20:23
see.
20:25
Some of
20:25
the Pharisees
20:26
said,
20:27
this man
20:27
is not
20:28
from God
20:29
for he
20:29
does not
20:30
keep
20:31
the
20:32
Sabbath.
20:33
Their
20:33
reasoning
20:33
begins
20:34
with the
20:35
Sabbath
20:36
must
20:36
be
20:37
kept
20:37
in a
20:37
particular
20:38
way.
20:38
They
20:38
miss
20:39
the
20:39
point
20:39
of
20:39
the
20:39
Sabbath.
20:40
Their
20:40
presupposition
20:41
is wrong
20:42
and so
20:42
their
20:43
conclusion
20:43
is wrong.
20:45
This
20:45
man
20:45
is not
20:46
from
20:47
God.
20:47
He
20:47
can't
20:47
be
20:48
sent
20:48
from
20:49
God
20:49
if he
20:49
doesn't
20:50
keep
20:50
the
20:50
Sabbath
20:51
the
20:51
way
20:51
we
20:51
believe
20:52
the
20:52
Sabbath
20:52
should
20:54
be
20:54
kept.
20:55
But
20:55
others
20:56
of the
20:56
Pharisees
20:57
said,
20:58
how
20:58
can
20:58
a
20:58
man
20:59
who
20:59
is
20:59
a
20:59
sinner
20:59
do
21:00
such
21:00
signs?
21:01
Is it
21:01
even
21:02
possible
21:02
that
21:04
if
21:05
a
21:05
sinner
21:06
categorically
21:07
a
21:07
sinner
21:08
John
21:09
records
21:10
and there
21:10
was a
21:11
division
21:12
among
21:13
them.
21:14
And we
21:15
see this
21:15
John
21:15
does
21:16
this
21:16
throughout
21:16
his
21:17
narrative
21:18
pressing
21:19
to us
21:20
putting
21:20
before us
21:21
constantly
21:22
in our
21:22
reading
21:22
of it
21:22
who
21:23
is
21:24
Jesus?
21:26
What
21:26
are you
21:26
going to
21:27
do
21:27
with
21:27
him?
21:28
He
21:28
makes
21:28
such
21:29
astounding
21:30
claims
21:30
about
21:30
himself.
21:31
He
21:31
does
21:31
miraculous
21:32
works
21:33
that
21:34
are
21:34
recorded
21:34
here
21:35
for
21:36
us.
21:37
You
21:37
may
21:38
be
21:38
a
21:38
person
21:38
who
21:38
rejects
21:39
the
21:39
Bible
21:39
entirely
21:40
as
21:40
God's
21:40
word,
21:41
but at
21:41
least
21:41
accept
21:41
it
21:42
as
21:42
a
21:42
historical
21:42
account.
21:45
Very
21:45
few
21:46
academically
21:47
honest
21:48
people
21:48
will
21:48
deny
21:49
that
21:49
this
21:49
is
21:49
not
21:49
a
21:49
good
21:50
historical
21:51
record.
21:53
If
21:53
you
21:54
can't
21:54
believe
21:54
that
21:54
the
21:54
Bible
21:55
is
21:55
a
21:55
historical
21:55
book,
21:56
then
21:56
you
21:56
can't
21:56
believe
21:56
any
21:57
historical
21:58
work.
21:59
There's
22:00
so much
22:00
more
22:00
evidence
22:01
that
22:01
this
22:01
is
22:01
in
22:01
fact
22:02
a
22:02
good
22:02
sound
22:03
record
22:04
of
22:04
what
22:04
happened
22:05
in
22:05
history.
22:06
So
22:06
you've
22:06
got
22:06
to
22:06
do
22:06
something
22:07
with
22:07
this
22:08
Jesus.
22:09
We've
22:09
said
22:09
again
22:10
and
22:10
again
22:10
the
22:10
trilemma.
22:11
He's
22:11
either
22:11
a liar,
22:12
he's
22:12
a
22:12
lunatic,
22:13
or
22:13
he
22:13
is
22:14
in
22:14
fact
22:15
Lord.
22:18
And
22:18
so
22:18
there's
22:18
this
22:19
confusion
22:19
amongst
22:19
the
22:20
Pharisees.
22:21
What
22:21
do
22:22
we
22:22
do
22:22
with
22:22
him?
22:23
He's
22:23
either
22:23
from
22:24
God
22:24
or
22:24
he's
22:24
not
22:25
from
22:25
God.
22:28
So
22:28
in
22:28
verse
22:28
17
22:28
they say
22:29
again
22:29
to
22:29
the
22:30
blind
22:30
man
22:30
what
22:31
do
22:31
you
22:31
say
22:31
about
22:31
him
22:32
since
22:32
he
22:32
has
22:33
opened
22:33
your
22:34
eyes.
22:35
They
22:35
look to
22:35
him
22:36
for
22:36
some
22:36
judgment
22:37
to
22:38
settle
22:38
their
22:39
dispute
22:40
and
22:41
he
22:41
responds
22:41
he
22:42
is a
22:44
prophet.
22:46
At
22:46
this point
22:47
I say
22:47
that not
22:47
even the
22:48
formerly
22:49
blind
22:49
man
22:49
fully
22:50
grasps
22:51
who
22:51
Jesus
22:51
is.
22:53
Perhaps
22:53
some
22:53
unfolding
22:54
revelation
22:54
to him
22:55
but he
22:55
doesn't
22:55
quite
22:56
understand
22:57
yet
22:58
but he
22:58
at least
22:59
believes
23:00
that he
23:00
is sent
23:01
from
23:03
God.
23:04
So
23:04
there's
23:04
some
23:04
confused
23:06
individuals
23:07
in the
23:08
text.
23:09
We
23:09
then
23:10
secondly
23:10
see
23:10
some
23:11
fearful
23:12
people
23:13
in the
23:13
text
23:13
verses
23:13
18
23:14
through
23:15
23
23:16
we
23:17
find
23:18
in
23:18
these
23:19
verses
23:19
the
23:19
center
23:20
of
23:20
the
23:21
chiastic
23:21
structure
23:22
of
23:22
this
23:23
entire
23:24
chapter.
23:25
I
23:26
believe
23:26
that
23:26
John
23:27
is
23:27
presenting
23:27
to
23:27
us
23:28
a
23:28
new
23:28
category
23:29
of
23:29
respondent
23:30
to
23:30
Jesus'
23:31
miracles
23:31
and
23:32
claims.
23:33
We've
23:34
seen
23:34
throughout
23:35
the
23:35
narrative
23:35
so far
23:36
a
23:36
reject
23:36
or
23:37
receive
23:37
pattern.
23:39
There's
23:39
sometimes
23:39
some
23:40
confusion
23:40
but there's
23:40
reject
23:41
receive
23:41
reject
23:42
receive
23:42
reject
23:42
receive
23:43
but here's
23:44
a
23:44
new
23:45
response.
23:48
The
23:48
Jews
23:49
didn't
23:49
believe
23:50
he'd
23:50
been
23:50
born
23:50
blind
23:51
and
23:51
received
23:51
his
23:51
sight
23:51
but they
23:52
call
23:52
the
23:53
parents
23:53
so they
23:54
come to
23:54
believe it
23:54
when the
23:55
parents
23:55
come
23:56
they
23:57
ask
23:57
them
23:57
is
23:57
this
23:58
your
23:58
son
23:58
and the
24:00
report
24:00
back
24:00
is
24:00
yes
24:01
this
24:01
is
24:01
our
24:02
son
24:02
and he
24:02
was
24:03
in fact
24:03
born
24:04
blind
24:05
but verse
24:06
21
24:06
says
24:07
but now
24:08
how he
24:09
sees
24:09
we do
24:09
not
24:10
know
24:10
nor do
24:10
we
24:11
know
24:11
who
24:11
opened
24:12
his
24:12
eyes
24:12
ask
24:13
him
24:13
he
24:14
is
24:14
of
24:14
age
24:15
he
24:15
will
24:15
speak
24:16
for
24:17
himself
24:17
but
24:20
the
24:20
chiastic
24:20
center
24:21
is
24:21
verse
24:21
22
24:23
where
24:24
John
24:25
inserts
24:26
some
24:27
interpretive
24:28
help
24:28
for us
24:29
his
24:30
parents
24:31
did
24:31
know
24:32
who
24:32
had
24:32
opened
24:33
his
24:33
eyes
24:33
we
24:35
know
24:35
this
24:35
because
24:35
his
24:36
parents
24:36
said
24:36
these
24:37
things
24:37
because
24:38
they
24:40
feared
24:40
the
24:40
Jews
24:41
for
24:42
the
24:42
Jews
24:42
had
24:42
already
24:43
agreed
24:44
that
24:44
if
24:44
anyone
24:45
should
24:45
confess
24:46
Jesus
24:46
to be
24:48
Christ
24:48
the
24:48
anointed
24:49
one
24:49
of
24:49
God
24:50
he
24:51
was
24:51
to
24:51
be
24:51
put
24:52
out
24:52
of
24:53
the
24:53
synagogue
24:54
they're
24:55
avoiding
24:56
the
24:56
question
24:57
altogether
24:57
because
24:57
they
24:58
can't
24:58
say
24:58
it
24:59
was
24:59
the
24:59
man
24:59
Jesus
25:00
who
25:00
healed
25:01
our
25:01
son
25:01
he
25:02
is
25:02
the
25:03
Christ
25:03
they're
25:04
saying
25:04
just
25:04
don't
25:04
ask
25:04
us
25:04
any
25:05
more
25:05
questions
25:05
our
25:05
son
25:06
is
25:06
old
25:06
enough
25:06
ask
25:07
him
25:08
he
25:08
will
25:09
speak
25:09
!
25:11
for
25:11
himself
25:11
being
25:14
expelled
25:14
from
25:15
the
25:15
synagogue
25:15
was
25:15
a
25:16
serious
25:16
form
25:17
of
25:17
religious
25:17
and
25:18
social
25:19
exclusion
25:20
since
25:21
synagogue
25:22
life
25:22
was
25:23
central
25:23
to
25:23
Jewish
25:23
community
25:24
identity
25:24
this is
25:25
where
25:25
they
25:26
would
25:26
have
25:26
held
25:26
the
25:27
teaching
25:27
the
25:28
temple
25:28
was
25:28
for
25:28
sacrifice
25:29
the
25:30
synagogue
25:30
was
25:30
like
25:30
outposts
25:31
of
25:31
God's
25:32
people
25:32
gathering
25:33
together
25:33
they
25:33
existed
25:34
all
25:34
over
25:35
the
25:36
place
25:36
this
25:36
one
25:36
likely
25:37
in
25:37
Jerusalem
25:38
it's
25:39
where
25:39
they
25:39
would
25:40
have
25:40
had
25:40
social
25:40
gatherings
25:41
being
25:44
put
25:44
out
25:44
of
25:44
it
25:44
would
25:45
have
25:45
meant
25:45
a
25:45
loss
25:46
of
25:46
social
25:46
standing
25:47
separation
25:48
!
25:48
from the
25:49
religious
25:49
community
25:50
economic
25:51
consequences
25:52
public
25:53
shame
25:53
being
25:55
treated
25:55
as
25:55
outside
25:57
faithful
25:58
Israel
25:59
essentially
25:59
it would
25:59
have
26:00
been a
26:00
loss
26:00
of
26:01
identity
26:01
to be
26:02
put
26:02
out
26:03
of
26:04
the
26:05
synagogue
26:06
my
26:08
reading
26:08
of
26:08
John's
26:09
parenthetical
26:10
reminded me
26:11
of Jesus'
26:11
parable
26:12
of the
26:13
soils
26:13
a
26:15
sower
26:15
goes out
26:16
to
26:16
sow
26:16
this is
26:17
Mark
26:17
chapter
26:17
four
26:18
as he
26:18
sowed
26:19
some seed
26:19
fell along
26:20
the path
26:20
and the
26:20
birds
26:21
came
26:21
and devoured
26:23
it
26:23
later
26:24
never
26:24
takes
26:25
root
26:25
this is
26:26
satan
26:26
coming and
26:27
snatching
26:27
away
26:28
that seed
26:29
so it
26:29
never
26:30
takes
26:30
root
26:31
other
26:32
seed
26:32
fell
26:33
on rocky
26:33
ground
26:33
where it
26:34
did not
26:34
have much
26:35
soil
26:35
and
26:35
immediately
26:35
it
26:36
sprang
26:36
up
26:36
since it
26:37
had
26:37
no
26:37
depth
26:38
of
26:38
soil
26:38
and when
26:39
the
26:39
sun
26:39
rose
26:39
it
26:40
was
26:40
scorched
26:41
and since
26:42
it had
26:42
no
26:42
root
26:42
it
26:44
rizzled
26:44
away
26:44
Jesus
26:45
tells us
26:46
later
26:47
that this
26:47
is
26:48
the ones
26:49
who endure
26:49
for a
26:49
while
26:50
and when
26:50
tribulation
26:51
or persecution
26:52
arises
26:52
on account
26:53
of the
26:54
word
26:54
they
26:55
immediately
26:55
fall
26:56
away
26:56
verse
26:58
seven
26:59
says
26:59
other
26:59
seed
26:59
fell
27:00
among
27:00
thorns
27:00
and the
27:01
thorns
27:01
grew up
27:01
and choked
27:02
it
27:02
and it
27:02
yielded
27:03
no
27:03
grain
27:04
Jesus
27:05
says
27:06
those
27:08
are the
27:08
thorns
27:08
people
27:09
who
27:09
hear
27:09
the
27:09
word
27:10
but
27:10
the
27:10
cares
27:10
of
27:10
the
27:11
world
27:11
and the
27:11
deceitfulness
27:12
of riches
27:12
and the
27:13
desires
27:14
for other
27:15
things
27:15
enter
27:15
in
27:16
and choke
27:17
the
27:17
word
27:17
and it
27:18
proves
27:19
unfruitful
27:21
and if
27:23
you're
27:23
familiar
27:23
with the
27:23
parable
27:23
you know
27:24
there's
27:24
a
27:24
final
27:25
seed
27:25
that
27:26
falls
27:26
on
27:26
good
27:27
ground
27:28
and
27:28
that
27:29
soil
27:29
are
27:29
those
27:29
who
27:30
hear
27:30
the
27:30
word
27:30
and
27:30
accept
27:31
it
27:31
and bear
27:32
fruit
27:32
thirtyfold
27:33
and sixty
27:33
fold
27:34
and a
27:35
hundred
27:35
fold
27:35
I don't
27:37
know how
27:37
to
27:37
categorize
27:38
this
27:38
man's
27:39
parents
27:39
if they
27:40
are
27:40
rocky
27:41
soil
27:41
or if
27:42
they
27:42
are
27:42
thorny
27:43
soil
27:44
but at
27:45
least
27:45
at
27:45
this
27:46
point
27:46
they
27:47
are
27:47
not
27:47
responding
27:48
to the
27:49
reality
27:49
that
27:49
Jesus
27:50
is the
27:51
Christ
27:51
because
27:52
they're
27:52
fearful
27:53
they do
27:54
not want
27:54
to be
27:54
put
27:55
out of
27:55
the
27:56
synagogue
27:56
and so
27:56
they
27:56
dodge
27:57
the
27:57
question
27:58
altogether
27:59
therefore
28:00
his
28:01
parents
28:01
said
28:02
verse
28:02
23
28:02
he
28:03
is
28:03
of
28:04
age
28:04
ask
28:05
him
28:06
there's
28:08
a
28:08
fearful
28:09
category
28:09
of
28:10
people
28:10
in
28:10
this
28:11
text
28:11
thirdly
28:13
there's
28:13
the
28:14
proud
28:14
verses
28:16
24
28:17
through
28:17
34
28:17
and
28:18
39
28:18
through
28:19
41
28:20
so
28:20
what
28:20
do
28:21
they
28:21
do
28:21
for
28:22
the
28:22
second
28:23
time
28:23
they
28:23
call
28:24
the
28:24
man
28:24
who
28:24
had
28:24
been
28:24
blind
28:25
and
28:25
said
28:25
to
28:25
him
28:25
give
28:26
glory
28:26
to
28:27
God
28:27
we
28:27
know
28:27
that
28:28
this
28:28
man
28:28
is
28:29
a
28:29
sinner
28:29
which
28:30
is
28:30
to
28:30
say
28:30
honor
28:31
God
28:31
by
28:32
aligning
28:33
with
28:33
the
28:33
truth
28:34
that
28:34
we
28:34
have
28:34
already
28:34
settled
28:35
in
28:36
our
28:36
own
28:36
minds
28:36
they
28:37
are
28:37
done
28:38
looking
28:38
for
28:39
what
28:39
truly
28:39
happened
28:40
they've
28:41
asked
28:41
him
28:41
once
28:41
they've
28:42
asked
28:42
his
28:42
parents
28:42
they're
28:43
back
28:43
to
28:43
him
28:43
now
28:44
just
28:44
saying
28:45
get
28:45
on
28:45
board
28:46
with
28:46
what
28:47
we've
28:47
said
28:47
is
28:48
true
28:49
but
28:50
he
28:51
answers
28:51
whether
28:51
he
28:51
is
28:51
a
28:52
sinner
28:52
I
28:52
do
28:52
not
28:52
know
28:53
one
28:53
thing
28:54
I
28:54
do
28:54
know
28:54
that
28:55
though
28:55
I
28:55
was
28:55
blind
28:56
now
28:56
I
28:56
see
28:57
they
28:58
said
28:58
to
28:58
him
28:59
what
28:59
did
29:00
he
29:00
do
29:00
to
29:00
you
29:00
how
29:00
did
29:01
he
29:01
open
29:01
your
29:01
eyes
29:02
can
29:02
you
29:02
believe
29:02
that
29:03
the
29:03
question
29:03
is
29:03
being
29:03
asked
29:04
once
29:04
again
29:05
he
29:06
answered
29:06
them
29:06
I
29:06
have
29:06
told
29:07
you
29:07
already
29:07
and
29:07
you
29:07
would
29:08
not
29:08
listen
29:08
why
29:09
do
29:09
you
29:09
want
29:10
to
29:10
hear
29:10
it
29:10
again
29:10
do
29:11
you
29:11
also
29:12
want
29:12
to
29:12
become
29:13
his
29:13
disciples
29:14
I
29:16
am
29:16
grateful
29:16
for
29:17
a
29:17
bunch
29:18
of
29:18
reasons
29:18
that
29:19
I
29:19
get
29:19
to
29:19
preach
29:20
regularly
29:20
one
29:22
of
29:22
those
29:22
reasons
29:22
is
29:22
I
29:23
get
29:23
to
29:23
read
29:23
really
29:23
good
29:23
commentaries
29:24
I
29:24
get
29:24
to
29:24
spend
29:25
my
29:25
week
29:25
reading
29:26
things
29:26
and
29:26
often
29:27
I'm
29:27
dispelling
29:27
them
29:28
and
29:28
bringing
29:28
them
29:28
to
29:28
you
29:29
but
29:30
from
29:30
time
29:30
to
29:30
time
29:30
it's
29:31
good
29:31
for
29:31
you
29:31
!
29:31
share
29:31
brilliant
29:33
words
29:33
not
29:34
written
29:34
by
29:35
me
29:35
I
29:36
will
29:36
try
29:36
to
29:36
read
29:36
them
29:37
carefully
29:37
for
29:37
you
29:38
D.A.
29:39
Carson
29:40
if you're
29:40
going to
29:40
buy
29:40
one
29:40
commentary
29:41
on
29:41
John's
29:41
gospel
29:42
this
29:42
is
29:42
the
29:42
one
29:42
I
29:42
would
29:42
buy
29:43
D.A.
29:43
Carson
29:43
in his
29:44
commentary
29:44
said
29:44
this
29:45
just
29:45
listen
29:46
to
29:46
the
29:46
beauty
29:46
of
29:46
this
29:46
language
29:47
quote
29:47
the
29:49
healed
29:50
man
29:50
hitherto
29:51
polite
29:52
now
29:53
discovers
29:54
that
29:54
the
29:54
professed
29:55
impartiality
29:56
of his
29:56
inoculators
29:57
is
29:58
nothing
29:58
more
29:59
than
29:59
show
30:00
as a
30:01
result
30:01
he
30:02
begins
30:02
to
30:02
deploy
30:03
a
30:03
quite
30:03
marvelous
30:04
gift
30:04
for
30:05
sadonic
30:05
repartee
30:06
since
30:07
he
30:08
has
30:08
already
30:08
answered
30:09
all
30:09
their
30:09
questions
30:10
before
30:10
what
30:11
could
30:11
possibly
30:12
prompt
30:12
them
30:12
to
30:12
hear
30:13
his
30:13
answers
30:13
all
30:14
over
30:14
again
30:15
mere
30:17
cynicism
30:17
with
30:18
judicial
30:18
procedure
30:19
might
30:19
suggest
30:19
that
30:20
they
30:20
were
30:20
trying
30:20
to
30:20
trip
30:21
him
30:21
up
30:21
in
30:22
his
30:22
testimony
30:22
instead
30:24
with
30:24
a
30:24
show
30:24
of
30:24
innocence
30:25
he
30:25
asks
30:26
if
30:26
their
30:26
desire
30:27
to
30:27
hear
30:27
a
30:27
repetition
30:28
of
30:28
his
30:28
testimony
30:28
is
30:29
bound
30:29
!
30:29
up
30:29
with
30:30
a
30:30
secret
30:30
desire
30:31
to
30:31
become
30:31
disciples
30:32
of
30:32
Jesus
30:32
themselves
30:34
end
30:35
quote
30:35
not a
30:36
good
30:36
paragraph
30:36
he
30:37
just
30:37
wrote
30:37
like
30:37
that
30:37
I
30:38
would
30:39
never
30:40
let's
30:40
learn how
30:41
to
30:41
write
30:41
like
30:41
that
30:41
once
30:42
again
30:42
that's
30:43
what
30:43
he's
30:43
doing
30:43
he's
30:44
being
30:44
sarcastic
30:46
with
30:46
them
30:47
as
30:47
he
30:47
asks
30:48
these
30:48
questions
30:48
what
30:48
are
30:48
we
30:49
doing
30:49
here
30:49
guys
30:49
is
30:50
it
30:50
that
30:50
you
30:50
want
30:50
to
30:50
follow
30:51
Jesus
30:52
and
30:52
they
30:53
are
30:53
totally
30:54
picking
30:54
up
30:54
on
30:55
what
30:55
he
30:56
is
30:56
!
30:56
putting
30:56
down
30:57
I
30:58
did
30:58
write
30:58
that
30:58
sentence
30:59
verse
31:02
28
31:03
says
31:03
and
31:04
they
31:04
reviled
31:05
him
31:06
this
31:07
is not
31:08
a kind
31:08
response
31:08
they
31:09
get
31:09
what
31:09
he's
31:09
doing
31:10
to
31:10
them
31:10
they
31:11
say
31:11
you
31:11
are
31:12
his
31:12
disciple
31:12
but
31:13
we
31:13
are
31:14
disciples
31:14
of
31:15
Moses
31:16
we
31:16
follow
31:17
Moses
31:17
we
31:17
follow
31:18
the
31:18
law
31:18
you
31:19
are
31:19
but
31:19
as
31:19
for
31:20
this
31:20
man
31:20
we
31:20
do
31:20
not
31:21
know
31:21
where
31:22
he
31:22
comes
31:22
from
31:23
the
31:25
man
31:25
answered
31:25
why
31:26
this
31:26
is
31:26
an
31:26
amazing
31:26
thing
31:27
you
31:27
do
31:27
not
31:27
know
31:27
where
31:27
he
31:28
comes
31:28
from
31:28
and
31:28
yet
31:29
he
31:29
opened
31:29
my
31:29
eyes
31:30
we
31:31
know
31:31
that
31:32
God
31:32
does
31:32
not
31:32
listen
31:32
to
31:32
sinners
31:33
but
31:33
if
31:33
anyone
31:33
is
31:33
a
31:34
worshiper
31:34
of
31:34
God
31:34
and
31:35
does
31:35
his
31:35
will
31:35
God
31:36
listens
31:36
to
31:37
him
31:38
never
31:39
since
31:39
the
31:40
world
31:40
began
31:40
has
31:41
it
31:41
been
31:41
heard
31:42
that
31:42
anyone
31:42
opened
31:42
!
31:53
where
32:23
was
32:24
put
32:26
out
32:27
this
32:28
cast
32:29
out
32:29
language
32:29
means
32:30
that
32:30
they
32:30
forcefully
32:31
removed
32:32
him
32:32
look at
32:32
that
32:32
picture
32:33
of
32:33
him
32:33
being
32:33
tossed
32:34
out
32:34
the
32:34
door
32:34
and
32:34
tumbling
32:35
down
32:35
the
32:36
steps
32:37
not
32:38
a
32:38
kind
32:38
action
32:39
on
32:39
their
32:40
part
32:41
they
32:42
have
32:43
started
32:43
confused
32:44
but
32:44
now
32:44
they
32:45
have
32:45
settled
32:45
in
32:46
their
32:46
minds
32:46
that
32:47
Jesus
32:47
is
32:47
not
32:48
from
32:49
God
32:49
they
32:49
no
32:50
longer
32:50
want
32:50
to
32:50
hear
32:51
any
32:51
testimony
32:51
to
32:52
that
32:53
effect
32:54
and
32:56
so
32:56
we're
32:56
going
32:56
to
32:56
see
32:57
Jesus
32:57
then
32:57
encounter
32:58
the
32:58
man
32:58
but
32:59
after
32:59
that
32:59
he
33:00
says
33:00
what
33:00
he
33:01
says
33:01
to
33:01
the
33:01
man
33:01
in
33:01
the
33:01
hearing
33:02
of
33:03
some
33:04
Pharisees
33:04
verse
33:04
39
33:05
for
33:05
judgment
33:06
I
33:06
came
33:06
into
33:06
this
33:06
world
33:07
that
33:07
those
33:07
who
33:07
do
33:08
not
33:08
see
33:08
may
33:08
see
33:09
and
33:09
those
33:09
who
33:09
see
33:10
may
33:11
become
33:11
blind
33:12
some
33:13
of
33:13
the
33:13
Pharisees
33:14
verse
33:14
40
33:14
near
33:15
him
33:15
heard
33:16
these
33:16
things
33:16
and
33:16
said
33:16
to
33:17
him
33:17
are
33:17
we
33:17
also
33:18
blind
33:22
have
33:23
no
33:23
guilt
33:23
but
33:24
now
33:24
that
33:24
you
33:24
say
33:25
we
33:25
see
33:26
your
33:26
guilt
33:27
remains
33:28
Jesus
33:30
having
33:30
healed
33:31
a
33:31
blind
33:31
man
33:31
of
33:32
his
33:32
physical
33:32
disability
33:33
and
33:34
as
33:34
we
33:34
will
33:34
note
33:34
more
33:35
fully
33:35
in a
33:35
moment
33:35
of
33:36
his
33:36
spiritual
33:36
disability
33:37
uses
33:38
this
33:39
sight
33:40
language
33:40
to
33:41
expose
33:42
the
33:42
prideful
33:43
Pharisees
33:45
they
33:46
think
33:47
they
33:47
see
33:47
they
33:48
think
33:49
they
33:49
have
33:49
the
33:49
law
33:50
and
33:50
understand
33:50
how
33:51
to
33:51
be
33:51
in
33:51
a
33:51
right
33:51
relationship
33:52
with
33:52
God
33:52
but
33:53
though
33:53
they
33:53
think
33:53
they
33:54
see
33:54
they
33:55
are
33:55
actually
33:56
blind
33:57
they're
33:58
speaking
33:58
here
33:59
with
33:59
great
34:00
irony
34:02
remind
34:03
me
34:03
of
34:03
Mark
34:03
chapter
34:04
2
34:04
verse
34:06
16
34:06
and
34:06
following
34:07
in
34:07
the
34:07
scribes
34:08
of
34:08
the
34:08
Pharisees
34:09
when
34:09
they
34:09
saw
34:10
that
34:10
he
34:10
was
34:10
eating
34:11
with
34:11
sinners
34:11
and
34:12
tax
34:12
collectors
34:12
said
34:13
to
34:13
his
34:13
disciples
34:14
why
34:15
does
34:15
he
34:15
eat
34:15
with
34:15
tax
34:16
collectors
34:16
and
34:16
sinners
34:17
and
34:18
when
34:18
Jesus
34:18
heard
34:19
it
34:19
he
34:19
said
34:19
to
34:19
them
34:20
those
34:21
who
34:21
are
34:21
well
34:21
have
34:22
no need
34:22
of a
34:23
physician
34:23
but
34:24
those
34:24
who
34:25
are
34:25
sick
34:25
I
34:26
came
34:26
not
34:27
to
34:27
call
34:27
the
34:27
righteous
34:27
but
34:29
sinners
34:29
is
34:31
Jesus
34:31
communicating
34:31
that
34:32
anybody
34:32
acts
34:33
fair
34:33
that
34:33
they
34:33
actually
34:34
see
34:34
that
34:35
they
34:35
think
34:36
they
34:36
see
34:37
that
34:38
they
34:38
think
34:38
they
34:39
see
34:39
which
34:40
is
34:40
the
34:40
problem
34:40
they're
34:41
so
34:41
full
34:41
of
34:42
pride
34:42
they're
34:43
not
34:43
willing
34:43
to
34:44
even
34:44
behold
34:45
the
34:45
light
34:46
of
34:46
the
34:46
world
34:47
ask
34:47
honest
34:47
questions
34:48
get
34:49
real
34:49
answers
34:50
they've
34:51
made
34:51
up
34:51
their
34:51
minds
34:51
they
34:52
think
34:52
they
34:52
have
34:53
it
34:53
all
34:53
figured
34:54
out
34:55
so
34:56
the
34:56
confused
34:57
the
34:57
fearful
34:58
the
34:58
proud
34:59
but
35:00
then
35:00
praise
35:00
god
35:00
we
35:00
see
35:01
a
35:01
believer
35:01
verse
35:03
35
35:03
through
35:04
38
35:04
35
35:06
says
35:06
Jesus
35:06
heard
35:07
that
35:07
they
35:07
had
35:07
cast
35:08
him
35:08
out
35:08
and
35:09
having
35:10
found
35:10
him
35:10
he
35:11
said
35:11
do
35:12
you
35:12
believe
35:13
in
35:14
the
35:14
son
35:14
of
35:14
man
35:14
first
35:16
note
35:17
that
35:18
Jesus
35:18
goes
35:19
and
35:20
finds
35:20
this
35:21
man
35:22
what
35:23
a
35:23
merciful
35:23
thing
35:24
to
35:24
seek
35:25
him
35:25
out
35:26
in
35:27
verse
35:27
1
35:27
as
35:28
he
35:28
passed
35:29
by
35:29
he
35:30
saw
35:30
a
35:30
man
35:30
blind
35:31
from
35:31
birth
35:31
and
35:32
he
35:32
heals
35:33
him
35:33
physically
35:33
now
35:35
he
35:35
seeks
35:36
him
35:36
out
35:36
for
35:37
his
35:37
spiritual
35:38
well-being
35:39
notice
35:41
that he
35:41
does
35:41
not
35:42
coddle
35:43
him
35:43
he
35:44
doesn't
35:44
say
35:45
oh
35:45
I'm
35:45
so
35:46
sorry
35:46
that
35:46
they
35:47
were
35:47
mean
35:47
to
35:47
you
35:47
because
35:48
I
35:48
healed
35:48
you
35:48
he's
35:50
not
35:50
curious
35:50
about
35:51
how
35:51
life
35:51
has
35:52
improved
35:52
since
35:53
he
35:53
can
35:53
see
35:53
for
35:53
the
35:54
first
35:54
time
35:54
in
35:54
his
35:54
life
35:55
he
35:55
doesn't
35:55
strike you
35:56
at all
35:56
he's
35:56
born
35:56
blind
35:57
he's
35:57
never
35:58
seen
35:58
anything
35:58
right
35:59
it's
36:00
so
36:00
interesting
36:00
that the
36:01
bible's
36:02
records of
36:03
physical
36:03
healing
36:03
are only
36:04
ever
36:04
hurrying
36:05
us to
36:06
hear
36:06
how we
36:07
can be
36:07
spiritually
36:08
healed
36:09
!
36:39
today, we come to believe that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is always much more concerned
36:48
with eternal well-being than temporal well-being. And so he is direct with him, right? No coddling.
36:57
The man's just been thrown out the door of the synagogue, and he asks him the question,
37:02
do you believe in the Son of Man? Now, I've told you a number of times why Jesus refers to himself in this way.
37:11
And in case you've forgotten or you've just never heard this, this is a really important title,
37:16
most common way he refers to himself, the Son of Man. And it comes from Daniel chapter 7, right?
37:23
This guy's imagination would have lit up as that question is being asked, right? It doesn't hit
37:30
for us the same way it would have hit for all of these first century Jews. Daniel chapter 7,
37:36
verse 13. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a
37:44
Son of Man. There's the title right there. And he came to the ancient of days and were presented before
37:51
him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages
37:59
should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom
38:06
one that shall not be destroyed. He is the Christ, the one sent from God, the Son of Man, who would
38:16
establish a kingdom and rule forever. This is the question he asks. Do you believe in the Son
38:24
of Man? Of Man? Now, this man could have just said like, oh, sure, I'm familiar with Daniel chapter 7,
38:31
verse 13 and 14. Like, yeah, there's going to be a guy. But he says instead, and who is he, sir,
38:37
that I may believe in him? Maybe he's figurative. Help me understand. And Jesus says, you have
38:45
seen him, sight language, and it is he who is speaking to you. And that's all it takes. He said, Lord,
38:57
kingly language, Lord, I believe, and then we get this amazing four-word little summary, and he
39:07
worshipped him. Right? Not just, I give some assent to the fact. He says, Lord, I believe, and he
39:17
worshipped him. Now, I'm going to read you one more commentary quote today, a part of one. This is
39:25
commentary inception. This is John MacArthur quoting Charles Spurgeon. So here we go.
39:31
John MacArthur says, Charles Spurgeon summed up the joy and delight the man must have felt at that
39:39
moment. Now, Charles Spurgeon. Then further he acted as a believer, for he worshipped him. This proves how
39:52
his faith had grown. I should like to ask you, who are the people of God when you are happiest?
40:00
My happiest moments are when I am worshipping God, really adoring the Lord Jesus Christ.
40:07
It is the nearest approach to what it will be in heaven, where, day without night, they offer
40:11
perpetual adoration unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Hence what a memorable
40:19
moment it was for this man when he worshipped Christ. Now, if Christ was not God, that man was an
40:28
idolater, a man worshipper. If Christ was not God, we are not Christians. We are deceived dupes. We are
40:36
idolaters, as bad as the heathen whom we now pity. It is making a man into a God if Christ be not God.
40:45
But blessed be his holy name, he is God. And we feel that it is the supreme delight of our being to worship
40:54
him. So let me ask this morning, are you confused? Don't be. This book was written that you would
41:06
know that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing in him, you would have eternal life. Are you fearful?
41:14
Don't be. There is nothing that the world can do to you that will take the joy found in Christ
41:22
away from you. There is nothing that this world has to offer you that can eclipse the satisfaction
41:29
found in him. Are you prideful? Don't be. One day, every person will be humbled. We will all bow the
41:42
knee to the Son of Man. Be humble now. Recognize your need of a Savior. Perhaps today he will find you.
41:55
Are you a believer? Keep on believing and worship. Bend your whole life Godward. You will not
42:07
be disappointed at the end. Let's pray together.