Law of the Sabbath at the same time. You see, because the Pharisees, who were supposed to know the Law, and were the religious leaders, misinterpreted the Law, the assumed Jesus to be a sinner. Frustrated over this fact, and the fact that this man would not deny that it was in fact Jesus who healed him, the Pharisees excommunicated him from synagogue. It followed the principle found throughout the Old Testament of being cut off.

Being excommunicated from synagogue carried some heavy implications. It essentially meant that the community was forced to shun you. It meant that you lost all privileges to synagogue worship, and as well lost all privileges of the sacrificial system. This was major because the life of the Jew was defined by their religious system. Essentially, being excommunicated meant that you have found yourself in the place of having no true identity, and no means of finding forgiveness of sin. There was no way that you could approach God, or have any relationship with Him, because God cannot have fellowship with sin.

Although it is not found in the Scriptures, several historical sources reveal that this act of excommunicating someone from the religious system was an act referred to by the Pharisees as being cast into the outer darkness. It is the same teaching that Jesus in fact used against the Pharisees in the Parable of the wedding feast. For all practical intents and purposes, Jesus told the Pharisees that because they rejected Him, they would be cast into outer darkness.

It is here, in this place of outer darkness, this place of rejection, this place of hopelessness, that Jesus reveals one of the greatest and most wonderful truths to man. When Jesus found this man, he asked him a question. “Do you believe on the Son of God?” The man wanted to make an informed decision. Notice verse 37 of the text. “He answered and said, Who is he lord, that I might believe on Him?” The question asked by Jesus brought this man to the place of investigation. You see, there were already some things this man believed.

This man believed the word about Jesus. There is a good possibility that the man had heard others speaking about Jesus, and calling Him a prophet. The evidence that many believed Him to be a prophet can be clearly seen in John 7:40, and this man repeats it in verse 17 of this 9th chapter. But the man believed the word about Jesus.

Perhaps you believe the word about Jesus today. You know there is something special about Him. You may not know everything about Him, and you may not know Him as your Lord and savior, but you believe some things you have heard about Jesus.

This man believed something else about Jesus. He believed the work of Jesus. Notice in verse 25. “He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Although the man didn’t have a complete knowledge about Jesus, he believed that Jesus made a difference.

Listen! There is one thing, one principle truth that is found here. To this man Jesus made a difference. It still holds true today. Today, Jesus still makes a difference. To blinded eyes, Jesus still makes a difference. To broken homes, Jesus still makes a difference. To shattered dreams, Jesus still makes a difference. To the one in what may be a hopeless situation, just as with this man in