We’ve been in a series called “One Thing.” John 9:25 says, “He answered and said, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.’” Notice the phrase, “one thing I know.” Let’s look at three questions surrounding this phrase:
What Do You Know?
There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Knowledge is progressive. Just like your knowledge of your spouse, family, and friends grows over time, so does our knowledge of God. One day it will be complete and we will know as we are known. Our faith will be made sight! At the beginning of John 9, we read of a blind man. Jesus’ disciples asked him if the man sinned or if it was his parents’ sin that caused his blindness. The disciples wanted to talk about cause, but Jesus turned the conversation to purpose, responding, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (v. 3). We all can have a tendency to ask why, but it is good to be reminded that the answer lies not in past causes but in future purposes for the glory of God. We can’t always know the past cause, but we can know the future purpose. Jesus saw the blind beggar. His disciples were insensitive and started a theological debate. We must see people not as democrats or republicans, red, yellow, black, or white, but as they really are – made in the image of God. Jesus saw the hurting and responded with mercy, kindness, and love. People don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.
What Do Others Know?
There are several different groups mentioned in this story: disciples (v.2), neighbors (v. 8), Pharisees (v. 13), and the man’s parents (v. 18). This man was kicked out of the synagogue because of his testimony. Luther was kicked out of the Catholic church, Wesley and Whitefield out of the Anglican church, and Spurgeon out of the Baptist Union. There will be always be skeptics and critics. When the man was asked where Jesus was, he replied, “I don’t know” (v. 12). We don’t have to have all the answers. It’s OK to say we don’t know. Results speak for themselves. We all know neighbors, family, friends, even religious people who don’t know Jesus. Let’s get out of our houses (safely!) and gather together. We need each other and there are people who need Jesus. Take initiative. Don’t just wait for someone else to invite.
What Does Jesus Know?
God uses ordinary things to do extraordinary things. In this story, He used dirt and His spit. He often used common, everyday things to work miracles! Bread, fish, dirt, water. How did the blind man find the pool? Someone helped him! We can use common, everyday things to point people to Jesus. This weekend, I encourage you to do a cookout, a Liberty House Party, with another family. Get together, watch the service online, and then eat. The man didn’t know everything about Jesus, but he knew that he was blind, and that Jesus helped him see. We all have a testimony to share.
If someone asks you if you are married, you know. If they ask if you have graduated, you know. Why are we so sure about earthly things but so uncertain about heavenly things? John says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:13). You can know for sure today that if you die, heaven will be your home. All you have to do is believe.
Look how this story ends: “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ He answered and said, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.’ Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him” (v. 35-38). When the world threw this man out, Jesus took him in. Do you believe? Are you sharing your belief?
