John 9:1-11, Isaiah 43:7,2 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew 11:28-30, Revelation 22:17, John 10:28-29,1 Peter 1:5

Summary: In John 9, we read of the healing and salvation of a poor, blind man who has received not only physical sight but also spiritual sight to see that Jesus was the Promised One of God. We also witness the deliberate spiritual lack of sight by the religious leaders who rejected the Light of God.

John Newton (1725-1807) was one of the most blasphemous, vile, unscrupulous, cruel, and hateful men who ever made his living by means of the sea. While he had been reared in a godly home and had been taught the Scriptures by his mother, he walked away from any type of religious faith and for years served as a deckhand on varied ships, eventually becoming captain of a slave-trading ship. Newton’s temperament was so well-known that when he fell overboard on one voyage, the crew debated on whether to rescue him or let him drown, go to hell, and be rid of him. It took a violent storm while on a trip to Africa that frightened him to the point where he recalled the verses of Scripture his late mother had read to him.

He repented and gave himself wholly over to the Lord Jesus Christ, serving as an Anglican minister in the parish of Olney, England. He would later support the work of William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a member of Parliament who devoted his political career to ending slavery in the British Empire and was himself a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Later in life, John Newton composed hymns, one of them being “Amazing Grace,” containing the immortal words, “How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I was once was lost but now am found, was blind BUT NOW I SEE.”

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) became blind as an infant due to a botched medical procedure. Even though she lived without the ability to physically see the world around her, she knew the One who gave light and sight to both the physically and spiritually blind. Her love for Jesus was expressed in over 8,000 hymns she composed over a lifetime, such as “To God Be the Glory,” “Draw Me Nearer,” “Redeemed,” “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling,” “Old Rugged Cross,” “Pass Me Not,” “Blessed Assurance,” “Praise Him, Praise Him!” and “I Am Thine, O Lord.”

In her later years, she would tell everyone that it was good that she remained blind while on this earth because she was waiting for the day when she would be in heaven and be able to see with her restored sight the Lord Jesus Himself. In John 9, we read of the plight of a man born blind and of the transforming power of Jesus Christ that gave him the ability to see the physical world but also see that Jesus was the Promised Messiah and Savior of His people.

We read first of the man’s situation and the misery that accompanied it (vv.1-10). This man had been born blind and was not the victim of an accident, nor was he suffering from a malady such as cataracts, blurred vision, or any other inconvenience. He had lived a life of total darkness, never seeing sunsets, the face of a child, or the faces of his parents and other loved ones. Besides this tragic handicap, Scripture also seems to indicate that he was in a state of poverty. Aside from any help from his parents, he would be subject to a life of begging or other means of obtaining alms.

There was also the stigma of hearing that his predicament was due to his or his parent’s sins and was therefore under the judgment of God, a widely held belief in Jewish society of that time, although there were no specific biblical grounds for such thought. The disciples asked Jesus a question based on this assumption, and He corrected them by telling them that the man’s condition was an act of God to show His power, grace, and mercy as well as give Him glory from this man’s life.

Jesus then showed to those around Him the authority He possessed as the Sovereign King of Creation. When He passed by, this man’s life was changed forever. Jesus healed him of his physical handicap and then would lead him through a series of events that brought him face to face with who Jesus really is and that He provides spiritual restoration of sight as well. After the man had washed his eyes in the pool of Siloam as directed by the Lord Jesus, the people were amazed that this formerly blind man was now able to see, and yet some doubted his identity. He reassured them that he was indeed the man they had known to be blind and that someone named Jesus was the One who had healed him (vv.10-12).

The trouble with the world today is that they have heard of someone named Jesus as well but know little about Him or the mission He came to earth to accomplish on our behalf (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11, 6:23, 10:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:15, 2:5-7). There are also a lot of folks who know much about Jesus and His mission but refuse to acknowledge Him or come to Him for salvation, preferring to remain in their self-imposed darkness of sin to their eternal regret (Romans 3:10-18; Revelation 20:11-15).

We read of not only the spiritual progression of this formally sightless man but also of the spiritual regression and stagnation of the religious officials who question him over what had happened. A major thorn in their side was that Jesus had healed this man on the Sabbath. They saw this act of compassion and healing as work, something that was not to be done on the Sabbath. Jesus had healed people on the Sabbath before, infuriating them to the point where they began to devise plans to get rid of Him, by death, if necessary (Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11). Their stringent and fanatical observation of the Sabbath had blinded them to the simple fact that God had intended it to be a day of rest and worship, not a legalistic ritual of strict rules and penalties for violation.

They should have been the first to see that Jesus was the fulfillment of the very prophecies Scripture proclaimed. Instead, they chose to remain focused on ritual and regulation, not relationship and revelation. The blind man, now subject to interrogation, proclaimed before them that Jesus was a Prophet and a Man of God (vv.13-33), and he even asked them if they wanted to follow Jesus as well. They responded by condemning the man as a sinner and threw him out of the synagogue (v.34). They unknowingly did the man a favor, for now he was free from the bonds of dead and blind religious behavior that only led to the inevitable darkness of hell. He now sought the One who gave him both physical sight and the blessing of spiritual insight.

The chapter concludes with the contrast between true sight and true blindness (vv.34-41). The man had responded positively and courageously to the light that he had thus far, but he did not have much light. Jesus then took the initiative to seek him out and give the man further revelation designed to bring him to full faith. When Jesus found him, He asked if he placed his trust in the Son of Man. This personal response to God’s grace is essential for salvation, as He is the Man come from God (Daniel 7:13-14; John 1:51, 3:13-14, 5:27, 6:27, 53, 62, 8:28), which also connotes His role as Judge, which He would proceed to explain (John 9:39).

The man confessed his belief in Jesus (v.38), and this got the attention of the Pharisees who were with Jesus at that time. They proceeded to ask Him if they were blind as well (v.40). Jesus replied to them in an ironic tone, saying that if they were blind spiritually and realized their need for enlightenment, they would not be guilty of sin, especially unbelief, because they would accept Jesus’ teaching. However, they did not sense their need and felt quite satisfied that they understood the will of God correctly. As a consequence, they did not receive the light that Jesus offered. They were wise in their own eyes but were really fools (Proverbs 26:12; Romans 1:22). Their sin of unbelief remained with them, and they remained in their sin and under God’s condemning wrath (John 3:36).

Light causes some eyes to see, but it blinds other eyes. Jesus’ revelations have the same effect, both then and now. The deceitfulness of sin makes those who are in the greatest need of divine revelation and illumination think that they are the most enlightened of human beings. Only the Spirit of God using the Word of God can break through that dense darkness to bring conviction of sin and the opening of spiritually blind eyes to the Light of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise.

——————-

Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

In 2018 he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous. He can be contacted at: donaldwhitchard@gmail.com for inquiries, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. His website is: www.realitycityreverend.com . A copy of his resume is also available upon request.

 

 

 

Today’s world is turning more and more against anything that has to do with our Blessed Savior. In some areas of this evil world today, people are being martyred just for having a Bible in their homes or on their person. Jesus said in Matthew 24:9-13, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (ESV – all emphasis mine)

It should come as no surprise that this attitude is here today. True believers are being called “haters” because we will not indulge in the abominations that are out in the open as never before. All the attitudes Paul spoke of in 2 Timothy 3 are everywhere, thanks to Satan and his followers. None of this is a surprise to our Heavenly Father, as His word told us this would happen. Satan knows his time is getting short, and he is working in “overdrive” to pull as many souls away from the Savior as possible.

We have passages throughout the Bible that tell us to stand fast with the Lord for our strength. For example, Isaiah 41:10; “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

For many today, it’s easier to go along with the crowd than to live to honor our Savior. The things of this earth are more important to them rather than taking into consideration where they will spend eternity. Satan knows how to use temptation to his best advantage, and for someone who has not made any attempts to develop a relationship with Jesus, his deceptions work very well.

In the past, I have given Matthew 7:13-14 as a reminder that Jesus understands this, and He knows that more will accept this world rather than Him. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

The “hard” part is to be different from the majority world’s view and to call out to Jesus to be saved. All who wish to ensure eternal life in Heaven must receive and accept Jesus. John 14:6 explains this in clear, easy-to-understand language. “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 8:1; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

John 3:18; “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe is condemned already; because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” 1 John 5:12 follows this with, “whoever has the Son, has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Then Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

This world is about to enter a period of time that will be worse than ever before. It will be a time when Satan will literally have control, and anyone who does not swear allegiance to his antichrist will most likely be martyred.

Right now is a good time to take the opportunity to become a part of the Savior’s precious flock (John 10). All who have received Jesus as their Savior will be kept from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Revelation 3:10). There will be a trumpet blast and a shout from an archangel that will call all believers worldwide up to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Then we will be with our “Gentle Shepherd” forever. Sounds like a mass exodus, but more will be left behind than will be Raptured.

By the way, the entire Rapture process will be in “the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), which is calculated to be less than one second. Anyone who believes they can call out to be saved when the trumpet and shout take place will be greatly disappointed.

Cindy Walker of Mart, Texas (7/1918 – 3/2006) wrote a beautiful song called “Oh Gentle Shepherd.” The version I prefer was sung by Jim Reeves and can be heard on YouTube.

1.) My soul is lost, so lonely and so cold; just like a lamb that has strayed from the fold. Across the bare waste of sin I roam; Oh Gentle Shepherd, hear my cry and lead me Home.

2.) The hours go by, on frightened wings of flight; while wolves of hell are waiting for the night, to claim the soul that wanders from the fold; – Oh Gentle Shepherd, hear my cry and save my soul.

3.) Oh Gentle Shepherd, hear my lonely cry, and in thy cool green pasture let me lie; beside the still clear waters lead Thou me. Oh Gentle Shepherd, safe forever more with thee.

To become a part of this precious flock, Romans 10:9-13 gives the steps. Once we have called out to be saved, the Holy Spirit will come and dwell in us until we go Home. For some, this will be through death; and for some, it will be through the Rapture. Either way, once our last breath is taken here, we will be with our Gentle Shepherd. If it is by death, Paul says in Philippians 1:23, “to depart and be with Christ.” This tells us we would be with Him immediately.

For those who choose the world, God will not force them to accept His Son. However, they will have their moment at the Great White Throne of Revelation 20:11-15. There will be no pardons there, and the sentences will be final for all eternity.

All who call on Jesus to be their Savior will be saved. There is nothing additional, such as works or money donations to earn or buy our way in. This is made clear in Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”

Our Heavenly Father is never too busy to take our call. Jesus will accept all who call on Him to be their Savior. John 10:14-16; “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So, there will be one flock; one Shepherd.”

The initial “My own” referred to the Jewish people who would accept the Savior. In verse 16, Jesus includes “other sheep,” which reaches out to every other living soul on the earth. It still applies today. He verified the promise that “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13).

Today would not be too early to call out and become a part of the Gentle Shepherd’s flock. We could very well rise up at any moment to meet Him in the air, to go to our “Eternal Green Pasture.” The choice is entirely up to each and every individual. Don’t be left behind as fair game to the “wolves of hell,” as the song says. That would be an unnecessary tragedy.

The call is free, and so is the gift of eternal life. You too can then say, “Oh Gentle Shepherd, come quickly.” His call for the flock will be very soon, as told in Luke 21:28. All the signs began several years ago. God’s timing is perfect.

Come, Lord Jesus! Shalom!

huebshman46@gmail.com