“Are We Blind Too?” (Part 2 of 2)

Imagine for a minute terminally ill and refusing the only treatment that could cure you today on Truth for Life. Alister Ben uses a similar illustration to explain what happens when we reject the only remedy that offers us eternal life, or in chapter 9 of John's Gospel, continuing a message titled, are we blind to. We have spent obviously the vast majority of time looking at the incident concerning the healing of the man born blind this man was awakened to the fact of his spiritual blindness.

He might've thought that his greatest need in life was in order to have his physical sight restored. Of course, Jesus had done. But when all is said and done, Jesus seeks them out in order to ask him a question. The question that is found in verse 35. Do you believe in the son of man, and the response of the man is eager he is genuinely interested. Who is he, sir. The man asked, tell me so that I may believe in him and he stands in direct contrast to the Pharisees who refused to see what was right before their noses. They were the ones who claim to have the site, but they were in fact the ones who were blind to the truth. They regard themselves as the guides of the blind.

You can read that in Romans two they regard themselves as a light that shines to those in the darkness they regard themselves as instructors of the foolish, Paul mentions all of that when he is arguing to the point in Romans three when he says, and so the whole world is accountable before God, whether you are a Gentile coming from that background, or whether you are a Jew feeling yourself to be the custodians of all of this truth and so it makes their question all the more striking doesn't one can almost hear the snake's only see the sneer on their faces. What we blind to sense the smugness of their tone gets a flavor of the derision directed at Jesus blind there were so blind you know how blind they were like the man in Luke 18 remember the wonderful parable Jesus tells of the Pharisee and the tax collector and the Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself got I think you are not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers like this tax collector here. After all, I fast twice a week.

I give 1/10 of all I get people to garnish pretty good pretty good given remarks out of 10 Jesus said, but the tax collector stood at a distance he would not even look up to heaven, but he beat his breast and said God have mercy on me and send and then the sting in the tail.

Jesus says I tell you that this man, the tax collector went home justified before God for everyone who exalts himself.

Like the Pharisees who think they can see will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted until a man or woman falls at the feet of Jesus and says I am a blind man. I am a blind woman. They will never rise to see as long as we sit in the supercilious perspective of the religious formalists declaring you know I have been around church for a long time. My my my uncle Jim gave me a Bible when we were married. I know that because I saw it.

Just the other day hadn't seen it for years, but I know it somewhere you know that all that kind of thing and I appreciate coming here to Parkside and I know that there must be some real bombs and ne'er-do-wells coming around here because you keep banging on the importance of people coming to trust in Jesus better. I'm so glad that I don't need to trust in Jesus, I'm so glad that I'm like the Pharisee in this story. I'm I'm not like other men, and actually I really up my contribution since I came here as well. Although I don't expect you to know much about Jesus turn the whole thing on his head. You're not suggesting that we are blind are you Jesus we see our response to Jesus shows what we think of ourselves and our response to Jesus shows what we think of Jesus and what he think of Jesus is just actually that he is deluded that he's a madman that is demon possessed, we saw that before it comes again in chapter 10. Why listen to them. They said he is demon possessed and raving mad for me is one of the great and intriguing things I learned is that people continue to come and listen to the Bible being preached and actually already made your decision concerning Jesus, you decided that Jesus was either deluded or even deceitful unless you move from one of those two positions to acknowledge that he is who he is that he is the light of the world and that those who follow him, will not walk in darkness, then you walk out into a darkness that is that that is just completely utter darkness. I look out Jesus answers verse 39 there's a division yes 40 is a question in verse 41. There's an answer answer that he gives is a puzzling answer is certainly not an easy little versus it they were probably expecting Jesus to say yes you are blind once or know of course you're not blind you're the Pharisees, you have all that all the new strapped around her wrists and fastened on your forehead. They probably expected either yes or no. But instead of doing that, he does what he does often is he just reaches in and twist their noses a little bit by responding and what is a paradoxical fashion note, let me just quote to you a Phillips paraphrase of this verse is that I think it will. I think it will help us get the sense of it.

Phillips paraphrase is verse 41, which he reads.

If you were blind you would not be guilty of sin, but now that you claim you can see your girl remains like a really bad riddle is the incentive 50 save yourself 15 times in row and still not get it, Melissa. Now Philip is it. If you are blind.

Return Jesus. Nobody could blame you. But as you insist, we can see your girl remains if you were blind, you could be held accountable for your ignorance.

That's what he said but since you insist you can see your bill remains if you think about it.

These folks of all false knew the characteristics of the Messiah was to come once or search the Scriptures. They were the ones who paid attention to the prophetic passages the new Isaiah 42. They knew that one of the characteristics of the Messiah when he came was that he would open the eyes of the blind.

He would release captives. He would set people free from dungeons and this is happened right in front of Jesus in setting the man to see physically has revealed the fact that he is the only one who can bring spiritual site that he has provided.

As John says one of the signs evidence so that people might believe that Jesus is the Christ, i.e., that he might believe that Jesus is the Messiah that he might believe that all of the messianic prophecies have been filled fulfilled in this man, and that by believing they might have life in his name, and this is happened in front of the man has said to your unbelief is more remarkable than my QR because we know that only God can do this. There is no record of doing this he sets God does this before their very eyes. Jesus has done what God alone can do if they been without any understanding of spiritual things.

Then of course there wouldn't of been blameworthy because they have a knowledge of this stuff there culpable because they are unwilling to see beyond the horizon is aware of the Old Testament condemnation lay in the fact that although they knew what they knew and claimed to see as well as they did. They failed to recognize God's son when he came fulfilling what we read in the prologue.

He came to his own and his own received him not to as many as received him, believed in his name to them he gave the power to become the sons of God. What makes this so staggeringly telling loved ones.

Is this that their sin remains because until they admit to their true blindness and come into the light. There is no hope for comfort or forgiveness.

And what is true of them is true of each of us this morning. I may say two things.

As we moved to a close on this. There is absolutely no hope for those of us who are wise in our own eyes.

There is no for those of us who are wise in our own eyes. Solomon puts it in Proverbs 2612. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes. There is more hope for a fool than for him.

This way the prophet says let not the wise man boast in his wisdom.

I'm a PhD did nuclear physics as an undergraduate and good bring that gargantuan brain and all that gray matter and bowing down before the Lord of the universe, and I refuse to okay another wise man boast in his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength. You know I'm X years old and I can still do X number of push-ups and set up some run 47 times around the block and everything else that's terrific. Bring your body as a living sacrifice to the God who made you and offer yourself in service to now I don't want to do that okay. Another strong man boast in his strength, and let not the rich man boast in his riches, and I've done very well and I can get into most clubs in the travel extensively and I will have a home here in a home there.

Your home built on rockers. It built on sand.

I don't know should be a good time to find there is no hope for those of us who are wise in our own eyes, and there is no cure for people who reject the only cure.

There is there is no cure for people who reject the only cure. The there's an inherent logic in this level if Jesus Christ is Lord Jesus is the person he claimed to be, then his exclusive claims with his expansive invitations drive us to the inevitability of a conclusion which is reacted to vociferously in contemporary America and in the West. In particular, there is no cure, is really Macbeth again this week looking for something and not for two reasons. Actually, the first was this when I thought about the nature of a cure.

My mind went immediately to to to lady Macbeth in the sleepwalking scene when she is convinced of the fact that the blood that was on the daggers is still on her hands and if you remember she moves in the darkness of the night talking to herself longing for the spots to be out of our hands, recognizing that despite all of her physical washings.

She cannot get it out all the perfumes of Arabia could not get rid of the stuff she says and he's driving herself almost insane and she's driving her cane has been completely nuts, along with her and so he does exactly what you expected to do. He takes her to the doctor and he says to the doctor quote cure her of that can style not minister to him eyeing disease plucked from the memory are rooted sorrow raise out the written troubles of the brain and with some sweet, oblivious, and to.leave the stuff bosom of that perilous stuff which way is up on her hearts. Dr. says therein. The patient must minister to himself. Sorry, no can do. And then he says, morning needs. She the divine, then the physician morning needs. She the divine, then the physician I would not be at all surprised if there are not those who today sitting listening to me. On one side of this great divide as the ballot is about to ring for us in the conclusion of the sermon are not exactly as in meeting a lady Macbeth's position all the circumstance may not be bloodied daggers, but it may be a million things and all of your external washings and all of your endeavors and all of your perfumes and everything that you've tried have left you absolutely hopeless. Let me tell you there is no cure.

When you reject the only cure S he breaks the power of canceled sin, and he sets the prisoner free. He is Jesus sovereign Lord of the universe. He has demonstrated it in the transformation of this blind man. He has confronted him when his need of spiritual sight. He has opened up a door of opportunity to the religious formalists and they sneered in their response saying we are blind are you so here we are in the division Bell sounds again the question is will you respond by coming into the light, admitting your blindness, casting yourself on his mercy as a result find yourself seeing and saved or will you refuse to come into the light claiming to hang onto your own personal sense of illumination.

If you take the latter route you go out into a darkness in which no light will ever shine who would be foolish enough to say such things to an intelligent group like this. Of course if I couldn't turn you to the Bible and point you to Jesus. I usually just chase me completely out of town and you are sensible people and you need to figure this out. Here's the deal. The division Bell sounds go to your appropriate lobby where you going with a yes vote for Jesus or an elbow for Jesus, there's no abstentions.

An abstention is a no I maybe as a no I get back to it is a no. Now that's why the Bible obsessed today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts why it is called of God's mercy because on another day.

You may not hear his voice. This may be the day you hear his voice, therefore, do something about. I was in Carmel earlier last week I was in the Santa Cruz Mountains speaking I went to Carmel in Carmel.

I bought myself a knife in a knife store more nights than I've ever seen tiny little knife. Don't be alarmed by my wife was desperately concerned.

I said I want to buy a knife. She said what you have in mind. I said no more but is it time to live. I just I wanted to whittle sticks with it as it turns out, is the Tom Sawyer coming out and meet again and in the store. There were so many nights that I said to the lady the problem in here is the American problem. I said, it is the American problem and it is the American wonder she said choice. I said choice.

So we got them out one at a time to time 1.95 out and I went away and had lunch and I came back and got them all out again. I said you know choice is such a difficult thing is just finally making a choice.

She said Kierkegaard has a very interesting essay on why I said this is taking it up a notch guard the existentialist from the 19 century. What did he say she says. Kierkegaard said that even good choices had negative consequences. So hurry up and by night, so I bought and I and then I said to my family, you know, Kierkegaard said very good jars and then one of the bright ones in the groups that I don't think Kierkegaard was absolutely right on that wall possible negative choice. Could their board negative that I mentioned the in choosing Christ as your Savior. I said yeah I think that's right. So hurry up and make a choice, would you remember remember when Macbeth is getting ready to kill the King. King Duncan and he's he's on his way and parenthetically the stage directions in the in the play say a bell sounds a bell sounds and my best says I go and it is done.

The bell invites me here it not Duncan. For it is a nail that summons the to heaven or to hell. See Shakespeare understood the divide. There is no cure for those who reject the only cure S will you not come to Christ and say Lord Jesus, I am lying girl.

I am a blind wise to my own destruction foolish in my arrogance make me see make me see and he will. When you begin to see you will see everything differently heaven above, a softer blue and earth around a sweeter green something lives in every hue that Chrysler size of never seeing an birds with glad our songs were flowing with deeper beauty shine. Since I know is now I know I am his and he is my some of you could stand and testify.

Could you and say and I'm so glad that I had that message and because I used to be just completely lost used to be completely blind and even when I was blind I thought I could see everything well. You may want to mention to the person next to you before before you leave today. Just check make sure say what side are you on of the divide here side are you on father come now and write your word in our hearts. Anything that is foolish or unkind or unwise or untrue may be banished from my recollection and what is love yourself, make it our own. I pray many who sit as unconverted believers that today they might hear your voice not harden their hearts and embrace Christ to his the light of life for us in his name we pray. Amen. Alister left us with the question all of us have to think about which side of the divide are you on your not sure I want to invite you to visit Truth for Life.org/the story we have a video that explains how Jesus sacrificed on the cross addresses our sin and offers to us the gift of salvation. This offer isn't extended based on anything we can achieve on our own.

It is a gift that God gives freely out of his goodness and grace again. Find out more@truthforlife.org/the story you may also want to request a book were featuring today to book called gentle and lowly, the heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers as the title suggests, this book explores just how much Jesus longs to forgive our sins, it's easy for us to be discouraged by our sinful behavior and by our repeated failures but Jesus does not grow weary of our stumbling and Becky provides unending mercy and grace to all who ask. That's what you'll discover in gentle and lowly. Jesus actually is drawn to sinners and sufferers in the same way a doctor gravitates toward the sick. This is a tremendously comforting book. Not only will you find peace in knowing that there is no limit in coming to Jesus. Time and time again with your failures but you will grow in your love for Christ. Even more, request your copy of the book gentle and lowly today when you give a one time donation by going to Truth for Life.org/donate or call 888-588-7884.

We carefully select books like gentle them only as a way of saying thanks to all who partner with group for life. It's a privilege to bring clear relevant Bible teaching to a worldwide listing audience every day of the year and your gift is what makes all of this possible. So on behalf of all of us to Truth for Life. Thank you Bob Lapine. Thanks for listing today. Tomorrow's message focuses on something all of us want more of happiness sure to listen as we begin a new series called the missing piece. Turn to Psalm 32 to learn about King David's search for true happiness, forgiveness and peace. The Bible teaching of Alister bank is furnished by Truth for Life. Learning is for Living