2015년 요한복음 제9강-I am the light of the world(영어,중국어 본문 포함)

[김스데반]

2015년 요한복음 제9강 중국어, 영어 성경

내가 세상의 빛이로라

말씀 / 요한복음 (约翰福音, NIV) 9:1-41 (5)

[1] 예수께서 길을 가실 때에 날 때부터 맹인 된 사람을 보신지라

[1] 耶稣过去的时候，看见一个人生来是瞎眼的。

[1] As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.

[2] 제자들이 물어 이르되 랍비여 이 사람이 맹인으로 난 것이 누구의 죄로 인함이니이까 자기니이까

      그의 부모니이까

[2] 门徒问耶稣说，拉比，这人生来是瞎眼的，是谁犯了罪，是这人呢，是他父母呢。

[2] His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

[3] 예수께서 대답하시되 이 사람이나 그 부모의 죄로 인한 것이 아니라

그에게서 하나님이 하시는 일을 나타내고자 하심이라

[3] 耶稣回答说，也不是这人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上显出神的作为来。

[3] "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus,

"but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

[4] 때가 아직 낮이매 나를 보내신 이의 일을 우리가 하여야 하리라 밤이 오리니

      그 때는 아무도 일할 수 없느니라

[4] 趁着白日，我们必须作那差我来者的工。黑夜将到，就没有人能作工了。

[4] As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming,

      when no one can work.

[5] 내가 세상에 있는 동안에는 세상의 빛이로라

[5] 我在世上的时候，是世上的光。

[5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

[6] 이 말씀을 하시고 땅에 침을 뱉어 진흙을 이겨 그의 눈에 바르시고

[6] 耶稣说了这话，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，

[6] Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.

[7] 이르시되 실로암 못에 가서 씻으라 하시니

(실로암은 번역하면 보냄을 받았다는 뜻이라) 이에 가서 씻고 밝은 눈으로 왔더라

[7] 对他说，你往西罗亚池子里去洗，（西罗亚翻出来，就是奉差遣）他去一洗，回头就看见了。

[7] "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent).

So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

[8] 이웃 사람들과 전에 그가 걸인인 것을 보았던 사람들이 이르되 이는 앉아서 구걸하던 자가 아니냐

[8] 他的邻舍，和那素常见他是讨饭的，就说，这不是那从前坐着讨饭的人麽。

[8] His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked,

"Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?"

[9] 어떤 사람은 그 사람이라 하며 어떤 사람은 아니라 그와 비슷하다 하거늘 자기 말은 내가 그라 하니

[9] 有人说，是他。又有人说，不是，却是像他。他自己说，是我。

[9] Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him."

But he himself insisted, "I am the man."

[10] 그들이 묻되 그러면 네 눈이 어떻게 떠졌느냐

[10] 他们对他说，你的眼睛是怎麽开的呢。

[10] "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.

[11] 대답하되 예수라 하는 그 사람이 진흙을 이겨 내 눈에 바르고 나더러 실로암에 가서 씻으라

하기에 가서 씻었더니 보게 되었노라

[11] 他回答说，有一个人名叫耶稣。他和泥抹我的眼睛，对我说，你往西罗亚池子去洗。我去一洗，就看见了。

[11] He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes.

He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

[12] 그들이 이르되 그가 어디 있느냐 이르되 알지 못하노라 하니라

[12] 他们说，那个人在那里。他说，我不知道。

[12] "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.

[13] 그들이 전에 맹인이었던 사람을 데리고 바리새인들에게 갔더라

[13] 他们把从前瞎眼的人，带到法利赛人那里。

[13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.

[14] 예수께서 진흙을 이겨 눈을 뜨게 하신 날은 안식일이라

[14] 耶稣和泥开他眼睛的日子是安息日。

[14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath.

[15] 그러므로 바리새인들도 그가 어떻게 보게 되었는지를 물으니 이르되

그 사람이 진흙을 내 눈에 바르매 내가 씻고 보나이다 하니

[15] 法利赛人也问他是怎麽得看见的。瞎子对他们说，他把泥抹在我的眼睛上，我去一洗，就看见了。

[15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.

"He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."

[16] 바리새인 중에 어떤 사람은 말하되 이 사람이 안식일을 지키지 아니하니 하나님께로부터 온 자가 아니라

하며 어떤 사람은 말하되 죄인으로서 어떻게 이러한 표적을 행하겠느냐 하여 그들 중에 분쟁이 있었더니

[16] 法利赛人中有的说，这个人不是从神来的，因为他不守安息日。

又有人说，一个罪人怎能行这样的神迹呢。他们就起了分争。

[16] Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."

But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.

[17] 이에 맹인되었던 자에게 다시 묻되 그 사람이 네 눈을 뜨게 하였으니

너는 그를 어떠한 사람이라 하느냐 대답하되 선지자니이다 하니

[17] 他们又对瞎子说，他既然开了你的眼睛，你说他是怎样的人呢。他说，是个先知。

[17] Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him?

It was your eyes he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet."

[18] 유대인들이 그가 맹인으로 있다가 보게 된 것을 믿지 아니하고 그 부모를 불러 묻되

[18] 犹太人不信他从前是瞎眼，后来能看见的，等到叫了他的父母来，

[18] The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind

and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents.

[19] 이는 너희 말에 맹인으로 났다 하는 너희 아들이냐 그러면 지금은 어떻게 해서 보느냐

[19] 问他们说，这是你们的儿子麽。你们说他生来是瞎眼的，如今怎麽能看见了呢。

[19] "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind?

How is it that now he can see?"

[20] 그 부모가 대답하여 이르되 이 사람이 우리 아들인 것과 맹인으로 난 것을 아나이다

[20] 他父母回答说，他是我们的儿子，生来就瞎眼，这是我们知道的。

[20] "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind.

[21] 그러나 지금 어떻게 해서 보는지 또는 누가 그 눈을 뜨게 하였는지 우리는 알지 못하나이다

그에게 물어 보소서 그가 장성하였으니 자기 일을 말하리이다

[21] 至于他如今怎麽能看见，我们却不知道。是谁开了他的眼睛，我们也不知道。

他已经成了人，你们问他吧。他自己必能说。

[21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him.

He is of age; he will speak for himself."

[22] 그 부모가 이렇게 말한 것은 이미 유대인들이 누구든지 예수를 그리스도로 시인하는 자는

출교하기로 결의하였으므로 그들을 무서워함이러라

[22] 他父母说这话，是怕犹太人，因为犹太人已经商议定了，若有认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。

[22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided

that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

[23] 이러므로 그 부모가 말하기를 그가 장성하였으니 그에게 물어 보소서 하였더라

[23] 因此他父母说，他已经成了人，你们问他吧。

[23] That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

[24] 이에 그들이 맹인이었던 사람을 두 번째 불러 이르되 너는 하나님께 영광을 돌리라

우리는 이 사람이 죄인인 줄 아노라

[24] 所以法利赛人第二次叫了那从前瞎眼的人来，对他说，你该将荣耀归给神。我们知道这人是个罪人。

[24] A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God,"

they said. "We know this man is a sinner."

[25] 대답하되 그가 죄인인지 내가 알지 못하나 한 가지 아는 것은 내가 맹인으로 있다가 지금 보는 그것이니이다

[25] 他说，他是个罪人不是，我不知道。有一件事我知道，从前我是眼瞎的，如今能看见了。

[25] He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know.

I was blind but now I see!"

[26] 그들이 이르되 그 사람이 네게 무엇을 하였느냐 어떻게 네 눈을 뜨게 하였느냐

[26] 他们就问他说，他向你作什么，是怎麽开了你的眼睛呢。

[26] Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

[27] 대답하되 내가 이미 일렀어도 듣지 아니하고 어찌하여 다시 듣고자 하나이까 당신들도 그의 제자가 되려 하나이까

[27] 他回答说，我方才告诉你们，你们不听。为什么又要听呢。莫非你们也要作他的门徒麽。

[27] He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen.

Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"

[28] 그들이 욕하여 이르되 너는 그의 제자이나 우리는 모세의 제자라

[28] 他们就骂他说，你是他的门徒。我们是摩西的门徒。

[28] Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses!

[29] 하나님이 모세에게는 말씀하신 줄을 우리가 알거니와 이 사람은 어디서 왔는지 알지 못하노라

[29] 神对摩西说话，是我们知道的。只是这个人，我们不知道他从那里来。

[29] We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."

[30] 그 사람이 대답하여 이르되 이상하다 이 사람이 내 눈을 뜨게 하였으되

당신들은 그가 어디서 왔는지 알지 못하는도다

[30] 那人回答说，他开了我的眼睛，你们竟不知道他从那里来，这真是奇怪。

[30] The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.

[31] 하나님이 죄인의 말을 듣지 아니하시고 경건하여 그의 뜻대로 행하는 자의 말은 들으시는 줄을 우리가 아나이다

[31] 我们知道神不听罪人。惟有敬奉神旨意的，神才听他。

[31] We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.

[32] 창세 이후로 맹인으로 난 자의 눈을 뜨게 하였다 함을 듣지 못하였으니

[32] 从创世以来，未曾听见有人把生来是瞎子的眼睛开了。

[32] Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.

[33] 이 사람이 하나님께로부터 오지 아니하였으면 아무 일도 할 수 없으리이다

[33] 这人若不是从神来的，什么也不能作。

[33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

[34] 그들이 대답하여 이르되 네가 온전히 죄 가운데서 나서 우리를 가르치느냐 하고 이에 쫓아내어 보내니라

[34] 他们回答说，你全然生在罪孽中，还要教训我们麽。于是把他赶出去了。

[34] To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.

[35] 예수께서 그들이 그 사람을 쫓아냈다 하는 말을 들으셨더니 그를 만나사 이르시되 네가 인자를 믿느냐

[35] 耶稣听说他们把他赶出去。后来遇见他，就说，你信神的儿子麽。

[35] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said,

"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

[36] 대답하여 이르되 주여 그가 누구시오니이까 내가 믿고자 하나이다

[36] 他回答说，主阿，谁是神的儿子，叫我信他呢。

[36] "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

[37] 예수께서 이르시되 네가 그를 보았거니와 지금 너와 말하는 자가 그이니라

[37] 耶稣说，你已经看见他，现在和你说话的就是他。

[37] Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."

[38] 이르되 주여 내가 믿나이다 하고 절하는지라

[38] 他说，主阿，我信。就拜耶稣。

[38] Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

[39] 예수께서 이르시되 내가 심판하러 이 세상에 왔으니

보지 못하는 자들은 보게 하고 보는 자들은 맹인이 되게 하려 함이라 하시니

[39] 耶稣说，我为审判到这世上来，叫不能看见的，可以看见。能看见的，反瞎了眼。

[39] Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world,

so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

[40] 바리새인 중에 예수와 함께 있던 자들이 이 말씀을 듣고 이르되 우리도 맹인인가

[40] 同他在那里的法利赛人，听见这话，就说，难道我们也瞎了眼麽。

[40] Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"

[41] 예수께서 이르시되 너희가 맹인이 되었더라면 죄가 없으려니와 본다고 하니 너희 죄가 그대로 있느니라

[41] 耶稣对他们说，你们若瞎了眼，就没有罪了。但如今你们说，我们能看见，所以你们的罪还在。

[41] Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin;

but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 9:1-41

Key Verse 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

   In the first part of chapter 9, Jesus heals a man born blind. Through this event Jesus declares that he is the light of the world. Jesus found the work of God in the man born blind. He reveals that we can do the work of God as long as it is day. This means that night is coming when no one can work. We have a limited life span to work for God. Jesus dispelled his disciples’ fatalistic view of life by healing this man born blind. Let’s find the work of God in our life. May God give us a bright view of life through this passage. I pray that we may serve the work of God while we are young and powerful.

   Also we learn that it is important to hold on one grace of God in order to grow in Jesus. The Pharisees tested the man born blind to forget God’s grace. He did not yield to the pressure of the religious leaders. He did not forget one thing Jesus did for him but held the truth of God to the end. As a result Jesus opened his spiritual eyes and he received a complete healing and became a member of the kingdom of God. Here we learn how precious it is to remember God’s grace to the end. May God bless us to learn from the man born blind how to remember the grace of God to the end. I pray that we all may hold one grace of Jesus and believe in the Son so that we may see the kingdom of God with our spiritual eyes.

I. TO DISPLAY THE WORK OF GOD (1-5)

   Look at verse 1. "As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth." What did the disciples do when they saw this man? Look at verse 2. “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.’” When the disciples saw the man, many questions arose in their minds. This man was blind before he was born(1,2). The disciples' question, "Who sinned this man or his parents." is very fatalistic. Hebrew people thought that blindness came as a result of someone's sin. The Old Testament suggests that parent's sins result in the suffering of their children. The disciples wanted to know whose sin was the cause of his misery. Their thinking structure was based on cause and effect. When something went wrong, people used to find someone to blame. Who is the cause of all these troubles? If they could not find any answer, either they blame themselves or feel miserable. When we listened to the life testimonies, most people blamed their parents for the cause of their problems. They said, “Who sinned? My parents sinned. My father’s abusive life style was the cause of all my problems. My parents’ divorce was the source of all my problems.” This kind of view of life causes people to suffer endlessly. They cannot find the meaning of life and become unforgiving and live in sorrow and despair. Job’s three friends suggested that all of Job’s miseries were caused by his sin. Our fundamental question is “Why do men suffer? Why do many tragedies happen? Why did God allow 9-11 happen? Who is fault for my endless suffering?” Many say, “I got an accident because I sinned before God. God is punishing my children due to my sins.” This kind of fatalistic view of life causes us to become a child of sorrow and bitterness. Fatalism causes men to become a prisoner of darkness and negative thinking. Many people think, “My life is a God’s mistake. I am here by an accident.” Jesus’ disciples became very sorrowful when they saw the blind man's fatalistic elements of life.

   How did Jesus answer their question? Look at verse 3. " 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'" Jesus did not blame this man or his parents for his blindness but found the work of God. Jesus said the same thing when he heard that Lazarus was sick in John 11:4, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus confirmed that human misfortune is not caused by someone’s sin but it is to reveal the glory of God. This verse clearly tells us that man's life purpose is not to feel miserable because of one man's human condition, but to display God's glory, whatever situation he or she might be in. According to Jesus' words, human conditions or circumstances do not make men miserable at all. At the same time, whatever situation we may be in or whatever kind of person we may be, we must not sit down and complain and be miserable. We must find the way to display the glory of God. We must find the work of God in all situations. We should not think that God failed us or made us miserable when we face many difficult human situations. Rather, we must find the way to render glory to God. Then God will bless us beyond our imagination. This is God's truth for mankind.

   In brief, man should not live according to situations; man must live with God’s provision and creation faith. Each person is made to display God's glory. This man was born blind with an obligation to display God's glory through his blindness. Jesus teaches that this man is not born to be miserable, but to display God's glory. There is no accident in God. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We find God’s purpose in all human situations. We must accept this truth and overcome our human conditions and give glory to God. When one does not live for the glory of God, he cannot but live for selfish human desire. The result is drug abuse, alcoholism, and all kinds of evildoing. Therefore, in whatever situation we may be, whatever kind of person we may be, each of us must live for the glory of God. That’s the purpose of life given to man. God made man to live for the glory of God, not for the glory of perishing world. The seed of the tragedy of mankind is self-seeking. The fountain of happiness is to live for the glory of God.

   Many person says, "I am the most miserable person who ever lived since the world was made because of my human conditions and circumstances." Someone may think, "I am very miserable because I have white hair." Other may think "I am very miserable because the angle of my nose is too low." One young girl said, “I am miserable because I have many pimples.” But God made him uniquely as he is so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. There are many gorgeous young men and women in this world. They seem to be happy and have no problem at all. But each of them carries one secret element of sorrow in their life. They have to find the work of God in their life.

   The man born blind might have thought he was the most miserable person, because he could not see the beautiful world with his eyes. He could not enjoy the bright sunlight. He could not see all kinds of color combinations. His eyes were there only to cry. He could not see his mother's beautiful face. Because he could not see, he could misunderstand many things. As a result, he lived in prejudice and the darkness of night all the time. But to Jesus, he was not miserable because of his human conditions and circumstances; he was miserable because he had no purpose of life in Jesus. We know the story of Fanny J. Crosby who wrote many beautiful hymns touched millions of people's hearts. Though she was a blind, she could see the beauty of the spiritual world better than normal person with two eyes. She saw rapture now bursting in her sight and angels descending bring from above though she did not have physical eyes. (Hymn 437) Her spiritual eyes were always up into the heaven not down in this ugly sinful world. Jesus' words, "...but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life," are the words of life that can heal any person's dark thinking and transform any kind of wretched person into a child of God.

   Look at verses 4 and 5. "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." In this allegorical expression‎, "day" refers to "lifetime." "Night refers to "after death." Jesus is telling us that God gives man his lifetime to display God's glory, not to grieve over his miserable human condition or destiny. The night of darkness is coming when no one can work. Some people work in the night shift. How tragic it is for a man to discover too late that he wasted his time with miserable feelings and that he wasted his life, when he might have done something with it to glorify God. The most dreadful thing in the world is that we cannot work any more. But it is a cold reality that a time is coming when we cannot work any longer. Whether we like it or not, death is coming surely and slowly to all men. Hymn number 339 says, “Work, for the night is coming, under the sunset skies. While the bright tints are glowing, work for daylight flies. Work till the last beam fades, fades to shine no more. Work while the night is darkening, when man’s work is over.” We have a limited time to do the work of God. We have to maximize our lifespan to do the work of God. Don’t delay to do the work of God. We do not know when night will come for us. The night comes, it will come certainly, may come suddenly, is coming nearer and nearer. Now is the best time to do the work of God. Did you find the work of God in your life today?

   Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” When any person accepts Jesus in his heart, Jesus drives out all the dark and dead things in him and fills him with the Holy Spirit. So the author said in his prologue, “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world(1:9).” The blind man was in utter darkness. But when he accepted Jesus into his heart, he could see the light. Those who have accepted Jesus have the light of life. They know what they are doing, and they are happy in Jesus. Here we must remember Jesus’ words, “I am the light of the world.” Here we learn that we must firmly believe that Jesus is the light of the world. Where there is no Jesus, there is only the darkness of sin and death. Where there is the light of Jesus in one’s heart, there is peace and joy, and the glory of God shines upon him. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."

II. GO! WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM (6-12)

   Jesus taught his disciples how to overcome the fatalistic way of thinking in their hearts. Here, Jesus teaches how to put what we know into practice. In chapter 6 we learned that Jesus fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. So, he could have opened this blind man's eyes with one word. But Jesus wanted to teach his disciples how to overcome the fatalistic elements of life practically. Look at verse 6. "Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.” When he had no water, he used his saliva as water. When he had no medical instrument, he used mud on the ground as medicine. He spit on the ground, made some mud, and put it in the man’s eyes. In this way Jesus found the way to heal the man. When we see Jesus’ way of healing the man born blind, it looks very funny. Jesus might have been accused of medical malpractice. But this is the expression‎ of divine love; it is the expression‎ of God’s shepherd heart for mankind. Those who imitated Jesus in this, all became great leaders in the world. Everyone has saliva and ground. This is the way of making things work out. This is the way to overcome the fatalistic elements of life. No one can overcome his or her fatalistic element of life by just sitting and begging for others' sympathy. But most importantly, we learn Jesus' shepherd heart. When Jesus, the Good Shepherd, saw this man, he was determined to help him out, and he did.

   How did the blind man respond? The blind man had already been enough humiliated during his short lifetime as a blind beggar. So he must have been very sensitive to others. When Jesus put mud on his eyes mixed with saliva and told him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam," he could have become very rebellious and cried with a loud voice, "You also despise me! Take your hands off of my eyes!" But the blind man obeyed. He was not upset because he trusted Jesus. He could have washed his muddy eyes in the first fountain he found but he went to all the way to the pool of Siloam. He endured Jesus’ obedience training very well. He was not emotional but was very patient. What happened to him? Look at verse 7b. He came home seeing. What a great miracle it was! This miracle, "He went and washed, and came home seeing", is more victorious than Caesar's victory chant, "Veni, vidi, vici--I came, I saw, I conquered." Then this man experienced God's healing when he obeyed Jesus' method though he could not understand why. What a surprise! Here we learn that God can work together with those who obey him.

   By the great mercy of Jesus, the blind man could see the beautiful world. He did not need eye surgery. What did the people in his community think of him when he could see? In the past, they must have felt good to see a person inferior to them, begging on the corner of a street, "Alms for the blind!" But the blind man's eyes has been opened, and now he was going around with a big smile. "How are you today? It is a beautiful day. "When his neighbors saw him, they said, "Isn't this the same man that used to sit and beg(8)?" Others said, "No, he only looks like him.(9a)." This man's changed life brought identity crisis among the neighbors. In verse 11 he replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." Did you come here not knowing Jesus the light of the world?

   Jesus teaches us how to overcome fatalism. Jesus teaches us that the purpose of life is to display the glory of God. Jesus teaches us that we can see the kingdom of God and enter the kingdom of God when we obey his words, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” We must remember that Jesus is the light of the world. There is no fatalism in the light of Jesus. There is only joy and happiness and burning hope in Jesus.

Ⅲ. ONE THING I DO KNOW (13-25)

   By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blind man’s eyes were restored to see the beautiful world. How happy the man might have been when his eyes were opened. How happy to see the beautiful flowers in the spring! He must have sung Amazing Grace: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” While he was singing, the love of God was so high and wide to him and the grace of Jesus was so real to him and he cried for a while, remembering God’s grace and anticipating a bright future. He believed that Jesus is God, for all the people of his time believed that only God can open a blind man’s eyes. He could have assurance that Jesus is God, and he could not forget the grace of Jesus who wiped the tears from his eyes and opened his eyes. He could not forget the grace of Jesus who gave him new life by opening his eyes.

   When his neighbors saw him, some said, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg(8)?” Others said, “No, he only looks like him(9).” The neighbor people should have been very joyful that one of their pitiful fellow’s eyes were opened. They should have had a party to express their joy and thanks to God for opening the blind man’s eyes. They should have appreciated the grace of Jesus who renounced his power and glory and honor and came to this world and opened the blind man’s eyes. But they were not happy. The man who was once blind sensed that they were not happy. But it didn’t matter. He insisted, “I was blind but now I see(9b)!” He had been a blind beggar and an outcast. Now he needed to be recognized as a member of the community. So he should be silent, whatever they said. He should have complied their demand. But now he was clear about the grace of God that opened his blind eyes and gave him new life. He cried out all the more and began to testify to the wonderful grace of Jesus. Look at verse 11. “He replied, ‘The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” When he held the grace of Jesus firmly, severe persecution followed. His faith was tested. Let’s see how he endured the first trials and grew in Jesus.

   The townspeople thought he was presumptuous and arrogant when he testified to the grace of Jesus. So they clutched him by the arm and brought him to the Pharisees(13). The Pharisees were even more unhappy. They began to investigate the healing. They did not look like spiritual leaders but like policemen. The day Jesus had healed the man was a Sabbath. Therefore, the Pharisees saw Jesus as a breaker of the Sabbath law, and they began to interrogate the man who had been blind, asking how he had received his sight. “’He put some mud on my eyes,’ the man replied, ‘and I washed and now I see(14,15).’” At that time, the Pharisees were known as authorities and men of honor in their communities. But the man once blind was not shaky before the Pharisees. He stood firm before his persecutors. He could not alter what happened to him because it was so clear to him.

   How did they respond about Jesus to the man who was once blind? Some said, “He is not from God, because he did this on a Sabbath day.” Others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided(16). They did not agree among themselves. They were split. How could they accuse Jesus even when they were not sure about Jesus? They wondered, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” They pressed the man born blind hard, saying, “What do you have to say about him, huh? You man! It was your eyes he opened.” The Pharisees threatened this poor fellow who had just found the joy of life in Jesus. But he was not intimidated by them at all. He held the truth of God firmly. Their threat did not change his mind. He replied, “He is a prophet ... from God(17b).” At that time, anyone who acknowledged Jesus was cast out of the Jewish community and had no place to go. So the former blind man would lose any hope of getting a job and start a normal life again. But he didn’t cheat his conscience; he clearly testified that Jesus is a prophet, a man from God. At that time, a prophet was known as a man from God with a specific and special message for God’s people Israel. A prophet was known as God’s messenger. A prophet was known as an angel of God. So people honored the prophets as they honored Elijah and John the Baptist. This man regarded Jesus as a man from God because Jesus healed his eyes. Here we learn that the man once blind had received God’s grace. He could enjoy a new life in Jesus. He could have a hope of marrying a beautiful bride. But it was not easy for him to maintain God’s grace. He was despised, interrogated and unbearably persecuted. Here we learn that holding on to God’s amazing grace is not easy at all for anyone. But this man who was once blind teaches us that we must hold on to the grace of God. We must pass the test of our faith in the form of persecutions and hardships.

   When the former blind man did not yield to their pressure to discredit Jesus. They turned to his parents to put more pressure on him. Next the Pharisees sent for his parents. When they appeared before the Pharisees, his parents were very much afraid that they would be excommunicated. “Is this your son,” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see(19)?” “‘We know he is our son,’ the parents answered, ‘and we know that he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself(21).’” They answered an easy question but avoided a hard question. Of course, they heard from their son how Jesus healed him. They should have protected their son from the ferocious attacks waged by the Pharisees. They should have supported their son to the end at any cost. But they did not have courage to pay the price to speak the truth of God. When the Pharisees asked them, “How is it that now he can see?”, they said, “No comment.” They cheated their consciences in order to secure their job. They were coward before the religious authorities. They were afraid of the Jews; already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That’s why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him(22,23).” The Jews even threatened his parents in order to make them deny that their son was born blind. They destroyed a father and son relationship. They worked hard to conceal the truth of God. They worked hard to deny the work of God. But they failed. A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. This time they threatened him theologically. “Well, you boy, give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner(24).” It was a terrible threat. They used God’s name to trap this man. They used God’s name in vain. They asked him to deny that he was once blind but now could see. They asked him to deny that Jesus had healed his blindness by saying, “Give glory to God.” The Pharisees summoned the man who had been blind a second time and pressed him to admit that Jesus was a sinner, saying, “Give glory to God(24).” How could he give glory to God by calling Jesus a sinner? This did not make any sense. This kind of investigation is not normal. This kind of investigation cannot be done among men in history. This kind of investigation is the expression‎ of the cruelty of the devil. They said, “Give glory to God.” It meant, “You had better tell a lie and say that Jesus is a sinner because he broke the Sabbath law.” What was his reply? Look at verse 25. “He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!’” He did not answer their theological question by saying, “I don’t know.” What should we do when someone asks a theological question? We should say, “I don’t know.” But he answered one thing he knew clearly. What was it? He said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” His testimony has two parts like most of our testimonies: Part I- I was blind, Part II- but now I see. He confessed who he was in the past and who he is now. The former blind man knew what kind of person he was and what kind of person he is now. This means that he knew what Jesus did to him. He had a personal relationship with Jesus. He held this one thing to the end and this one thing brought him to inherit the kingdom of God. One thing he remembered was that Jesus opened his eyes out of his great shepherd heart. He was full of God’s grace. He could not deny God’s grace in any circumstance.

   We must learn from him how to remember God’s grace and keep it in our hearts. Christians are those who remember one grace of God, how he changed us from blind men in the darkness of the world to those who see Jesus and his goodness. We have to remember what we did in the past and what God did for us. Then we can be thankful to God and we can grow in faith. St. Augustine was an intellectual playboy of the first century. But one word touched his heart in Romans 13:11, “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” This reminded of his spiritual slumber and changed his life and he wrote a book called “the city of God.”

   As we know, we all die in Adam but in Christ we are alive(1 Cor 15:22). We were terrible sinners in the past but now Jesus saved us by his grace. Jesus died for our sins and rose again and sat at the right hand of God. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. We must not forget the grace of Jesus in our life and grow in his love. Forgettable are human beings. We should not forget the grace of Jesus who appeared to us when we were struggling in the darkness of sin and gave us a new life. Remembering the grace of Jesus is a foundation for our spiritual growth and happiness in Jesus. We know that those who remember the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ are happy to do anything. Do you one thing to know from Jesus? May God give you one thing you hold from the man born blind. How did the Pharisees react when the former blind man did not deny Jesus? They asked the same question. Then the man said, “Do you want to become his disciples too(27)?” Then they insulted him humanly and became angry. Now they became very defensive and finally they threw him out. They remained in darkness. How did Jesus help this man?

Ⅳ. JESUS VISITED THE MAN (35-41)

    Look at verse 35. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out of their community, that he was abandoned, and that he was helpless again. This man was rejected by men including his own parents but Jesus did not abandon him. When the former blind man endured test of faith, Jesus found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man(35)?” Now he was abandoned and cast out of his community; his situation was worse than before because he lost his job of begging. Even so, Jesus did not sympathize with his human condition. Jesus only wanted to plant in him faith in the Son. So he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” In Jesus’ question to him, we learn that faith is the victory. Faith does not seem to give him even a piece of bread. But in the end, faith in the Son would bestow on him eternal life and the crown of life in Jesus’ kingdom. Faith is the source of power to overcome the world. A blind man who was once begging on the street can be an heir of God and a co-worker with Jesus Christ and with God (Ro 8:17). Faith in the Son is everything. We must help God’s flock with faith, not with human favor only. What was his response? Look at verse 38. “Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.” It is an amazing confession of faith. By remembering God’s grace, he overcame the world and entered the realm of the spiritual world, and he could believe God’s grace through his Son Jesus. He could see the kingdom of God. He was privileged to enter the kingdom of God. Next, he worshiped Jesus. Not only he received his physical sight but also his spiritual sight. Now he was healed completely when he accepted Jesus as his true object of worship. Through his perseverance he received a complete healing from Jesus. After healing this man Jesus challenged the religious leaders one more time with shepherd broken heart. Look at verse 39. “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Jesus rebuked their spiritual blindness harshly. They were upset and asked, “What? Come on Jesus. Are we blind too?” They did not understand Jesus, the Messiah because they live in darkness and refused to accept their blind condition. The first step to gain our spiritual sight is to acknowledge that we are blind. Then we can have hope to see the spiritual world. Why is spiritual blindness more serious than the physical blindness? Look at verse 41. We remain guilty of our sins and become an object of God’s wrath but when we remember God’s grace, “I once was blind but now I see,” God gives us heavenly joy. God enables us to worship God only. May God bless you to have faith in the Son and have eternal life in the kingdom of God.