Message for Sunday, March 19, 2023

The Second Great I Am

John 8:12; John 9:5

Live Broadcast

By: Pastor, Rev. Dr. Cullian W. Hill

Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church

Light is a characteristic of God. (I John 1:5) “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” As a matter of fact, the first thing He created was light. (Genesis 1:3-4) “And God said, let there be light: and there was light.” And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

 

At this point John continues his discussion of the Lord’s growing controversy with the Jews. In this verse, Jesus is saying to them again, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. This second Great I Am saying of Jesus was evidently given on a subsequent occasion when the people began to re-congregate in the temple courts. The rulers were not wholly blinded by their hate, and the rank and file of the people or vacillate and the glory of the temple had departed. It is against this background that the Lord Jesus proclaimed himself to be the light of the world. A glory and a light far greater than the one that shown in the first temple had come here.

 

Allow me to lift up the case of the man born blind, was also intended to reveal God’s truth (John 9:5) in a human life. “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This man’s blindness becomes the background against which Jesus was able to make another of his I am statements. “I am the light of the world.” He had made the statement once before, 8:12, but this circumstance enabled Him to repeat it. I am the light of the world.

 

The Lord now proceeded to give physical sight to this man in order to demonstrate God’s active involvement in the mysteries of life. And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from birth. (John 9:1) This case was difficult. Something about this man’s need arrested Jesus. His was a congenital disease. The man was born blind. He had never seen the light of day, the silver gleans of Galilee, or a sunset over Carmel. He had never seen a daisy, a bird, a human face. He had grown up from babyhood, through boyhood, to manhood in the impenetrable darkness of the totally blind. This case was debatable.

 

The supposition was that all such disability was the result of sin. The Lord swept both those suggestions aside. It was a deliberate case planned in heaven with a specific Divine Purpose in mind. (John 9:3b) That the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

 

No matter how contrary appearances may be from our limited perspective, we must take our stand on a threefold proposition. God is too loving to be unkind. He is too wise to make any mistakes. He is too powerful to be thwarted in the infinite purpose. On the surface of things, he seemed condemned to a life of blindness and beggary, robbed of much that adds ease and pleasure to life. His congenital disability was also intended to reveal God’s timing. (John 9:4) “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.” In other words, this man’s blindness was timed by God to coincide with the Lord’s earthly ministry. The case of the man born blind was also intended to reveal God’s truth (John 9:5) in a human life. “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 

John now describes the Cure, John 9:6-12, and its aftermath. He tells us how the man was healed. He spat on the ground, made some clay and placed it on the Blind Man’s eyes. The clay was applied. Go wash in the Pool of Siloam. He went his way and washed and came seeing. The miracle happened. He was blind no more! The man started praising God. He raised his voice and testified. The man who was blind was blind no more; the man who had begged, begged no more. He saw for the first time: his mother’s face; he saw his siblings; he saw the birds flying; O what a blessing!

 

There was a mixed reaction to the miracle. Is this him or is this someone that looks like him? A transformed life is a powerful testimony! A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes …. Then they said, Where is he? “I know not.” The discussion in Jerusalem swirling around the Blind Man’s cure soon came to the ears of the Pharisees. They can’t believe that this is he who was blind. O how they questioned him. What sayest thou of Him that He hath opened thine eyes? He is a prophet. (John 9:17)

 

So they summoned the man’s parents. Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then doth he now see? Intimidated, the Man’s parents answered with caution. Yes, he was born blind. We cannot tell you how it is he can see. We don’t know how it happened or who made it happen. He is grown, ask him. “He’s old enough and is able to answer your question.”

As I close, they attacked the man’s faith, next they attacked the man’s family (John 9:18-23), next they attacked the man’s friends (John 9:24-29). Then they again called the man that was blind, and said unto him, give God some praise. We know that this man is a sinner, give glory to God. No matter what Jesus did or said, they did not believe Him.

 

The blind man stands up for his friends in a bold testimony for Christ. Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25) O praise His holy name! he is the light of the world. Today, we need more people to join this man and stand up for Jesus. He is the light of the world. No need to walk in darkness. He has the power to clean up any life! He’s still removing darkness. Trust him today!

 

 

Pastor, Dr. Cullian W. Hill