“OUR INCREDIBLE, YET APPROACHABLE SAVIOR #3-A SUFFERING SAVIOR FOR SUFFERING PEOPLE”
JOHN 9:1-38
TEXT VERSES: LUKE 9:1-8
INTRO: Suffering, it is a pill that we find hard to swallow! Yet out of our
sufferings God can be greatly glorified through our lives. John Milton,
the great English poet, endured much suffering. At the height of his
writing career, his eyesight began to fail. Had he not been a devoted
follower of Christ, he might have become bitter. Yet, as the darkness
closed in on him, Milton, in his "Sonnet on Blindness," squarely faced
the entire problem of tribulation and resolved to rise above it. Among
other things, he says, "My soul was thus bent to serve more
acceptably my Maker." Proof of God's wisdom in sending Milton this
great hardship is found in the fact that after the light faded from his
sight, he produced that great epic, "Paradise Lost." How do we deal
with suffering in our lives? Where do we turn when suffering strikes
us? Where can we go to find the answers to our “whys”? Many times
we look to the Word of God for answers. We turn to the book of Job
or Lamentations seeking to find the answers for the difficulties facing
us.
Suffering as a Christian is one of the most perplexing and many times
faith-shaking events we face as believers. In America, Christians pray
for the burden of suffering to be lifted from their backs. In the rest of
the world Christians pray for stronger backs so they can bear their
suffering. It's why we look away from the bag lady on the street and
to the displays in store windows. Why we prefer going to the movies
instead of to hospitals and nursing homes. -- Dave Dravecky in When
You Can't Come Back. Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 10. But God’s
Word teaches us that suffering serves a purpose in our lives. 2
Corinthians 4:17 says, “for our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory.” B. W. Johnson in The People’s New Testament wrote: “Bearing
the cross weaves an eternal crown. Sorrows endured for Christ's sake
prepare for eternal joys.”
Before us today we have the account of a man who has suffered with
an infirmity since birth. The question of the disciples in v2 seems to
be a question asked by many when suffer comes to visit someone,
“Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born
blind?” Notice the words, “…who did sin…?” The disciples faced a
theological problem. Believing that sin directly caused all suffering,
how can a person be born with a handicap? Therefore either this
man…sinned in his mother’s womb (Ezek. 18:4) or his parents
sinned (Ex. 20:5). (John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible
Knowledge Commentary, New Testament. P. 306). Many today see
suffering in a person’s life as the punishment of God for that
person’s transgression. But Jesus said in v3—“Neither hath this man
sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be manifest
in him.” B. W. Johnson in The People’s New Testament wrote: “Jesus
does not affirm that they were sinless, but that their sins were not
the cause of the calamity. We are not justified in asserting that the
sufferer is a sinner. Job, Christ, Paul, and the whole army of martyrs
disprove it.”
What a JOY it is today to KNOW that we have a Savior that not only
can identify with our sufferings but was willing to suffer for us!
Hebrews 4:15-16 assures us, “for we have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
grace to help in time of need.” And in Hebrews 2:9-10, 18 we read,
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for
the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the
grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for
whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many
sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. For in that he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to
succour them that are tempted.” He was perfectly fitted to be our
Savior because He suffered as one of us and sympathized with our
trials and afflictions. We truly have A SUFFERING SAVIOR FOR
SUFFERING PEOPLE! Note two things with me today:
(1) SUFFERING PEOPLE ARE SEEN BY THE SAVIOR
JOHN 9:1-3—“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was
blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him,
saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents,
that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath
this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of
God should be manifest in him.”
- THE CONDITION OF THE SUFFERER. Notice the words, “blind from his birth.” What a sad picture! For all this man’s life he has lived without sight. He cannot find work so he is left to begging on the roadside. I truly believe of all physical handicaps a person can have that blindness is probably the worst. To live your entire life without seeing the glory of a sunset, the beauty of a rose, or the smile of a child has to be almost unthinkable and unbearable! The disciples seeing the man begin to ask, “Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (v2). This may seem like an odd question for the disciples to ask the Lord but I wonder how many of us when something bad happens in our lives because to ask, “What have I done?” Like the friends of Job we believe some hidden sin has caused our calamity. Yes, sometimes God does punish us for our sins and sometimes suffering is the result of our transgressions, but not always! Many times suffering comes our way so that the glory of God can be shown forth in our lives!
ILLUS: A. B. Cooper said that one autumn day when he went to a
flower show, he asked of a gardener, "How do you manage
to produce such marvelous flowers?" "Well, sir, we
concentrate all the strength of the plant in one bloom. If we
would allow it to bear all the flowers it could, none would be
worth showing. If you want a prize specimen, you must be
content with a single chrysanthemum instead of many." So
too, God prunes from our lives certain habits and practices,
which in themselves may not be wrong, so that He may perfect
in us the one exquisite white blossom of holiness.
And many times the mystery of our sufferings will only be known when we get to Heaven. It may be, of course, that we shall find there is no complete and final answer to the mystery of suffering. It may be we shall have to confess that to understand the mystery fully, we should require for us to look out upon life with the eyes of God Himself. In other words, we may be led to conclude that there will always, to the very end of the day, be need for an act of sheer naked faith. If that is so, we need not be ashamed. Faith requires no apology. --James S. Stewart
B. THE COMPASSION OF THE SAVIOR. This poor man could not see
Christ, but Christ saw him. He saw this man’s condition and He had
compassion on him. The Lord Jesus saw the same man as everyone
else saw but with a different perspective. Jesus saw him with the eyes
of love. People passed by this man every day. Some gave him spare
change, food, or maybe a coat on a cold night. But none of them could
give him what he really needed. NO one could ease his suffering! He
was blind and only Jesus could give him sight! Arthur W. Pink in his
Exposition of John wrote of this man: “Blind from birth, and therefore
beyond the help of man; a beggar and therefore having nothing, he fitly
portrays our condition by nature. Sought out by Christ and ministered
to without a single cry or appeal from him, we have a beautiful
illustration of the activities of sovereign grace reaching out to us in our
unregenerate state. Our Lord’s method of dealing with him, was also, in
principle, the way in which He dealt with us, when Divine mercy came
to our rescue.” All of us before we are saved by faith in Christ’s death
on the Cross are blind spiritually. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “But if
our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them.”
The Lord Jesus sees our suffering and recognizes our need! He knows
our pain and identifies with our hurts and He touches us exactly where
we need to be touched! What no one else can do, He can! And he
doesn’t look down on us with eyes of condemnation, or judgment, or
sternness, but He sees us with eyes full of love, compassion and grace!
Someone has said, “Compassion is what makes a person feel pain
when someone else hurts.” – Unknown This is true of our Lord. When
we hurt, He hurts! When we feel pain, He feels pain!
ILLUS: A saint's life is in the hands of God as a bow and arrow in the
hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint
cannot see; He stretches and strains, and every now and again
the saint says, "I cannot stand any more." But God does not
heed; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, then
He lets fly. -- Oswald Chambers in The Love of God.
Christianity Today, Vol. 33, no. 12.
If you allow someone to love you, that love will take you to painful places. -- Henri Nouwen, Leadership, Vol. 3, no. 1. The Savior sees our suffering, identifies with our suffering, and knows how to help us in our suffering. His love can cover us no matter what we face in our lives! But the question is, “What is our response to the Savior’s deliverance?” Let us turn to this blind man and see what His response to Jesus was…
(2) SUFFERING PEOPLE SHOULD WORSHIP THE SAVIOR
JOHN 9:38—“And he said, Lord, I believe. And He worshipped
him".
- THE BLESSING THE MAN RECEIVED. John 9:7b tells us, “…He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” After anointing the man’s eyes with clay, Jesus told him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam…”. Barnes in his notes wrote: “Why Jesus sent him to wash there is not known. It is clear that the waters had no efficacy themselves to open the eyes of a blind man, but it is probable that he directed him to go there to test his obedience, and to see whether he was disposed to obey him in a case where he could not see the reason of it.” (Albert Barnes’ Notes on The Bible). The man obeyed and received his sight. The man declares in v25—“one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” I would have you note some things about this blind man. First, He didn’t ask to be healed. Nor did he ask to be born blind. He didn’t ask for the interrogation he received of the religious leaders. And he didn’t ask to have his life turned upside down. He received a great blessing but he could have responded in a variety of ways. He could have become bitter: “Jesus, thanks for healing me, but why was I born blind in the first place?” Friend, have you ever became bitter because of something you have suffered in your life? Maybe your bitterness is still there. You are bitter because you have a health problem, or you have lost a spouse, or someone has caused you pain. But notice how this man responds to this great miracle of Jesus…
B. THE BLESSER THE MAN REJOICED IN. John 9:38 tells us, “and he
said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” He could have done
many things, but He worshipped Christ because of the miracle of his
restored sight. The word Worship here is translated from a Greek word
which means “to fall down and worship, to knee, bow low, or to fall at
one’s feet.” The response then of this man is to submit himself fully to
the Lord Jesus. Whatever the Lord would have told this man to do, he
would have gladfully and joyfully done. Notice this man not only
receive his physical sight but also spiritual sight. Note his words,
“Lord, I believe…”. The man had lost the world, but found Christ.
Observe that he believes with the heart, confesses with the mouth, and
shows his faith by his homage. (B. W. Johnson, The People’s New
Testament).
Listen to Max Lucado’s description of Luke 9:38: “The beggar lifts his
eyes to look into the face of the One who started all this. Is he going to
criticize Christ? Complain to Christ? You couldn’t blame him for doing
both. After all he didn’t volunteer for the disease or deliverance. But
he does neither. No, ‘he worshipped Him’ (v. 38). Don’t you know he
knelt? Don’t you think he wept? And how could he keep from
wrapping his arms around the waist of the One who gave him sight?
He worshipped Him. And when you see Him, you will too” (Max
Lucado. Next Door Savior. P. 46).
Worship is the only fitting and proper response to Christ, even when we
are in the midst of suffering. You know why? Because only worship
can bring relief to our hearts and peace to our minds. Nothing else will
nor can bring joy in sorrow. When we suffer we must cry out to God
honestly, totally, and completely. Through it all, when we see Jesus,
we will be moved to worship Him? Why? Listen to the words of
Jeremiah in Jeremiah 3:21-25—“This I recall to my mind, therefore
have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is
thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I
hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul
that seeketh him.”
Friend, Worship the Lord Jesus because of His unending love even in
the vise of suffering.
ILLUS: A young pastor friend has ... been through the trial of his life.
When I saw him recently, he asked me, "What do you do when
God doesn't say yes--doesn't give it, doesn't make it happen?"
Then he answered his own question: "Through agony I've
gotten to know God better; I love him more. ..." He showed me
a piece of paper he keeps in his wallet. It says, "Look to his
face, not to his hand." -- Anne Ortlund quoted in My Heart
Sings. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 7.
Even in our sufferings God is working in our lives for His glory and our
good. As Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.” John MacArthur commenting on Romans 8:
28 wrote: “we know beyond all doubt that every aspect of our lives is in
God’s hands and will be divinely used by the Lord not only to manifest
His own glory but also to work out our own ultimate blessing…All
things is utterly comprehensive, having no qualifications or limits.
Neither this verse nor its context allows for restrictions or conditions.
All things is inclusive in the fullest possible sense. Nothing existing or
occurring in heaven or on earth “shall be able to separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus” ( 8:39 ). Paul is not saying that
God prevents His children from experiencing things that can harm
them. He is rather attesting that the Lord takes all that He allows to
happen to His beloved children, even the worst things, and turns those
things ultimately into blessings.” (John MacArthur, Jr. The MacArthur
New Testament Commentary: Romans).
CLOSING: Friends, We have a SUFFERING SAVIOR FOR SUFFERING
PEOPLE. He sees us in our suffering and we should worship Him
through our sufferings. He never leaves and He wants to help us
through no matter what we face in life. Joyce Kilmer said:
Because the way was steep and long,
and through a strange and lonely land,
God placed upon my lips a song
And put a lantern in my hand.
-- Joyce Kilmer, quoted by W. Frank Harrington, "The
Love That Brought Him," Preaching Today, Tape No. 51.
This life is a combination of mountains and valleys. Highs and
lows. Suffering will come. How will you respond when it invades
your life?