Steve Gentry
[0:00] If you have your Bibles, open them to John 9. [0:02] John 9 this morning. [0:05] We’ll be going from verse one to verse seven this morning. [0:08] And these past two weeks,
[0:13] God has been working in me, working through me [0:17] in my times of prayer and in my time in His word. [0:24] And He’s been speaking to me. [0:27] And it’s funny, this past Wednesday, I was praying [0:29] and I said, God, I’ve got a message [0:31] and I need somewhere to preach it.
[0:33] It doesn’t fit the schedule of the church. [0:35] And I’m like looking for revivals. [0:37] I’m looking just somewhere I can show up. [0:39] And so this morning, just as I was praying this morning, [0:44] God, I just felt the Lord saying, this is the morning. [0:48] This is the morning.
[0:49] I’ve given you the word, preach it. [0:52] So I wanna start out by telling you, [0:54] one of my heroes throughout history, [0:57] if I could have dinner with one person [0:59] in the past thousand years, it would be Charles Burgin, [1:03] who I call him the Prince of Preachers,
[1:05] one of the greatest preachers of all time. [1:07] And he said one of the greatest things [1:10] that gives me comfort often. [1:14] And it is, when I cannot trace the hand of God, [1:19] I can trust His heart. [1:21] When I can’t trace His hand, I can trust His heart.
[1:25] And so this morning, I wanna walk us through [1:30] what may be a familiar passage to you. [1:32] It may not be. [1:33] It’s very familiar to me. [1:34] I’ve been in it for a long time. [1:35] And over the past two weeks, as I’ve talked to people
[1:38] who are in deep moments of suffering, [1:43] deep moments of pain, God constantly brings me back here. [1:49] He’s constantly brought me back here. [1:51] And a lot of it’s had to do with very young children, [1:55] which just hard. [1:57] Yesterday, an old friend of mine lost his child
[2:00] to a genetic disorder at eight months. [2:02] And we’ve got some babies suffering here in our own family. [2:06] And so those are hard moments. [2:08] We’ve got people suffering with sicknesses. [2:11] We’ve got people suffering with pain [2:12] and going through surgeries.
[2:14] And some of them don’t seem so severe, [2:16] but some of them seem very severe. [2:18] We’ve got sicknesses going on in the church. [2:21] And I know that in those moments, [2:24] there’s a deep temptation to despair.
[2:33] So join me in John chapter nine. [2:36] Let’s read.
[2:39] As he, Jesus, passed by, [2:43] he saw a man blind from birth. [2:46] And his disciples asked him. [2:49] And I think what his disciples ask him [2:53] is one of the most foundational questions [2:57] that we have in moments of despair.
[3:02] Here’s what the disciples say. [3:04] Rabbi, who sinned?
[3:08] This man or his parents? [3:12] That he was born blind. [3:15] That question should captivate us [3:18] because there is no C. [3:21] There’s no third option. [3:23] In the disciples’ mindset, they see this man.
[3:26] And in their culture and in their understanding of God, [3:29] they see this man and they say it’s either one or the other. [3:33] But we know that someone’s sin has caused this. [3:37] We know that it is either him, [3:39] God either knew before he was born [3:41] that he was going to commit a sin.
[3:43] So God struck him blind or his parents have sinned against God. [3:47] And because of that, God has cursed them [3:49] with a child that was blind. [3:53] There’s no other alternative in this culture. [3:56] To be sick is to be cursed of God. [3:59] To have a disability is to be cursed of God.
[4:03] If we do not have disabilities, we’re blessed. [4:06] If we do not have sicknesses, we are blessed. [4:08] If we do not have problems, if we do not have issues, [4:11] then we are blessed. [4:13] But if issues come up, if sicknesses come into our life, [4:16] if suffering and pain is part of who we are,
[4:20] then obviously our family’s full of sin. [4:24] And Jesus answered, and I’m grateful he does.
[4:30] It was not that this man sinned or his parents, [4:38] but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
[4:45] Pray with me, Father.
[4:49] We come before you.
[4:53] So grateful for Jesus. [4:57] Lord, I pray that in our moments together, [4:59] in our time together, that you’d give me words,
[5:04] that you would open our hearts, open our minds, [5:06] Spirit, fill this place, that we would see your truth [5:09] and that we would be so captivated by your glory, Jesus, [5:15] that we would trust you with our lives. [5:17] It’s in the name of Jesus, I pray, amen. [5:21] Life is very, very hard.
[5:26] If anyone ever tells you that it is not, [5:29] they haven’t lived, or they’re in deep denial. [5:34] I want you to understand that there are very many things [5:37] true about life. [5:38] There’s more certainties than death and taxes. [5:43] There are more certainties to our lives
[5:45] than we will wake up tomorrow or that we have air to breathe. [5:49] And one certainty I believe scripture teaches us [5:52] is that life is hard. [5:54] The New Testament tells us in Romans chapter eight [5:56] that the earth itself groans in anticipation [6:00] of what God is going to do, but it’s groaning
[6:02] because of its enduring curse of sin [6:05] right now in our present world. [6:08] And there are moments when pain enters into our lives, [6:12] either briefly, or there are moments [6:14] where we are in long periods of pain, [6:16] and there are some lives that know nothing but pain.
[6:20] And in those moments, there is so much temptation [6:24] to despair that we think we can’t endure it. [6:28] I do not believe that physical pain [6:30] is the worst part of suffering. [6:33] I believe mental anguish and spiritual anguish [6:35] are the worst parts of suffering.
[6:37] I believe the despair that you will eternally [6:41] endure that suffering is the worst part of pain. [6:47] And I believe each and every one of us to some level, [6:50] some deeper, some a little more shallow, [6:53] I believe we are all acquainted with despair in our lives. [6:58] I believe each of us have endured it
[7:01] from one set of circumstances to another, [7:04] but the question that Jesus wants us to deal with [7:08] in this text, I believe specifically, [7:11] is what is the purpose of our pain? [7:14] What is the purpose of those moments of despair? [7:17] Is there hope in our despair?
[7:19] And what Jesus has to say is that it is not for sin [7:23] that we suffer, but rather it is redeemed glory of God [7:27] through Jesus Christ that all of us endure suffering. [7:32] And you say, but that seems a bit contradictory [7:34] because we know that suffering is in this world [7:36] because of sin specifically, and if it wasn’t for sin,
[7:40] then we would not suffer. [7:42] And I would say, you’re exactly right. [7:45] Jesus is not saying that his blindness [7:48] isn’t the cause of sin. [7:50] All problems are the cause of sin. [7:51] What he’s saying is it’s not his sin.
[7:54] Ultimately, the root of all of our pain [7:56] and suffering is original sin. [7:58] It’s the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, [8:00] that at the moment that they disobeyed God, [8:02] at the moment that they had pride, [8:04] the moment that they rebelled,
[8:05] and the moment they broke his law, [8:07] God looked to them and said, [8:09] now you are broken off from me, you will die. [8:14] Because they had chosen to disconnect themselves [8:16] from the source of life, and that is God. [8:19] And from that moment on, Romans 5 tells us
[8:22] that we have endured as a people an original sin [8:26] that comes to us from birth, [8:27] that we are acquainted with from birth, [8:29] that we do not simply go into sin [8:32] and then become sinners, [8:33] but rather we sin because we are sinners.
[8:37] And we experience pain in this life because sin exists.
[8:45] So the correct thought for the disciples should have been, [8:48] he’s blind because of our sin, [8:51] because of all of our sin collectively.
[8:54] Number one this morning, [8:55] I’ve got four things I wanna tell you this morning. [8:57] Number one is that despair comes [8:59] from feeling the curse of sin.
[9:04] That’s why I believe it’s a universal feeling [9:06] because we’ve all experienced the curse. [9:08] We’ve all experienced moments of pain, [9:10] broken limbs, illnesses that last a little while. [9:14] We’ve experienced the loss of loved ones, [9:16] the loss of great friends who passed on in death,
[9:19] and we feel a deep suffering so much so [9:22] that God says it’s part of life where sin is concerning. [9:25] In Ecclesiastes he goes as far as to say, [9:28] it is great to be in the house of mourning [9:29] because that is real and sin affects us all.
[9:36] Sin has caused it, but it is not always personal sin. [9:41] Are there sins that have deep ramifications [9:43] for the rest of your life? [9:44] Absolutely, but not always. [9:49] And I would say the majority of the time, it’s not.
[9:54] Pain is real and should not be denied.
[10:00] There was a philosophy that happened [10:02] and it’s been happening probably since the beginning [10:03] of the world, but this denial of pain [10:06] that if we pretend it’s not real [10:07] or if we just deny any physical pleasure or physical pain, [10:11] we get ourselves up to another level,
[10:13] then we have reached what many would refer to, [10:16] maybe in Buddhism it’s nirvana or maybe in others, [10:20] it would just be a disconnection [10:22] or a deeper knowledge in Gnosticism [10:25] where we believe that through our disconnection, [10:28] through our numbness, through our denial
[10:30] that we have reached a spiritual plight, [10:32] but I do not believe that that is the call of scripture, [10:35] but rather the call of scripture is to embrace reality [10:38] through Jesus Christ, that your pain is real. [10:42] Do not deny it, but understand it [10:47] and understand its purposes.
[10:49] Pain must turn us then to the only worker of life. [10:56] Verse three, when Jesus answers, he says, [10:58] that the reason this man was blind [11:00] is so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [11:06] In other words, God allows this blindness, [11:10] God is working in this blindness to bring himself glory
[11:14] so that he can work through it [11:17] and we see through there, number two this morning, [11:19] that God is sovereign over sin and pain.
[11:24] And verse three, I believe Jesus’ turn is very important. [11:28] Jesus says, it was not that this man sinned [11:34] or his parents, but that, or in other verses [11:38] or other translations it may say so that. [11:41] These terms are a turn in our understanding [11:44] and Jesus is saying, what you think is faulty,
[11:48] but the suffering exists so that, [11:51] and what he’s saying is, is that God was not surprised [11:55] by this blindness, but rather God was working [11:57] in this blindness.
[12:00] So before he was born, God not only knew he would be blind, [12:04] but God had already worked the course of his life [12:06] so that he himself would receive glory through that blindness.
[12:11] And he says, understand that God was not absentee [12:14] when the suffering started, rather God was there with him. [12:20] God was working through his life
[12:24] for a very important purpose.
[12:30] I believe that no matter where you are in your life, [12:33] that God has already worked our pain to his glory.
[12:39] God knows what you’re going through [12:41] and he means to strengthen you through trust in him. [12:47] Think about this, I would say the greatest sin [12:51] of all time is the cross.
[12:55] The death or rather murder of the sinless son of God, [13:01] the greatest act of treason creation has ever seen [13:04] as the creation murders the creator.
[13:09] It’s the greatest sin of all time, [13:12] yet in the book of Acts it says that God ordained it.
[13:18] God meant to work through the suffering of his son [13:22] to bring himself ultimate glory so much so that as Jesus [13:26] the son knew that suffering was coming, [13:28] he looks in the garden and he says, [13:30] not my will, but thine be done.
[13:35] God will always do exactly what needs to be done [13:39] and that is why our trust must be ruthless. [13:44] For many years this man plagued with blindness, [13:47] despair, crying out from the street corners [13:49] that he would be healed, crying out that anyone [13:52] would give him money or food, crying out an absolute despair
[13:56] with no redemption in sight, this man cries out in pain [14:01] and in this moment, God is working through his life [14:02] and in this moment when the disciples look [14:04] at this despicable beggar, Jesus sees glory.
[14:09] Jesus sees the red hot glory and worship of God the Father [14:13] on display and what he knows he will do. [14:16] Oftentimes we’re in suffering, we don’t know [14:18] how it’s going to turn out. [14:20] This man did not know how it was going to turn out [14:23] but friends in faith because of the cross
[14:25] we must understand that it was because of the glory of God [14:29] and so is everything that we go through.
[14:33] That takes a ruthless trust
[14:40] because we are so much like Job [14:45] where we just simply look and say why, why, why?
[14:55] I do not believe it’s wrong to ask why
[15:01] so long as we know that God has the answer. [15:06] He may not even in your lifetime reveal it to you
[15:12] but I truly believe that his answers [15:15] are ultimately found in Jesus. [15:18] Look in verse four, we must work the works of him [15:25] who sent me while it is day, night is coming [15:28] when no one can work. [15:29] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
[15:33] Having said these things, he spat on the ground [15:36] and made mud with the saliva. [15:39] Then he anointed the man’s eyes with mud [15:43] and said to him, go wash in the pool of Siloam [15:47] which means scent. [15:49] So he went and washed and came back seeing.
[15:56] Thirdly, this morning I want you to understand [15:58] that God is working his glory through sin and pain. [16:02] Do you think that in this man’s childhood, [16:05] he ever for a moment thought that he would come [16:07] into contact with the creator of the universe [16:10] in physical form and that the healing that he sought
[16:15] came from spit and mud from the hand of the creator? [16:20] No, he did not.
[16:23] But that’s where his deliverance came from.
[16:28] In a moment of despair, he looks to this man [16:31] who’s been the rabbi, the one that’s been teaching [16:34] this theology that’s been with authority, [16:36] this doctrine that seems so strange in their culture [16:38] and people say he heals, he makes the blind to see, [16:42] the lame to walk and as he passes by,
[16:45] he doesn’t even know it. [16:47] Note that he doesn’t ask Jesus to heal him.
[16:51] Note that the disciples ask about curses. [16:56] And Jesus comes in and in this way [16:58] and that’s why I love Jesus. [16:59] I love the seemingly humorous ways that he does things. [17:03] They’re asking about curses and he brings reverses. [17:07] I just made that up.
[17:15] That Jesus, every time we see him healing in scripture, [17:17] every time we see him do a miracle in scripture, [17:19] it is a miracle that reverses the curse of sin.
[17:26] We weren’t meant to be blind, we were meant to see. [17:30] I said Jesus brings sight, [17:31] we weren’t meant to be deaf, we were meant to hear. [17:33] I said Jesus brings hearing, we weren’t meant to die. [17:36] So Jesus brings life.
[17:39] And he looks to them and he says, there is coming a night [17:41] but so long as I am here, I will shine light [17:45] through the darkness.
[17:49] I don’t believe Jesus was forecasting a prophecy [17:51] of the future when he says that he’s going to leave. [17:53] I think Jesus was giving us a revelation of what’s real [17:56] and that is that this world is a dark place, [17:58] this world is a painful place [17:59] and it does seem very dark all around us
[18:02] and that is legit, that it is a dark place. [18:05] And Jesus is saying, what I have come to do [18:07] is I have come to shine myself through that darkness [18:10] and so long as my presence is in this world, [18:13] you will not have to be blind any longer. [18:18] And in demonstrating what it looks like
[18:21] to go from blindness to seeing, [18:23] he’s also in an allegorical way demonstrating to us [18:27] the sight that we have in him [18:31] and that when we trust him, [18:32] we see through the darkness of sin to the glory of God [18:38] and that our answers do not go un-given.
[18:43] But rather Jesus comes and he says, [18:45] it’s all for my glory, just trust that. [18:49] You will walk, you will see, [18:51] you will not so much have despair without answers. [18:54] He’s not saying there will never be moments of distrust. [18:57] It’s like the man in Luke that cries out to him,
[18:59] he says, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. [19:03] You say at first, I don’t know what that means, [19:05] but if you’ve had faith for a while, you get it. [19:08] There are moments when I believe in God [19:11] and I say, God, I don’t see. [19:14] Help me believe.
[19:17] Belief itself is a gift from God that he’s going to work [19:21] and the reality is that Jesus is still in this world. [19:27] After the cross, Jesus rose from the dead [19:30] and he goes and he stands on top of the mountain [19:33] and he’s about to ascend and he looks to his disciples [19:35] and he says, I will be with you always,
[19:40] to the end of the age. [19:41] I’ll never leave you, I’ll never forsake you. [19:44] So the light is still in this world through what? [19:48] Through faith.
[19:51] Through faith, through a ruthless trust [19:54] that our God is not a God of random chance, [19:58] but rather he is a God of absolute control. [20:01] That he is a God who can see a man born blind [20:05] and say I’ve always had a plan for him. [20:09] So intricate that the pool that he would go to Washington
[20:13] would be a pool that is called sent.
[20:18] Have we not been sent on a mission from God? [20:21] Was this man from this day forward not to be sent [20:24] on a mission from God to spread the good news [20:28] of a man who gave him sight? [20:31] I believe this morning that God wants to give [20:33] each and every one of us sight,
[20:34] maybe not in physical blindness, [20:36] but often through emotional and spiritual blindness [20:39] we desperately need sight.
[20:42] There are moments and sometimes there are very long moments [20:45] where we do not think that we can see anything but pain. [20:48] We do not think we can see an answer [20:49] to why we’re suffering. [20:50] We do not think we can see an answer to why we’re alone. [20:53] We do not think we can see an answer
[20:54] to why people are treating us a certain way. [20:56] We do not think we can see an answer [20:58] for what our children are going through [20:59] or our parents are going through [21:00] or our friends are going through. [21:02] But God says it’s for my glory
[21:04] and though you cannot see fully, I can. [21:09] He says I’ll redeem it. [21:11] So much so that I’m not just bringing it back [21:13] to a place where the sight is there. [21:15] I’m bringing it to a place where it will work [21:17] the very glory of God the Father forever.
[21:23] So whatever suffering sin has brought you into [21:27] in this world, understand that through Jesus Christ, [21:31] through trusting in the Son of God [21:32] that makes the blind to see, [21:34] you can have one certainty and that is that every moment, [21:38] every happiness, every sadness, every pain,
[21:42] every pleasure that you ever feel [21:45] will be redeemed for his glory. [21:49] And you do not have to wonder any longer.
[21:53] You do not have to say, was it my sin?
[21:58] This is my fault.
[22:01] You can look and say with certainty, [22:05] it’s for his glory and it’s for joy. [22:12] In Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 through 16, [22:14] the scriptures tell us since then, [22:17] we have a great high priest who’s passed through the heavens, [22:20] Jesus, the Son of God.
[22:22] Let us hold fast our confession for we do not have [22:25] a high priest who’s unable to sympathize with our weaknesses [22:29] but one who in every respect has been tempted [22:33] as we are yet without sin. [22:36] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace [22:41] that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
[22:45] in the time of need. [22:49] Not only do we have a great King who can come [22:52] and make the blind to see, but we have a King [22:54] who understands our suffering. [22:58] We have a King that sees us in our weakness [23:00] and does not just simply say, man up.
[23:05] Who does not simply say, why aren’t you stronger? [23:09] Who doesn’t simply say what’s very tempting for us [23:12] on a day in day out basis. [23:14] Why are you such a weakling?
[23:18] Our God does not condemn us. [23:21] Our God does not look to us and accuse us. [23:25] Our God suffers alongside us. [23:30] Our God knows what it is to have weakness. [23:32] Our God knows what it is to be troubled. [23:35] Our God knows what it is to be human
[23:38] because he was in Jesus Christ.
[23:44] Finally this morning understand that God means [23:47] to redeem suffering for his glory and our joy.
[23:53] You see God’s glory is not something [23:55] that’s disconnected from us. [23:57] God’s glory gives a little comfort I think, [24:00] but only so much so as we’re connected to it [24:02] because if he gets the glory and all we ever get is pain, [24:05] what’s good about that?
[24:08] But rather God’s glory is connected to us [24:10] in that it will give us great joy. [24:13] Understand that if this man had never suffered blindness [24:19] and he was physically able 100% through his entire life [24:25] and did not ever come to a confrontation [24:29] with the King of Kings in his life
[24:31] so that he would be redeemed, [24:33] that would be the tragedy. [24:36] Not that he was blind, [24:38] but that he would be condemned without God.
[24:42] See the ultimate glory in this involves his blindness [24:46] that God chose him before the foundations of the world [24:49] to experience such a life [24:51] that he would see the redemption both spiritually [24:55] and physically from his suffering to the glory of God [24:58] and in that he has eternal joy.
[25:06] In verse seven, he says, go wash.
[25:11] And I believe by the name of the pool, he says, be sent.
[25:17] In his healing, God sends him to this world
[25:22] to confound humanity in a suffering state.
[25:27] You say, but it is strength that shows glory.
[25:31] I do believe it’s the strength of God that shows glory, [25:33] but you cannot glory in the strength of God [25:36] until you know how weak you are. [25:39] Second Corinthians chapter 12, verse nine [25:40] finds the apostle Paul in a moment [25:44] where he is looking to God,
[25:47] God says to him, my grace is sufficient for you [25:51] for my power is made perfect in weakness. [25:55] Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses [25:58] so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [26:03] You see what he does there, he turns his pain and says, [26:06] it is for joy that I am weak.
[26:09] Because in my weakness, I see the power [26:12] and the strength of God.
[26:16] If a painless life means you do not know the power of God, [26:20] then you will not have joy. [26:22] You may have a lack of pain,
[26:26] but you will be above all people to be pitied [26:30] because you will never know joy. [26:32] Because joy is only found in understanding who he is [26:35] in light of who I am and then trusting in him forever. [26:40] That is true joy.
[26:45] Lazarus had to die [26:49] and his loved ones despaired [26:52] and God raised him from the dead. [26:55] Jesus had to die for the glory of God [26:59] and the faithful around him, [27:01] despaired and God raised him up from the dead.
[27:05] Paul had to suffer, [27:08] read his letters to the church at Corinth [27:11] where he talks of his suffering. [27:14] But in 2 Corinthians 12, 9, he says, [27:17] in my weakness, that’s where I find strength.
[27:23] Jesus will redeem your pain. [27:27] In John 11, verses 25 and 26, Jesus says to the woman, [27:34] he says, I am the resurrection in the life, whoever believes in me, [27:37] though he die, yet shall he live. [27:41] And everyone who lives and believes in me, [27:44] shall never die.
[27:48] Do you believe this?
[27:53] There is something worse than death.
[27:58] That is not knowing the redemption that God has for us in Jesus. [28:02] Because Jesus looks and says, though you die, you will live, [28:06] because if you have me, you’ll never die. [28:08] Because our death just doesn’t seem to stick.
[28:14] Because Jesus says, if you die, I’ll just raise you up.
[28:21] Apostle Paul looks in his suffering and he says, [28:24] to live is Christ and to die is gain. [28:26] What a ridiculous thing to say, unless you know you can’t die.
[28:32] It’s one thing to die, it’s another thing to experience resurrection. [28:34] I’m kind of willing to die if I’ll go through that.
[28:39] You see, friends, our suffering is temporary. [28:41] Our pain is not eternal. [28:45] And because this man was blind, he saw God’s glory [28:48] and was sent to proclaim it. [28:51] Your pain is part of your mission.
[28:57] To proclaim the excellencies of God through Christ.
[29:04] Pray with me, Father.
[29:10] The difficulties of life because of our sin, often we struggle in faith.
[29:17] I pray this morning that you would take your word [29:20] and you would so saturate our lives that in moments of despair [29:24] that we would turn to it, we would turn to what you’ve delivered to us [29:28] through your son, Jesus, and we would have faith. [29:31] We would have the faith to live for you, we would have the faith to proclaim you. [29:35] And in our moments of despair, we would have faith to be able to live
[29:36] and in moments of despair, we would return to you [29:39] because you’re our strength. [29:42] Lord, bless us in Jesus. Amen.
[29:48] Over the next few moments, we’re going to reflect on the cross of Jesus Christ, [29:52] the greatest suffering this world has ever known, [29:54] and our God lowered himself into it so that he would know what suffering is [29:58] and he could redeem us from it.
[30:03] There’s six stations throughout this room, [30:04] and in the plate there’s the bread, which represents the body of Jesus Christ. [30:09] And the scripture tells us that his body was physically broken for us. [30:15] More than that, the cup represents his shed blood, [30:18] and the scripture tells us that he shed his blood, [30:21] the very source of physical life left his body so that we could reflect,
[30:29] we could believe, we could take it in, and it would give us life. [30:33] That’s what this represents. [30:36] It represents Jesus giving his life to us, [30:39] and it represents Jesus making us alive in him.
[30:45] Whatever you’re going through this morning, [30:46] whatever suffering has gotten you in moments of despair, [30:50] or whatever suffering has caused in your life, [30:52] I want you to understand that you have a Savior that loves you. [30:56] You have a Savior that knows, [30:58] and you have a Savior that promises to bring himself glory through it.
[31:02] Bring your suffering this morning, [31:06] and proclaim the gospel through the elements. [31:09] If you don’t know him, [31:11] he’s the only source of redemption. [31:15] Believe in him today. [31:18] When you’re ready, come.