Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Doest thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
There is little doubt to the fact that every person here has most likely heard the old adage, “Seeing is believing.” In a world filled with insatiable claims it has become commonplace for a person to respond, “I won’t believe it, until I see it.” It is this very principle that brought Robert Ripley to open his first odditorium in Chicago, Illinois in 1933. It was the birth of what we all know so well as “Ripley’s Believe it or not.” The problem with this old adage, “Seeing is believing,” is simply that it doesn’t always hold true. Have you ever seen something that even though you were an eyewitness to it, you still just couldn’t believe your eyes? We have all come face to face with unbelievable things.
There was a group of people we find in the Scriptures with a similar problem. The Pharisees were eyewitnesses to many of the miracles that Jesus performed, but even though they saw, they did not believe.
In our text today, we are presented with a classic case of these Pharisees seeing the evidence, but refusing to believe the truth. It is because of this very reason that Jesus gives us an important principle found in verse 39. “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” It is this principle that you need to see today as we examine the text, and bring to you God’s message, “Believing is Seeing,” not “seeing is believing,” but “Believing is Seeing.”
It is in this chapter of John that you find the account of Jesus healing the blind beggar. To understand the portion of the chapter read for the text, you must be introduced to this man, and understand how he got to the place we find him.
In the beginning of the chapter you would see that the disciples wrongly assumed that this blind beggar was blind because of either his parents sin, or a sin of his own. After Jesus healed this blind man, everyone was amazed. Some recognized him, others said it looks like him, but must be another person. Those who recognized the beggar decided to take him to the Pharisees. This was no little deal for one big reason; it was the Sabbath day when Jesus gave this man his sight.
The Pharisees investigated the man and his claim. However, they did not believe him. So, they do the next best thing, and ask the man’s parents. The parents did attest to the fact that this was their son, and yes he was born blind, but they refused to go into any details concerning the miracle because of a fear of being excommunicated from the synagogue.
The Pharisees again turn to this man, but cannot reason within themselves how that Jesus could heal this blind man, and break the 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 our text, Jesus still makes a difference.
When Jesus asked the question, “Do you believe on the Son of God?,” He was already aware of this man’s measure of faith. Faith is progressive. Jesus knew the man believed the word about Him. Jesus knew that this man believed He makes a difference. The question now was, did this man believe in a person?
The man’s faith had progressed. It had reached a certain point. Why then was it necessary for the man to take another step forward, and believe in the person of Christ? Because, faith that sets bounds to itself, that will believe so much and no more, that will trust so far, and no further, is not saving faith. It falls as incomplete.
When this man learned the truth about who this man Jesus really was, he believed. His faith progressed from believing the word about Jesus, to believing that Jesus can make a difference, to believing in the person of Jesus Christ. Why is it important that you believe?
Notice verse 39. “For judgment I am come into this world…” Uh Oh! We might have a contradiction. Doesn’t John 3:17 say that Jesus didn’t come to judge? “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Didn’t Paul write in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief?” These two verses describe the mission of Christ. He did come to save sinners, to call the sinner to repentance. Here in our text, this verse does not describe the mission of Jesus, but rather the eminent result of Christ in His mission.
When man comes face to face with the Son of God, that man finds himself in a crisis. When the blind man saw Jesus for who He was, he was automatically placed into this very crisis. He could believe, or he could reject the Messiah. When you come face to face with the opportunity of believing on Him, you can believe, trust, put your faith in this person of Jesus, or you can reject Him and refuse to believe His claims. There are no gray areas. John 3: 18, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” When you reject Christ, it is not Christ that judges you, but it is in fact you that has judged yourself.
Jesus used the blindness of this man to illustrate the darkness of sin, and to show that His purpose is for them to come out of that darkness, and see clearly the truth of His claims.
“For judgment I came into the world so that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind.” The Pharisees claimed to have spiritual sight, but Jesus simply told them that it was their very claims to spiritual sight that made them blind. The Pharisees did not see themselves as sinners, verse 34, and Jesus told them in Matthew 9:13, “for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Because they refused to see their condition, they had no need to believe in Christ. They refused to see themselves as sinners. Preacher, are you saying that I am a sinner? The Scripture is pretty clear when it says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That little word “all” is a powerful word. In the Greek it is a very inclusive word, literally meaning ALL. Because they refused to see the truth about themselves, they would not believe in Jesus. The light of the world stood before them, and because they refused to believe, they were blinded to Him.
The truth is, you may have just found yourself today, face to face with the person of Jesus Christ. There is a question that He is asking. Do you believe on the Son of God? You are now in a crisis. You have a decision to make. You can either accept Him, or you can reject Him, and pass judgment upon yourself.
Notice what the once blind beggar did. “And he said, Lord, I believe.”
The Pharisees who refused to believe could not see the truth about this person of Jesus. They could not see that He was the promised Messiah, the Son of God. But, the blind man believed, and notice this, he worshipped Him. He saw the truth about Jesus, because he believed in Him.
What did this blind man see preacher?
He saw a friend when others rejected him. The Pharisees rejected him, and not even his own parents would help him. You may think you have loyal friends. You may think that they will stick with you through anything. Rest assured, every person has a limit. When it gets a little too deep, when the heat gets too hot, they will forsake you. Some of you here know what I’m talking about. Remember that this man’s own parents in essence forsook him. Not only did his parents forsake him, but due to the fact that he was excommunicated, all of the community forsook him as well. Because this man believed, and he saw that friend that sticks closer that a brother. He saw the one that laid His life down for His friends. He saw a friend when others rejected him.
He saw grace extended, even in his hopeless condition. The man found himself cast out, and in that place the Pharisees called the outer darkness. A place where there was not hope. But, notice verse 35. “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him…” Jesus showed compassion when others left him hopeless. The man knew that the excommunication left him in an unfavorable condition. Sin has left you in an unfavorable condition with God. Just as He can have no fellowship with sin, he can have no fellowship with you in your sin. There is no means by which you can approach God on your own terms. In essence, you are in the very same condition today that this once blind beggar found himself in. BUT, Jesus heard about it, and notice the grace. He went and found the man where he was. Your condition today apart from Christ is hopeless. But praise God that you can call upon Him, and not only will He hear your call, but He will come to you, where you are. He saw grace extended, even in hopeless condition.
He saw that salvation is in a person, not in religion. The very system of religion that he had as a means of approaching God left him without hope. We all know people, either about them or personally know them, who trust their affiliation with a church, their system of good works, their membership to some club or society, to gain favor in God’s sight. If you trust your deeds to get you to heaven, you will not make it for two reasons. First, Scripture is pretty clear when it says that there is none good, no not one. Secondly, Scripture is equally clear when it says that all of mans deeds of righteousness are nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. The Pharisees were trusting their deeds of the Law. Jesus made it clear when He said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think that ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” There is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby you must be saved. He saw salvation was in a person, not in religion.
He saw himself in relation to the Savior. Notice verse 38. “And he said, Lord, I believe. And He worshipped Him.” That word worship is the Greek word proskuno. It is a compound word made up of the preposition “pros”, which means towards, and the noun “kuon”, which means a dog. It is always used as a verb in Scripture. The man saw the lord for who He is, and in turn, saw himself for who he was. This verb worship gives the picture of a dog turning in loyalty to its master. The man believed, and saw Jesus as his savior and Lord. You may say, “I’ll trust Him as my savior, but I won’t accept Him as the Lord of my life.” Let me ask you one question. How can you accept half of a person? He is the Savior, and He is the Lord. This man saw himself in relation to the Savior, and as a result, he saw Him as Lord.
Believing is seeing.
How about you today? Are you blind? Or, can you see? Are you in that place of crisis, where you are now faced with the fact that you have a decision to make? Will you believe on Him, or will you reject Him, and pass judgment on yourself?
Oh, but preacher, I can accept Him some other time. Friend, He comes to you in the condition you are in. You cannot approach Him anytime you so desire. John 6:44, “No man can come unto me except the Father which sent me draw him.” If the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart today, you have a decision to make. You can say, “I’ll put it off.” But you have no guarantee that you will ever have the Sprit of God speak to your heart again. You need to be obedient.
How about you? You say that you have believed Jesus as your savior, but you know that you have never allowed Him to have the place of Lord in your life. Are you trusting half a person? Doesn’t it just make good sense to not only let Him be your savior, but to give Him the proper place of Lord in your life?
Perhaps you are here today, and your relationship with Him isn’t what it needs to be. You really want Him to be Lord, but you have your struggles, you have your failures, and just un-surrendered areas that you know need to be turned over to Him.
Are you in a situation that seems hopeless today? You may know Him as your Savior, and you have submitted to Him as Lord, but certain situations just really seem to be overwhelming. You problems seem too big to handle. You can call upon Him, and He will hear you.
