First Sunday in Lent
SCRIPTURE John 9:1-41
FROM TODAY’S MESSAGE… Believing is Seeing
John 9:1-41
I. “Believing Is Seeing” Now… isn’t it supposed to work the other way around? Don’t they say, “Seeing is believing?”
Isn’t that how it normally works?
II. The Pharisees have the hard evidence right in front of them, they have the proof in plain sight… the simple blind man even makes their theology point for them in verse 30:
III. The point that John wants to drive home is this… the proof is out there. We know the story of Jesus… we know what awaits us at Easter. It is not a simple case of “Seeing is believing.” It’s a case of… believing is seeing.
A. If you see the weight of all this evidence, and choose not to believe, then Jesus is just a wise man. Jesus is perhaps just a prophet. Jesus becomes just a great example to follow… just one more alternative to many wonderful choices of religions.
B. Perhaps, even a myth… a story made up to keep us in check.
C. . Not believing… leads to blindness
IV. But if you do believe… then you see him as the blind man in today’s text sees him… as the light of the world, bringing sight to those who were blind.
V. We come face to face with an empty tomb… it will be upon you to answer the question why? Why is the tomb empty? Do you believe? If you do… you will see why the tomb is empty.
Because believing is seeing!