1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,533 Um, We started that 2 00:00:03,533 --> 00:00:06,766 tradition, our men's meeting, we had 34 men Friday night and 3 00:00:06,766 --> 00:00:09,900 uh, I decided to carry 4 00:00:09,900 --> 00:00:13,633 on that tradition of reading a psalm and then singing that psalm. 5 00:00:13,733 --> 00:00:17,033 And uh, it, it fit very 6 00:00:17,033 --> 00:00:20,399 well with what the speaker had to say. 7 00:00:20,433 --> 00:00:23,433 So as long as the meeting is here, we're 8 00:00:23,433 --> 00:00:24,466 gonna, we're gonna continue. 9 00:00:24,466 --> 00:00:26,133 To do that. 10 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:29,199 Have your Bibles, turn with me to John chapter 9. 11 00:00:29,333 --> 00:00:31,733 And verse 13. 12 00:00:31,899 --> 00:00:35,033 If 13 00:00:35,033 --> 00:00:38,500 you can remember last time we were in John, we covered the 1st 12 verses 14 00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:41,633 of the ninth chapter, and it was the 15 00:00:41,633 --> 00:00:44,933 account of Jesus healing, the 16 00:00:44,933 --> 00:00:46,733 man born blind. 17 00:00:46,799 --> 00:00:49,899 And I want to start out before we get going with something 18 00:00:49,899 --> 00:00:51,233 Stacy brought to me. 19 00:00:51,299 --> 00:00:54,600 And Stacy, you could correct me at any point if I get some of this wrong. 20 00:00:54,633 --> 00:00:57,766 Remember, we talked about 21 00:00:57,766 --> 00:01:00,899 the question of why did Jesus use 22 00:01:00,899 --> 00:01:04,500 the spittle and the clay to 23 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:06,733 heal the man born blind's eyes. 24 00:01:06,766 --> 00:01:09,833 And there were a number of 25 00:01:09,833 --> 00:01:10,866 theories I gave you. 26 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:14,266 Some of them were kind of silly, if you remember, but MacArthur's 27 00:01:14,266 --> 00:01:17,566 contention was the scripture doesn't tell us, so we just don't know. 28 00:01:17,633 --> 00:01:20,700 Well, Stacy came upon a guy who 29 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:22,633 has the best theory that I've ever heard. 30 00:01:22,666 --> 00:01:26,733 And it just sounds just like Jesus. 31 00:01:26,799 --> 00:01:29,433 And let me give you a little ramp up to it. 32 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:32,366 For example, in his talk that he was giving. 33 00:01:32,433 --> 00:01:35,566 He said, he talked about the added loss that 34 00:01:35,566 --> 00:01:38,566 the Pharisees had added to God's word that they all 35 00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:40,066 had to follow by. 36 00:01:40,133 --> 00:01:43,366 And one of the laws, for example, was that 37 00:01:43,366 --> 00:01:46,366 when Messiah came, Messiah 38 00:01:46,366 --> 00:01:49,433 would be able to heal Jews 39 00:01:49,433 --> 00:01:51,900 who had leprosy, correct, Stacy? 40 00:01:51,933 --> 00:01:55,466 And so Jesus very specifically, 41 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:59,266 when he went on and healed 10 lepers at 42 00:01:59,266 --> 00:02:01,799 once, knowing that, what did he do? 43 00:02:01,833 --> 00:02:05,000 He sent those 10 lepers straight to the chief 44 00:02:05,033 --> 00:02:07,200 priest to let them know. 45 00:02:07,233 --> 00:02:09,400 Hey, I'm Messiah. 46 00:02:09,466 --> 00:02:13,500 Same thing with the demoniac in their in their rules. 47 00:02:13,533 --> 00:02:16,699 They said that the Messiah would be able to cast a 48 00:02:16,733 --> 00:02:20,566 demon out of a man who couldn't speak, who was dumb. 49 00:02:20,633 --> 00:02:24,833 And Jesus did that, right, to prove he was Messiah. 50 00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:26,400 Well, guess what? 51 00:02:26,433 --> 00:02:29,500 In there, over 600 and something 52 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:31,433 laws and they even added more to that. 53 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:35,099 Uh, there is a law in there. 54 00:02:35,199 --> 00:02:38,500 Now, if I'm remembering this correctly, Stacy, 55 00:02:38,500 --> 00:02:41,800 that if you were going to try to heal 56 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,933 someone, you couldn't put spittle, 57 00:02:44,933 --> 00:02:48,599 your own spittle as a source of healing. 58 00:02:48,633 --> 00:02:52,099 So Jesus said, watch this. 59 00:02:52,199 --> 00:02:55,433 And he spit on the ground on purpose. 60 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:58,900 I love that theory more than any theory 61 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:01,433 I've ever, is that not just like Jesus? 62 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:03,466 That's just like Jesus right there. 63 00:03:03,533 --> 00:03:06,599 So, I'm liking that guy she listened to right there. 64 00:03:06,633 --> 00:03:10,533 All right, let's get on with it because what 65 00:03:10,533 --> 00:03:12,866 the rest of this chapter here in chapter 9. 66 00:03:12,933 --> 00:03:16,699 Remember, the whole 9th chapter takes up this issue with the man born blind. 67 00:03:16,833 --> 00:03:19,966 What the rest of this chapter is going to 68 00:03:19,966 --> 00:03:23,099 deal with, uh, here is what happens 69 00:03:23,099 --> 00:03:26,566 after the healing takes place. 70 00:03:26,633 --> 00:03:29,266 Remember, we looked at the actual account last week. 71 00:03:29,333 --> 00:03:31,000 Now, you know this. 72 00:03:31,066 --> 00:03:34,500 That God himself calls all 73 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:38,266 people to believe, to 74 00:03:38,266 --> 00:03:42,166 repent and believe the gospel is not a suggestion, right? 75 00:03:42,233 --> 00:03:45,599 It's a command, to believe in his son or 76 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:50,333 perish, but as we know, look around in your family. 77 00:03:50,433 --> 00:03:53,266 Look around in your workplace, look around in your day to day. 78 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,633 The majority of people do 79 00:03:56,633 --> 00:03:58,500 not repent and believe. 80 00:03:58,533 --> 00:04:01,666 And the vast majority of people 81 00:04:01,666 --> 00:04:04,900 did not, when 82 00:04:04,900 --> 00:04:08,133 God's son was here, on this earth, 83 00:04:08,133 --> 00:04:10,300 walking in their midst. 84 00:04:10,366 --> 00:04:14,199 So as I've said before, many times. 85 00:04:14,333 --> 00:04:17,566 John's gospel is 86 00:04:17,566 --> 00:04:20,566 designed to bring men 87 00:04:20,566 --> 00:04:23,800 and women to belief in his son. 88 00:04:23,933 --> 00:04:27,100 But it is at the 89 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:30,166 same time for us, and the church for all history. 90 00:04:30,233 --> 00:04:33,300 literally a chronicle of 91 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:35,466 unbelief at the same time. 92 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:38,933 And so far, we've seen unbelief 93 00:04:38,933 --> 00:04:42,000 in a number of forms like, remember, the 94 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,533 confused, uh, unbelief of Nicodemus 95 00:04:45,533 --> 00:04:49,533 at first, in chapter 3, and remember, 96 00:04:49,533 --> 00:04:52,600 the fickle crowd, that was only 97 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,066 looking for a meal after he fed them the next day after. 98 00:04:56,133 --> 00:04:59,133 I mean, even the unbelief at 1st of 99 00:04:59,133 --> 00:05:02,133 the brothers of Jesus that we've looked at. 100 00:05:02,266 --> 00:05:05,100 But but what stands out? 101 00:05:05,199 --> 00:05:08,366 As we've been studying this great gospel amongst 102 00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:13,500 the different forms of unbelief is the willful, hard-hearted, 103 00:05:13,500 --> 00:05:17,133 truth, rejecting, unbelief of 104 00:05:17,133 --> 00:05:20,433 the scribes, the Pharisees, 105 00:05:20,433 --> 00:05:23,966 the rulers, 106 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:25,566 the rulers now. 107 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,733 Of the religious nation of Israel, 108 00:05:28,733 --> 00:05:30,833 and in studying this gospel of John. 109 00:05:30,899 --> 00:05:34,500 We really can put 110 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:38,233 together a theology of unbelief. 111 00:05:38,333 --> 00:05:41,500 And in this ninth chapter in particular, we are going 112 00:05:41,500 --> 00:05:44,500 to get some serious insight into 113 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:47,633 the character of willful, 114 00:05:47,633 --> 00:05:51,833 obstinate, stubborn unbelief. 115 00:05:51,899 --> 00:05:55,500 Now, we've gone through what happened in the 1st 12 verses. 116 00:05:55,533 --> 00:05:56,566 Let me summarize it. 117 00:05:56,633 --> 00:06:00,666 Jesus meets this man born blind at the temple gates. 118 00:06:00,699 --> 00:06:03,766 He puts the spit and dirt together. 119 00:06:03,833 --> 00:06:07,800 Now we know maybe why we, I hope that's what it is when we get to heaven. 120 00:06:07,899 --> 00:06:11,066 And he puts mud on 121 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:14,100 the man's eyes and he says, hey, go 122 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:16,733 wash in the pool of Siloam, he does it. 123 00:06:16,833 --> 00:06:20,066 And wonder of wonders, he comes back, singing. 124 00:06:20,399 --> 00:06:23,800 It's an incredible... 125 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,566 Remember when I told you what it is, what kind of miracle it is? 126 00:06:26,633 --> 00:06:28,300 It's a creative miracle. 127 00:06:28,366 --> 00:06:32,100 This man has new eyes. 128 00:06:32,133 --> 00:06:35,133 And as we come to verse 13. 129 00:06:35,399 --> 00:06:38,933 The Pharisees enter into the picture once again. 130 00:06:38,933 --> 00:06:43,899 And they are going to Investigate 131 00:06:43,899 --> 00:06:45,399 this miracle. 132 00:06:45,466 --> 00:06:48,533 And you know, it's important for us. 133 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,833 to study and dig into 134 00:06:51,833 --> 00:06:55,433 this kind of chronicle of unbelief, 135 00:06:55,433 --> 00:06:58,833 because as you're well aware, As we, 136 00:06:58,833 --> 00:07:01,966 as Christian people now in 2026, try to be faithful 137 00:07:01,966 --> 00:07:05,133 to our responsibility to present the gospel to 138 00:07:05,133 --> 00:07:08,433 people, most of the time, and 139 00:07:08,433 --> 00:07:10,233 you, you think about this. 140 00:07:10,300 --> 00:07:13,600 Most of the time, we are 141 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,533 going to be confronted with unbelief. 142 00:07:16,666 --> 00:07:18,899 When we present the gospel. 143 00:07:18,933 --> 00:07:22,100 Most of the time that most 144 00:07:22,133 --> 00:07:26,333 of the people that we give the gospel too are 145 00:07:26,333 --> 00:07:29,699 going to reject it, whether they're just complete unbelievers, 146 00:07:29,699 --> 00:07:32,800 whether they're in a false system of faith, they're going to reject 147 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:33,866 God's gospel. 148 00:07:33,933 --> 00:07:37,899 And today we're actually going to cover, you're not going to believe this. 149 00:07:37,966 --> 00:07:41,033 We are actually going to cover from versus 13 to 34. 150 00:07:41,133 --> 00:07:42,866 That's a pretty good clip for me. 151 00:07:42,933 --> 00:07:47,066 But we can do that when it's narrative. 152 00:07:47,133 --> 00:07:50,566 Because this doesn't require a lot of explanation. 153 00:07:50,633 --> 00:07:52,566 The verses are very straightforward. 154 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,833 My favorite type of preaching is narrative preaching, by the way, if you didn't know that. 155 00:07:55,899 --> 00:07:58,899 And while we do, we're going to pull out of this 156 00:07:58,899 --> 00:08:02,333 text, the characteristics of unbelief, and 157 00:08:02,333 --> 00:08:05,566 what it's really going to do is prepare us for things that 158 00:08:05,566 --> 00:08:08,633 you and I can face whenever we 159 00:08:08,633 --> 00:08:09,699 present the gospel. 160 00:08:09,766 --> 00:08:12,000 So I want you to think about it in that way. 161 00:08:12,033 --> 00:08:15,166 Also, we're going to see this 162 00:08:15,166 --> 00:08:18,633 great divide between Christianity and 163 00:08:18,633 --> 00:08:20,433 Judaism that exist. 164 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:24,033 Between the church, and the synagogue. 165 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:26,733 This is where that starts to come out. 166 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,100 The Jews affirmed Moses, 167 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:33,466 the believers affirm Christ, and that division 168 00:08:33,466 --> 00:08:35,033 has existed. 169 00:08:35,133 --> 00:08:38,966 Ever since then and right up to this very day. 170 00:08:39,033 --> 00:08:40,233 It's even in our news right now. 171 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:43,299 But the main lesson that we have here 172 00:08:43,299 --> 00:08:45,700 is about unbelief. 173 00:08:45,766 --> 00:08:50,133 We're going to see how unbelief makes 174 00:08:50,133 --> 00:08:54,100 conclusions before it makes examinations. 175 00:08:54,166 --> 00:08:58,133 It's predisposed to its own viewpoint. 176 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,766 We're going to see how unbelief establishes false standards. 177 00:09:02,799 --> 00:09:05,933 We're going to see how unbelief 178 00:09:05,933 --> 00:09:09,666 always demands more and more evidence. 179 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:12,866 There is an 180 00:09:12,899 --> 00:09:15,600 irrationality in unbelief. 181 00:09:15,633 --> 00:09:19,533 Unbelief does biased research. 182 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,833 It can look at facts. 183 00:09:22,899 --> 00:09:27,399 And come to the complete wrong conclusion. 184 00:09:27,466 --> 00:09:31,600 Unbeliev unbelief is self-centered. 185 00:09:31,666 --> 00:09:34,833 Unbelief is egocentric. 186 00:09:34,899 --> 00:09:38,966 And so we're going to use some words as 187 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,766 our headings and points to break this text down. 188 00:09:42,833 --> 00:09:46,266 First of all, unbelief is hostile. 189 00:09:46,299 --> 00:09:49,600 Hostile, if you're from North Baton 190 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,700 Rouge, but we'll stick with hostile. 191 00:09:51,766 --> 00:09:53,500 In the big picture, 192 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,866 Unbelief 193 00:09:56,866 --> 00:09:58,299 is really, think about it. 194 00:09:58,433 --> 00:10:02,200 It is a very aggressive attitude to take. 195 00:10:02,266 --> 00:10:03,833 Now, let me tell you why I say that. 196 00:10:03,899 --> 00:10:07,433 When you don't believe the gospel. 197 00:10:07,533 --> 00:10:11,666 And you won't have anything to do with Jesus. 198 00:10:11,799 --> 00:10:14,966 That really is a 199 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,166 hostile position towards your maker. 200 00:10:18,233 --> 00:10:20,700 Why? 201 00:10:20,799 --> 00:10:24,033 Because he makes the rules. 202 00:10:24,166 --> 00:10:28,299 He sent Jesus. 203 00:10:28,433 --> 00:10:32,399 This is his world. 204 00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:36,466 It's his heaven. 205 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,766 He is in charge, 206 00:10:39,766 --> 00:10:42,899 whether you like it or not, or whether you believe it 207 00:10:42,899 --> 00:10:46,133 or not, and if you choose not to 208 00:10:46,133 --> 00:10:49,299 believe him, you are in a state 209 00:10:49,299 --> 00:10:52,833 of hostility towards your maker. 210 00:10:52,899 --> 00:10:55,966 It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not doesn't change 211 00:10:55,966 --> 00:10:57,000 the reality. 212 00:10:57,033 --> 00:11:01,000 This is why unbelievers, persecute 213 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,433 Christians. 214 00:11:02,566 --> 00:11:06,766 Religious, religious, 215 00:11:06,766 --> 00:11:07,899 unbelievers. 216 00:11:07,966 --> 00:11:11,566 were primarily responsible for crucifying Jesus. 217 00:11:11,633 --> 00:11:15,166 Unbelievers, persecuted, 218 00:11:15,166 --> 00:11:18,333 and martyred almost all 219 00:11:18,333 --> 00:11:20,066 of the apostles. 220 00:11:20,133 --> 00:11:23,299 It's unbelievers today that 221 00:11:23,333 --> 00:11:26,200 massacre Christians all over our world. 222 00:11:26,266 --> 00:11:29,500 I just got an email this morning that, uh, the 223 00:11:29,500 --> 00:11:33,399 murder of Christians in India has ramped up. 224 00:11:33,533 --> 00:11:36,700 Again, and that's where, 225 00:11:36,700 --> 00:11:38,566 you remember, Brother Ed told us a story. 226 00:11:38,633 --> 00:11:41,633 He was preaching in that church where the week before they found the pastor 227 00:11:41,633 --> 00:11:42,700 hanging from the rafters. 228 00:11:42,700 --> 00:11:45,266 For sure. 229 00:11:45,333 --> 00:11:48,466 The Pharisees were aggressively 230 00:11:48,466 --> 00:11:51,533 hostile towards Jesus, they think about what we've 231 00:11:51,533 --> 00:11:54,100 learned so far in this tech, in the gospel of John. 232 00:11:54,166 --> 00:11:57,299 They've already decided and 233 00:11:57,299 --> 00:12:00,833 declared that he is insane and 234 00:12:00,833 --> 00:12:02,466 that he is demon possessed, right? 235 00:12:02,500 --> 00:12:05,633 And we're going to see that hostility 236 00:12:05,633 --> 00:12:07,733 borne out here in our text for today. 237 00:12:07,799 --> 00:12:08,566 So let's start with it. 238 00:12:08,633 --> 00:12:10,066 Look on the screen or in your Bible. 239 00:12:10,133 --> 00:12:13,666 They brought to the Pharisees, 240 00:12:13,666 --> 00:12:15,166 the man who was formally blind. 241 00:12:15,233 --> 00:12:18,333 Now, the they 242 00:12:18,333 --> 00:12:21,399 who brought him are the neighbors of 243 00:12:21,399 --> 00:12:23,266 verse 8 that we looked at last time. 244 00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:25,200 They knew this man. 245 00:12:25,233 --> 00:12:26,566 This blind man. 246 00:12:26,633 --> 00:12:29,633 And remember, what 247 00:12:29,633 --> 00:12:31,799 we looked at last time, they're going back and forth. 248 00:12:31,833 --> 00:12:34,166 Baby, no, man, can't be him. 249 00:12:34,233 --> 00:12:38,266 He's been there for 30 years every day blind and begging. 250 00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:40,000 It just looks like him. 251 00:12:40,066 --> 00:12:41,266 It just really can't be him. 252 00:12:41,333 --> 00:12:44,333 So they're, they, 253 00:12:44,333 --> 00:12:47,100 they wind up bringing him to the Pharisees. 254 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,166 And there are a number of possibilities as to why. 255 00:12:51,299 --> 00:12:53,700 They bring him to the Pharisees. 256 00:12:53,733 --> 00:12:56,433 The Pharisees or the leaders, right? 257 00:12:56,500 --> 00:13:00,633 So maybe they just wanted to, them to sign off. 258 00:13:00,766 --> 00:13:01,799 how did this happen, right? 259 00:13:01,833 --> 00:13:04,966 Maybe the people wanted a, a 260 00:13:04,966 --> 00:13:08,200 theological explanation because this really 261 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,933 is, is so, Amazing. 262 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,166 I was thinking about this this morning as I was doing my final edits 263 00:13:15,166 --> 00:13:18,299 of this sermon and I really don't think I have words 264 00:13:18,299 --> 00:13:21,233 strong enough to really describe. 265 00:13:21,399 --> 00:13:24,700 How shocking it must have been. 266 00:13:24,766 --> 00:13:25,833 The only thing I could think of. 267 00:13:25,899 --> 00:13:28,000 I love Stevie Wonder. 268 00:13:28,133 --> 00:13:29,799 My family loves Stevie Wonder. 269 00:13:29,866 --> 00:13:33,399 I been listening to Stevie Wonder since I was long as I can remember. 270 00:13:33,466 --> 00:13:35,700 You ever seen Stevie Wonder with his glasses on? 271 00:13:35,733 --> 00:13:39,033 I mean, you can see that 272 00:13:39,033 --> 00:13:41,799 this man's eyes are dead. 273 00:13:41,933 --> 00:13:45,666 You've seen blind people born from birth to dead eyes, right? 274 00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:47,633 Well, you can imagine. 275 00:13:47,733 --> 00:13:50,866 Every day, this man 276 00:13:50,866 --> 00:13:53,933 begging at the gate, they could see, I don't think they 277 00:13:53,933 --> 00:13:58,066 had any glasses down at the Circle K back there in Judaism of the 1st century, right? 278 00:13:58,133 --> 00:13:59,799 They could see his eyes. 279 00:13:59,933 --> 00:14:03,033 And then all of a sudden, 280 00:14:03,033 --> 00:14:04,966 He's looking at them. 281 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:07,866 With alive eyes. 282 00:14:07,966 --> 00:14:11,200 They knew this man had 283 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:12,700 been blind all his life. 284 00:14:12,766 --> 00:14:16,000 So, I mean, you think about these neighbors and these crowded people, no, 285 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,266 it's just bewildering to them. 286 00:14:17,333 --> 00:14:20,399 The blind man himself even 287 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:23,766 says later, no one has ever even heard. 288 00:14:23,799 --> 00:14:27,399 of anyone ever being healed 289 00:14:27,399 --> 00:14:28,466 of being born blind. 290 00:14:28,533 --> 00:14:32,266 Do you know there is not one single healing 291 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:34,600 of a blind man in the whole Old Testament? 292 00:14:34,666 --> 00:14:36,899 Of course, that's home purpose, right? 293 00:14:36,933 --> 00:14:38,500 This is unheard of. 294 00:14:38,566 --> 00:14:41,700 Also, the Pharisees had 295 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:45,000 been running, you know, the demon possessed 296 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,366 insane spin machine against Jesus amongst 297 00:14:48,366 --> 00:14:52,766 the people, and they had even come to the place where 298 00:14:52,799 --> 00:14:56,266 anybody who confessed Jesus as Messiah, 299 00:14:56,266 --> 00:15:00,000 would be put out of the synagogue. 300 00:15:00,033 --> 00:15:02,266 As we go see that in verse 22 in just a minute. 301 00:15:02,399 --> 00:15:05,933 So there was fear. 302 00:15:06,033 --> 00:15:08,266 that spread amongst the people. 303 00:15:08,333 --> 00:15:11,633 And I'm sure they wanted to figure out, okay, well wait a minute, though. 304 00:15:11,700 --> 00:15:12,299 Wait a minute. 305 00:15:12,333 --> 00:15:15,466 How did this Jesus 306 00:15:15,466 --> 00:15:18,466 that the Pharisees have been continuously 307 00:15:18,466 --> 00:15:21,833 deriding every single day? 308 00:15:21,899 --> 00:15:24,899 How could what they're saying 309 00:15:24,899 --> 00:15:28,333 about this man match up with 310 00:15:28,333 --> 00:15:31,733 him healing this man who's clearly born blind. 311 00:15:31,799 --> 00:15:35,033 Beyond this, they 312 00:15:35,033 --> 00:15:38,466 knew that Jesus had broken the Sabbath. 313 00:15:38,566 --> 00:15:40,133 Look at verse 14. 314 00:15:40,299 --> 00:15:42,333 Now. 315 00:15:42,399 --> 00:15:45,466 It was a Sabbath on the day when 316 00:15:45,466 --> 00:15:47,500 Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 317 00:15:47,566 --> 00:15:51,600 They knew that healing was not allowed on the Sabbath. 318 00:15:51,700 --> 00:15:55,000 For them, now, you understand? 319 00:15:55,066 --> 00:15:56,933 That meant medical healing. 320 00:15:57,033 --> 00:15:58,066 Right? 321 00:15:58,133 --> 00:16:00,966 Nobody had ever done a miracle healing ever. 322 00:16:01,066 --> 00:16:04,066 Right, in their lifetimes, and so, 323 00:16:04,066 --> 00:16:05,799 but their rules were so crazy. 324 00:16:05,866 --> 00:16:09,100 If somebody was sick 325 00:16:09,100 --> 00:16:13,133 on the Sabbath, you couldn't do anything to make them bet. 326 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,266 I mean, they could just be violently ill, and you just, Sabbath, stand back. 327 00:16:17,333 --> 00:16:17,866 You gotta take it. 328 00:16:17,933 --> 00:16:21,766 But if somebody was dying on 329 00:16:21,766 --> 00:16:23,399 the Sabbath, they had a rule. 330 00:16:23,433 --> 00:16:26,433 You could prevent them from dying, but you just couldn't make 331 00:16:26,433 --> 00:16:28,100 them well if it was if they were sick. 332 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,633 Just insane. 333 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:31,333 Legalism is nuts, okay? 334 00:16:31,366 --> 00:16:34,600 And then verse 14 mentions 335 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:36,266 how Jesus used the clay. 336 00:16:36,333 --> 00:16:38,200 As we talked about earlier. 337 00:16:38,266 --> 00:16:40,966 Well, that would be classified as work. 338 00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:43,899 He picked up the clay with the spittle. 339 00:16:43,966 --> 00:16:44,500 That's work. 340 00:16:44,566 --> 00:16:47,633 So, in their eyes, in all 341 00:16:47,633 --> 00:16:50,933 of their eyes, Jesus had violated the Sabbath. 342 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,000 Now, for sure, with some of these folks here 343 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,333 in this group, that was the major issue. 344 00:16:56,399 --> 00:16:59,833 What do we do about this violation of the Sabbath? 345 00:16:59,866 --> 00:17:01,899 Let's go to the Pharisees. 346 00:17:01,966 --> 00:17:05,200 So that would be an issue with some of 347 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:06,466 them for certain. 348 00:17:06,533 --> 00:17:09,766 So they bring them in in verse 15, look at it. 349 00:17:09,833 --> 00:17:13,200 Then the Pharisees also 350 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,433 were asking him again how he received 351 00:17:16,433 --> 00:17:19,533 his sight, and it says again there because 352 00:17:19,533 --> 00:17:22,366 the neighbors had asked him 1st back there in verse 10. 353 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:25,133 So again, he has to answer this question. 354 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:29,033 This time from the Pharisees. 355 00:17:29,133 --> 00:17:31,700 About how he had received his sight. 356 00:17:31,799 --> 00:17:32,866 Look next in verse 15. 357 00:17:33,166 --> 00:17:34,666 And he said to them. 358 00:17:34,733 --> 00:17:37,900 He applied clay to my eyes. 359 00:17:37,966 --> 00:17:39,466 I washed. 360 00:17:39,533 --> 00:17:40,866 And I see. 361 00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:43,966 Very simple, 362 00:17:43,966 --> 00:17:45,466 very straightforward. 363 00:17:45,533 --> 00:17:48,466 I mean, what else could the man say? 364 00:17:48,533 --> 00:17:49,666 Other than that? 365 00:17:49,733 --> 00:17:52,500 That's all he knew. 366 00:17:52,533 --> 00:17:55,533 And the Pharisees were 367 00:17:55,533 --> 00:17:59,433 not going to take the word of the neighbors or even that 368 00:17:59,433 --> 00:18:02,433 they had known this man all of his life, they 369 00:18:02,433 --> 00:18:03,633 wanted to hear it straight from him. 370 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:06,766 And he tells. 371 00:18:06,833 --> 00:18:07,266 the truth. 372 00:18:07,299 --> 00:18:08,633 Verse 16. 373 00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:11,966 Therefore, some of the Pharisees were saying, this man is 374 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,233 not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath. 375 00:18:15,299 --> 00:18:15,966 Now think about this. 376 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,000 This is supposed to 377 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,266 be an investigation. 378 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,400 Which 379 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,733 means, the conclusion of the investigation 380 00:18:26,733 --> 00:18:28,400 is supposed to come where? 381 00:18:28,533 --> 00:18:30,033 At the end. 382 00:18:30,233 --> 00:18:33,299 This here is 383 00:18:33,299 --> 00:18:36,233 the conclusion before the investigation. 384 00:18:36,333 --> 00:18:38,666 Notice they say, this man. 385 00:18:38,733 --> 00:18:42,566 They hate Jesus so much, they won't even call him Jesus. 386 00:18:42,633 --> 00:18:44,866 They call him this man. 387 00:18:44,933 --> 00:18:48,166 And we see them do that repeatedly in John. 388 00:18:48,233 --> 00:18:52,000 They don't want to mention his name, but they've already made a conclusion. 389 00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:55,200 And their conclusion is this. 390 00:18:55,299 --> 00:18:58,433 This man is not 391 00:18:58,433 --> 00:19:01,599 from God, can't be because 392 00:19:01,599 --> 00:19:02,866 he doesn't keep the Sabbath. 393 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,166 Here's how they reason. 394 00:19:05,266 --> 00:19:09,033 All people who are from God, keep the Sabbath. 395 00:19:09,099 --> 00:19:12,766 Jesus doesn't keep the Sabbath, conclusion, 396 00:19:12,766 --> 00:19:14,099 Jesus is not from God. 397 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:15,099 That's their thinking. 398 00:19:15,233 --> 00:19:18,633 He doesn't keep all the ridiculous, 399 00:19:18,633 --> 00:19:22,000 hair splitting, trifling little rules that they made up, 400 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,166 addition to the word of God on the Sabbath, but all 401 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,366 people from God would in their eyes. 402 00:19:28,433 --> 00:19:30,099 So he's not from God. 403 00:19:30,166 --> 00:19:32,400 So it's back. 404 00:19:32,433 --> 00:19:35,266 That's how unbelief works. 405 00:19:35,333 --> 00:19:38,333 Start with a conclusion, and then work your way backwards, 406 00:19:38,333 --> 00:19:40,900 and however, there is a group within the Pharisees. 407 00:19:41,033 --> 00:19:44,033 And they are 408 00:19:44,033 --> 00:19:47,166 not so easily persuaded by this line of reasoning. 409 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:48,266 Look next at verse 16. 410 00:19:48,466 --> 00:19:51,933 But others were saying, how 411 00:19:51,933 --> 00:19:56,566 can a man who is a sinner, perform such signs? 412 00:19:56,633 --> 00:19:59,700 And we assume the others here are other Pharisees 413 00:19:59,700 --> 00:20:02,766 in the context of the text here, and they ask, how can 414 00:20:02,766 --> 00:20:06,200 a man who is a sinner perform such signs and do this? 415 00:20:06,299 --> 00:20:10,033 So, now this group had their own reasoning. 416 00:20:10,066 --> 00:20:12,933 Only God can open blind eyes. 417 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:14,333 They were right about that. 418 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,933 Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man. 419 00:20:18,033 --> 00:20:18,633 conclusion? 420 00:20:18,766 --> 00:20:20,700 Jesus is from God. 421 00:20:20,733 --> 00:20:23,966 So with group A, it's 422 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,799 the Sabbath issue. 423 00:20:25,833 --> 00:20:29,266 With group B, it's the supernatural issue. 424 00:20:29,333 --> 00:20:30,833 Group A is unmoved. 425 00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:34,200 We don't know about group B, but we do know 426 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,666 what it says next at the end of verse 16, 427 00:20:38,033 --> 00:20:38,466 Look at it. 428 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:42,400 And there was a division among them. 429 00:20:42,466 --> 00:20:46,299 So, There's hope for group B. 430 00:20:46,366 --> 00:20:47,866 But you know what happens? 431 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,233 They just fade out of the picture after this and we 432 00:20:51,233 --> 00:20:52,599 don't hear from them again in this text. 433 00:20:52,666 --> 00:20:55,666 But this kind of division was part 434 00:20:55,666 --> 00:20:57,299 of what was happening with Jesus. 435 00:20:57,333 --> 00:21:01,099 We saw this before back in chapter 7. 436 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,066 says there was a division among the people. 437 00:21:03,066 --> 00:21:05,566 Later in chapters in, says there was a division. 438 00:21:05,633 --> 00:21:08,466 Jesus brought division between people and guess what? 439 00:21:08,566 --> 00:21:10,666 He still does. 440 00:21:10,799 --> 00:21:13,666 He still does in families. 441 00:21:13,733 --> 00:21:16,133 He still does in workplaces. 442 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,799 So we're gonna follow here. 443 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:23,133 The text and group A because 444 00:21:23,133 --> 00:21:24,266 they take charge in the text. 445 00:21:24,333 --> 00:21:28,066 And they are just hard hearted 446 00:21:28,066 --> 00:21:31,066 unbelievers, and we just saw they made their conclusion. 447 00:21:31,133 --> 00:21:34,599 They're hostile toward anything, anything that 448 00:21:34,599 --> 00:21:37,833 comes up that offends or assaults their 449 00:21:37,833 --> 00:21:39,500 conclusion, they're going to be hostile against. 450 00:21:39,599 --> 00:21:42,599 Next in verses 1724, we're going to see 451 00:21:42,599 --> 00:21:43,799 how unbelief will not bend. 452 00:21:43,833 --> 00:21:47,599 How it cannot be convinced. 453 00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:51,099 The blind man told them exactly 454 00:21:51,099 --> 00:21:53,500 what had happened. 455 00:21:53,566 --> 00:21:55,066 I was blind. 456 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:56,700 I was born blind. 457 00:21:56,733 --> 00:21:59,866 Jesus came up to play on my eyes, told 458 00:21:59,866 --> 00:22:00,933 me to go wash. 459 00:22:01,233 --> 00:22:01,599 I did that. 460 00:22:01,733 --> 00:22:03,299 Now I can see. 461 00:22:03,333 --> 00:22:06,400 And he's think about this. 462 00:22:06,466 --> 00:22:10,000 As he's answering them, okay? 463 00:22:10,066 --> 00:22:13,133 He is literally looking at 464 00:22:13,133 --> 00:22:16,266 them with brand new eyeballs in their face. 465 00:22:16,266 --> 00:22:19,366 And there are 466 00:22:19,366 --> 00:22:21,400 all kind of people around this man. 467 00:22:21,466 --> 00:22:25,366 Again, who 468 00:22:25,366 --> 00:22:28,433 had been around him for years, and they're affirming this 469 00:22:28,433 --> 00:22:30,099 reality, which they can see. 470 00:22:30,166 --> 00:22:33,233 But it is 471 00:22:33,233 --> 00:22:36,366 the nature of determined, 472 00:22:36,366 --> 00:22:39,933 willful, unbelief, that 473 00:22:39,933 --> 00:22:43,400 wants more and more and more evidence, 474 00:22:43,433 --> 00:22:47,400 and soon as they get it, they never want anything to do with it. 475 00:22:47,433 --> 00:22:51,200 It's really a mad search, 476 00:22:51,233 --> 00:22:52,299 really, to discredit. 477 00:22:52,366 --> 00:22:55,533 It keeps probing, 478 00:22:55,533 --> 00:22:57,166 not because it's seeking the truth. 479 00:22:57,233 --> 00:23:00,333 But because it's seeking a justification 480 00:23:00,333 --> 00:23:02,666 for the conclusion that it wants. 481 00:23:02,733 --> 00:23:04,700 Now look next in verse 17. 482 00:23:04,900 --> 00:23:07,466 So they said to the blind man again. 483 00:23:07,599 --> 00:23:11,266 What do you say about him since 484 00:23:11,266 --> 00:23:12,833 he opened your eyes? 485 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:14,266 Look what he says. 486 00:23:14,333 --> 00:23:17,333 And he said, He is a prophet. 487 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,066 Now. 488 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,366 This is the blind man, beggar guy. 489 00:23:22,433 --> 00:23:23,633 He had no authority at all. 490 00:23:23,733 --> 00:23:26,966 He would, do you know he would have never one day in his life ever 491 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,566 been allowed in the synagogue? 492 00:23:29,633 --> 00:23:30,000 Why? 493 00:23:30,033 --> 00:23:33,400 Because remember, we talked about this in their view, 494 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,366 blindness was related to sinfulness. 495 00:23:35,433 --> 00:23:37,166 So this man was cursed? 496 00:23:37,233 --> 00:23:39,466 Remember, who's sinned, this man or his parents? 497 00:23:39,533 --> 00:23:42,966 Anybody who had a disease or deformity or a disability was 498 00:23:42,966 --> 00:23:46,533 cursed and they were never allowed to be a part of the synagogue. 499 00:23:46,599 --> 00:23:48,833 The Pharisees wouldn't go near people like that. 500 00:23:48,900 --> 00:23:50,833 They were outcasts. 501 00:23:50,866 --> 00:23:52,833 That's why he's at the gate begging in the 1st place. 502 00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:55,900 So here's a man who had 503 00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:57,833 never been exposed to the synagogue. 504 00:23:57,900 --> 00:23:59,233 He hasn't been taught like other people. 505 00:23:59,266 --> 00:24:02,566 But he does have what's 506 00:24:02,566 --> 00:24:05,733 so lacking in America today, the common sense enough to know. 507 00:24:05,866 --> 00:24:09,000 Jesus did heal him and is in 508 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:10,799 fact, the prophet. 509 00:24:10,833 --> 00:24:13,900 And that was being said, 510 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:16,966 going back to chapter 4, many people were saying in 511 00:24:16,966 --> 00:24:18,333 chapter 4, he's a prophet. 512 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,533 Nicodemus knew early on, hey, no 513 00:24:21,533 --> 00:24:23,566 man can do what you do unless they came from God. 514 00:24:23,633 --> 00:24:27,400 I mean, but he couldn't, he was having trouble figuring all that out, but at least he knew that much. 515 00:24:27,466 --> 00:24:31,433 And now this man, he believes, This 516 00:24:31,433 --> 00:24:33,066 man healed my blindness. 517 00:24:33,099 --> 00:24:34,966 He is a prophet from God. 518 00:24:35,033 --> 00:24:38,766 And so he gives this very straightforward, sensible answer. 519 00:24:38,866 --> 00:24:42,833 Which should have been the end of the investigation, to be honest with you. 520 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:43,966 But look next in verse 18. 521 00:24:44,099 --> 00:24:47,099 The Jews then 522 00:24:47,099 --> 00:24:50,166 did not believe it of him that he had been 523 00:24:50,166 --> 00:24:53,299 blind and had received sight until they called the 524 00:24:53,333 --> 00:24:57,366 parents of the very one who had received his sight. 525 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:01,066 Now, Remember, they've heard from the man. 526 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,299 The man is surrounded by all 527 00:25:04,299 --> 00:25:06,333 these people who had known him since he was a little kid. 528 00:25:06,466 --> 00:25:09,466 And all their collective 529 00:25:09,466 --> 00:25:12,333 testimony together, and still, these leaders don't believe. 530 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,066 Because unbelief is immovable. 531 00:25:16,133 --> 00:25:18,066 In itself. 532 00:25:18,099 --> 00:25:20,266 It doesn't bend. 533 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:24,133 We experience this in our own lives, don't we? 534 00:25:24,166 --> 00:25:27,466 Most of the people we present with 535 00:25:27,466 --> 00:25:29,266 the truth will not accept it. 536 00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:33,700 Narrow is the way and phew, there be that find it. 537 00:25:33,766 --> 00:25:34,299 Jesus said. 538 00:25:34,366 --> 00:25:35,200 That's just the reality. 539 00:25:35,333 --> 00:25:37,733 So they have this. 540 00:25:37,833 --> 00:25:40,766 Predisposed viewpoint. 541 00:25:40,833 --> 00:25:44,299 They will not give up this notion that this man, 542 00:25:44,333 --> 00:25:47,433 right here, Jesus is a sinner and he's 543 00:25:47,433 --> 00:25:50,433 not from God, so they want to dig deeper. 544 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:52,000 They think, 545 00:25:52,133 --> 00:25:55,200 There must be something about this 546 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:58,033 story we're just not getting, that we're not seeing yet. 547 00:25:58,066 --> 00:26:00,766 Must be some kind of cover up here, some kind of lie. 548 00:26:00,833 --> 00:26:02,799 So we got to get to the bottom of this. 549 00:26:03,099 --> 00:26:03,633 So what do they do? 550 00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:05,666 Let's call in the rents. 551 00:26:05,733 --> 00:26:06,633 The parents. 552 00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:07,833 verse 19. 553 00:26:07,966 --> 00:26:12,833 And question them, saying, is this your son? 554 00:26:12,900 --> 00:26:16,433 Who you say was born blind, 555 00:26:16,433 --> 00:26:19,433 then how does he now 556 00:26:19,433 --> 00:26:20,633 see? 557 00:26:20,733 --> 00:26:24,099 So get the parents in there, and 558 00:26:24,099 --> 00:26:25,166 they present them with two questions. 559 00:26:25,299 --> 00:26:27,466 One, is this your son? 560 00:26:27,599 --> 00:26:31,666 And number two, how did he gain his sight? 561 00:26:31,733 --> 00:26:34,666 And remember, the miracle happened. 562 00:26:34,733 --> 00:26:36,766 There were some people saying, no, no, no, no, no. 563 00:26:36,833 --> 00:26:37,866 That's not the man. 564 00:26:37,900 --> 00:26:38,500 It can't be him. 565 00:26:38,566 --> 00:26:39,766 I mean, it just looks like the guy. 566 00:26:39,833 --> 00:26:43,233 And so, maybe it's just mistaken identity, 567 00:26:43,233 --> 00:26:44,433 so let's go get the parents. 568 00:26:44,500 --> 00:26:45,933 They know who he is. 569 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,200 Verse 20. 570 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,533 The parents answered them 571 00:26:50,533 --> 00:26:53,966 and said, We know that this is our son. 572 00:26:54,099 --> 00:26:57,166 And that he 573 00:26:57,166 --> 00:26:59,799 was born blind. 574 00:26:59,866 --> 00:27:03,166 We know this is our son, and yes, he was born blind. 575 00:27:03,233 --> 00:27:06,400 Case closed, strike the gavel because now he's 576 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,833 standing there, saying, so you should conclude, 577 00:27:09,833 --> 00:27:13,233 right now, the man Jesus is from 578 00:27:13,233 --> 00:27:14,666 God, right? 579 00:27:14,733 --> 00:27:16,533 But the parents aren't done. 580 00:27:16,599 --> 00:27:17,433 Verse 21. 581 00:27:17,566 --> 00:27:21,533 But how he now sees. 582 00:27:21,599 --> 00:27:23,766 We do not know. 583 00:27:23,866 --> 00:27:27,766 Or who opened his eyes. 584 00:27:27,833 --> 00:27:28,799 We do not know. 585 00:27:28,833 --> 00:27:29,666 Ask him. 586 00:27:29,799 --> 00:27:32,333 He is of age. 587 00:27:32,433 --> 00:27:35,299 He will speak for himself. 588 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,200 Now, I'm sorry, how lame are these parents? 589 00:27:37,233 --> 00:27:40,533 These are some lame parents, Jack. 590 00:27:40,599 --> 00:27:42,400 They're lying. 591 00:27:42,466 --> 00:27:45,599 They're lying to 592 00:27:45,599 --> 00:27:47,266 cover for themselves. 593 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:48,433 Look at verse 22. 594 00:27:48,633 --> 00:27:50,000 His parents said this. 595 00:27:50,099 --> 00:27:53,233 Why did they say this because they were afraid of the Jews, 596 00:27:53,233 --> 00:27:56,333 for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him 597 00:27:56,333 --> 00:27:58,599 to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 598 00:27:58,666 --> 00:27:59,099 There it is. 599 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:00,933 Count to cost? 600 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:01,833 Fail. 601 00:28:01,900 --> 00:28:05,033 So the reason they said we 602 00:28:05,033 --> 00:28:08,133 don't know is because they were afraid that if they said they did know that 603 00:28:08,133 --> 00:28:10,666 it was Jesus, they'd get blown out of the synagogue. 604 00:28:10,733 --> 00:28:13,200 They're lying. 605 00:28:13,233 --> 00:28:15,200 to protect themselves. 606 00:28:15,299 --> 00:28:17,633 They knew who did this. 607 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:20,633 I mean, think about it, man. 608 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:23,833 When they 1st got on the scene, then they saw their son with 609 00:28:23,833 --> 00:28:26,933 a live eyes looking straight at them, you 610 00:28:26,933 --> 00:28:29,633 don't think they had to have a conversation right there at that point with the son? 611 00:28:29,733 --> 00:28:32,066 The man knew. 612 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,333 He said the man called Jesus made some clay. 613 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:39,599 Don't forget, don't forget this, man. 614 00:28:39,633 --> 00:28:42,633 The name of Jesus was on the lips of every single 615 00:28:42,633 --> 00:28:45,099 human being in Jerusalem in Israel. 616 00:28:45,166 --> 00:28:48,000 I mean, he was viral before there was viral, without a computer. 617 00:28:48,099 --> 00:28:48,566 right? 618 00:28:48,633 --> 00:28:50,599 Everybody was talking about this. 619 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:52,799 We're right at the end of the 3 years. 620 00:28:52,833 --> 00:28:55,066 There's only 6 months left to go before Calvary. 621 00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:57,700 This is the talk of the town, this man. 622 00:28:57,766 --> 00:29:01,500 And these parents knew firsthand. 623 00:29:01,533 --> 00:29:05,566 What it meant to be thrown out of the synagogue. 624 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:08,799 Because their son had lived outside 625 00:29:08,799 --> 00:29:10,299 the synagogue all his life. 626 00:29:10,366 --> 00:29:14,566 They knew what the implications were to be cursed, to be an outcast. 627 00:29:14,633 --> 00:29:15,533 Guess what? 628 00:29:15,599 --> 00:29:17,400 They didn't want that. 629 00:29:17,433 --> 00:29:20,799 And notice how the parents say, ask him. 630 00:29:20,866 --> 00:29:23,333 He's of age. 631 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,299 You can't throw him out the synagogue. 632 00:29:27,333 --> 00:29:28,466 He's not in the synagogue. 633 00:29:28,533 --> 00:29:29,566 Go on, ask him. 634 00:29:29,633 --> 00:29:32,799 I'm telling you, being thrown 635 00:29:32,799 --> 00:29:35,033 out of a synagogue was a very big deal in Jewish society. 636 00:29:35,099 --> 00:29:37,200 If you weren't in the synagogue, you might as well be a leper. 637 00:29:37,299 --> 00:29:40,366 You were cut off from God, you were cut off 638 00:29:40,366 --> 00:29:44,033 from the life of the nation, both socially and economically. 639 00:29:44,099 --> 00:29:47,099 So they didn't want to get anywhere close to experiencing what 640 00:29:47,099 --> 00:29:50,099 the sun had experienced since he couldn't be thrown out verse 23. 641 00:29:50,333 --> 00:29:53,333 For this reason, the parent said, he 642 00:29:53,333 --> 00:29:55,599 is of age, ask him, verse 24. 643 00:29:55,833 --> 00:29:57,566 So a 2nd time. 644 00:29:57,633 --> 00:30:00,799 They called the man who had been born who 645 00:30:00,833 --> 00:30:02,633 had been blind and said to him. 646 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:05,033 Give glory to God. 647 00:30:05,133 --> 00:30:08,900 We know this man is a sinner. 648 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:10,733 They just won't bend. 649 00:30:10,799 --> 00:30:13,866 And they say, give glory to God. 650 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:14,966 Let me tell you where they got that from. 651 00:30:15,033 --> 00:30:18,400 Look at it direct quote from Joshua 7 652 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:20,633 and verse 19. 653 00:30:20,933 --> 00:30:24,299 Just a little backstory when the Israelites came into the land. 654 00:30:24,333 --> 00:30:27,400 They were told to take nothing from the people, but oh, Achan 655 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,333 and his family, they stole all kind of stuff and buried it in their tent. 656 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,700 Joshua finds out, remember, and confronts 657 00:30:33,700 --> 00:30:37,000 Aiken and says, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, 658 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,866 and give praise to him, and tell me now what you have done. 659 00:30:39,933 --> 00:30:43,599 So all the Jews, they knew that story very well. 660 00:30:43,666 --> 00:30:46,833 That story says, God is glorified when 661 00:30:46,833 --> 00:30:50,133 you tell the truth, and that's what they're saying right here to this bond 662 00:30:50,133 --> 00:30:51,933 man when they say, give glory to God. 663 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:52,833 Tell us the truth. 664 00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:56,066 They're not buying his testimony or the testimony 665 00:30:56,099 --> 00:30:58,966 of the parents or of all the people who know him. 666 00:30:59,099 --> 00:31:01,566 Folks, this is how. 667 00:31:01,666 --> 00:31:04,666 Firm and immovable. 668 00:31:04,733 --> 00:31:07,133 Their unbelief is. 669 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,333 They just concentrated on one thing. 670 00:31:10,366 --> 00:31:11,566 This man can't be from God. 671 00:31:11,633 --> 00:31:13,266 This man is assuming. 672 00:31:13,299 --> 00:31:17,200 So, The 673 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,366 formerly blind man, Takes 674 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,599 up on the use of the word no, K-N-O-W. 675 00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:27,099 And you have to like this guy. 676 00:31:27,166 --> 00:31:30,166 And you're going to get to like any more 677 00:31:30,166 --> 00:31:32,333 and more here every time he speaks coming up. 678 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,066 Verse 25. 679 00:31:34,299 --> 00:31:36,766 He then answered. 680 00:31:36,900 --> 00:31:40,000 Whether he is a sinner, 681 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,666 I do not know. 682 00:31:41,799 --> 00:31:44,933 One thing I do know. 683 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:47,466 That though I was blind. 684 00:31:47,566 --> 00:31:49,733 Now I see. 685 00:31:49,799 --> 00:31:53,133 You 686 00:31:53,133 --> 00:31:54,700 want to talk about what we know. 687 00:31:54,766 --> 00:31:58,366 And what we don't know, I 688 00:31:58,366 --> 00:31:59,700 don't know about the accusation. 689 00:31:59,733 --> 00:32:02,200 of Jesus being a sinner. 690 00:32:02,266 --> 00:32:04,066 I tell you what I do know. 691 00:32:04,133 --> 00:32:06,233 I was a bond man. 692 00:32:06,299 --> 00:32:08,166 And now I'm looking straight at you. 693 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:12,400 And that's really as far as he can go. 694 00:32:12,466 --> 00:32:16,066 It's just so clear, they have no interest in the truth. 695 00:32:16,133 --> 00:32:16,866 Verse 26. 696 00:32:17,033 --> 00:32:20,333 So they said to him, what did he do to you? 697 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,266 How did you open? 698 00:32:23,333 --> 00:32:26,566 How did he open your eyes now thank 699 00:32:26,566 --> 00:32:27,633 for just a minute? 700 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:31,000 That's a pretty significant 701 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,066 thing, because in that statement, they 702 00:32:34,066 --> 00:32:36,333 just admitted that he was healed. 703 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:40,366 They just admitted that he was blind and his eyes were opened. 704 00:32:40,433 --> 00:32:41,033 Look at it. 705 00:32:41,133 --> 00:32:44,200 They say, what did he do to you and 706 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:48,033 how did he open your eyes and that takes us to the next point? 707 00:32:48,099 --> 00:32:49,599 Unbelief, it's just irrational. 708 00:32:49,666 --> 00:32:51,166 Right? 709 00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:54,700 With absolute true facts, 710 00:32:54,700 --> 00:32:58,366 if you come to the wrong conclusion, conclusion, you're irrational. 711 00:32:58,433 --> 00:33:00,599 That's what unbelief is. 712 00:33:00,633 --> 00:33:01,833 It's irrrational. 713 00:33:01,900 --> 00:33:06,099 So they say, What did he do to you? 714 00:33:06,166 --> 00:33:07,200 How did he open your eyes? 715 00:33:07,233 --> 00:33:09,500 And let me tell you something, this guy, 716 00:33:09,599 --> 00:33:12,900 This guy just keeps getting better, verse 27. 717 00:33:13,233 --> 00:33:13,833 He answered them. 718 00:33:13,900 --> 00:33:14,666 I told you already. 719 00:33:14,733 --> 00:33:17,133 And you did not listen. 720 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,966 Why do you want to hear it again? 721 00:33:21,033 --> 00:33:24,033 You do not want to become one of 722 00:33:24,033 --> 00:33:25,700 his disciples too, do you? 723 00:33:25,799 --> 00:33:27,900 I love that. 724 00:33:27,933 --> 00:33:30,033 This is my man right here. 725 00:33:30,099 --> 00:33:32,366 This man ain't no dummy. 726 00:33:32,433 --> 00:33:35,733 This is an outcast 727 00:33:35,733 --> 00:33:38,966 talking like this to the elite of Israel. 728 00:33:39,033 --> 00:33:42,400 And there's no doubt at the same time as he's talking with the juice. 729 00:33:42,466 --> 00:33:44,700 I want you to just think about this for a second. 730 00:33:44,733 --> 00:33:47,799 The same time he's sitting there with 731 00:33:47,799 --> 00:33:50,433 these Jews every single 2nd. 732 00:33:50,566 --> 00:33:54,766 Never have been seen in his life. 733 00:33:54,833 --> 00:33:58,299 Scenery is just overwhelming his senses 734 00:33:58,299 --> 00:34:00,700 at the moment that he's saying this to the Jews. 735 00:34:00,766 --> 00:34:02,500 There's a whole lot going on with this guy right here. 736 00:34:02,566 --> 00:34:05,700 And he has to be just so full of 737 00:34:05,700 --> 00:34:09,300 joy and confidence because he knows, he 738 00:34:09,300 --> 00:34:13,266 knows he's just been healed by a man that has to be from God. 739 00:34:13,366 --> 00:34:16,433 And next week we're going to see how he comes all the 740 00:34:16,433 --> 00:34:18,466 way to salvation, but that's going to be next time. 741 00:34:18,533 --> 00:34:21,933 So, so he really has absolutely no 742 00:34:21,933 --> 00:34:23,300 problem. 743 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:27,366 It's complete confidence to hit them right back because he knows the truth. 744 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,633 That's what's so good about having the truth. 745 00:34:29,699 --> 00:34:31,266 That's why I don't care. 746 00:34:31,300 --> 00:34:33,233 You put me in Tiger Stadium, 100,000 people. 747 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:36,400 I'm not going to preach any differently there than I will right here 748 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,166 because I had the confidence that I have the truth. 749 00:34:39,233 --> 00:34:42,233 So now they descend to 750 00:34:42,233 --> 00:34:45,400 that 3rd level of contact, and I don't know if you remember, 751 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,033 we talked about this, verbal abuse. 752 00:34:47,099 --> 00:34:51,066 That's next in the line of the debate, verse 28. 753 00:34:51,233 --> 00:34:53,333 They reviled him. 754 00:34:53,333 --> 00:34:57,833 And said, you are his disciple. 755 00:34:57,900 --> 00:35:01,033 We are disciples of Moses. 756 00:35:01,066 --> 00:35:04,900 And there's that breach that I talked about earlier. 757 00:35:04,966 --> 00:35:08,933 Moses, and Christ, the 758 00:35:08,933 --> 00:35:12,766 church, and the synagogue, Judaism, 759 00:35:12,766 --> 00:35:16,066 and Christianity, still at odds, 760 00:35:16,066 --> 00:35:19,300 this day, the only chosen people 761 00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:22,466 of God in this world right now are people who 762 00:35:22,500 --> 00:35:26,166 have repented of their sins, and placed their saving faith in Christ alone. 763 00:35:26,199 --> 00:35:28,900 I don't care what their ethnicity is. 764 00:35:28,966 --> 00:35:30,699 Verse 29. 765 00:35:30,900 --> 00:35:34,033 We know that God has spoken to 766 00:35:34,033 --> 00:35:37,166 Moses, but as for this man, 767 00:35:37,199 --> 00:35:40,199 and there it is again, they will not even say his name because they 768 00:35:40,199 --> 00:35:41,833 hate his guts so much. 769 00:35:41,866 --> 00:35:45,099 As for this man, we do not know where, he is from. 770 00:35:45,166 --> 00:35:45,933 Now they should have known. 771 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:48,099 It was so clear. 772 00:35:48,166 --> 00:35:51,333 And listen, when they said we don't know where he's from, 773 00:35:51,333 --> 00:35:52,666 they're not talking about what town he's from. 774 00:35:52,733 --> 00:35:57,466 This is about, we don't know the origin of this man. 775 00:35:57,533 --> 00:36:00,633 They were unwilling to say, 776 00:36:00,633 --> 00:36:03,699 it's God, and since he did clearly 777 00:36:03,699 --> 00:36:06,766 just so many 100s, literally 778 00:36:06,766 --> 00:36:08,133 of supernatural things. 779 00:36:08,199 --> 00:36:11,266 The only alternative that they had to say 780 00:36:11,266 --> 00:36:14,733 about Jesus is, well, he has to be satanic. 781 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:16,066 Right? 782 00:36:16,133 --> 00:36:17,500 The power has to come from Satan. 783 00:36:17,566 --> 00:36:18,466 supernatural, clearly. 784 00:36:18,533 --> 00:36:21,699 Character of unbelief. 785 00:36:21,766 --> 00:36:23,400 And then verse 30. 786 00:36:23,566 --> 00:36:27,633 My man here saves the best for last in the conversation. 787 00:36:27,699 --> 00:36:31,733 And he hits directly 788 00:36:31,733 --> 00:36:35,566 with these words next into the irrationality of all this. 789 00:36:35,633 --> 00:36:37,266 Look at verse 30. 790 00:36:37,666 --> 00:36:40,733 The man answered and said to them, well, 791 00:36:40,733 --> 00:36:43,800 here is an amazing thing that you do 792 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,266 not know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. 793 00:36:47,333 --> 00:36:51,166 The conclusion. 794 00:36:51,300 --> 00:36:52,633 is so simple. 795 00:36:52,666 --> 00:36:57,033 He created new eyes, for heaven's sake. 796 00:36:57,099 --> 00:36:59,866 He has to be from heaven. 797 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,099 Breaking news, God 798 00:37:03,099 --> 00:37:04,766 alone is the creator. 799 00:37:04,833 --> 00:37:08,066 All that Satan has the power to do is 800 00:37:08,099 --> 00:37:11,333 destroy and counterfeit and falsify, 801 00:37:11,333 --> 00:37:13,000 only God can create. 802 00:37:13,133 --> 00:37:17,866 Jesus created New eyes for me. 803 00:37:17,933 --> 00:37:20,933 And you guys are telling me you don't know where he's from. 804 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:24,000 When unbelief 805 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:27,166 investigates a miracle, it comes up first with a conclusion, 806 00:37:27,166 --> 00:37:30,466 even if it has to function in an 807 00:37:30,466 --> 00:37:33,000 irrational way to get back to it. 808 00:37:33,033 --> 00:37:36,033 And lastly, For today, we're gonna 809 00:37:36,033 --> 00:37:37,699 see how unbelief is abusive. 810 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:39,233 Contemptuous. 811 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:42,400 And we see that play out next 812 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:43,766 in verses 31 to 34. 813 00:37:43,966 --> 00:37:45,333 But 1st the man keeps talking. 814 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,400 And we continue to see 815 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:51,933 how really smart this guy is, verse 31. 816 00:37:52,199 --> 00:37:55,199 He says, we know that God does 817 00:37:55,199 --> 00:37:56,633 not hear sinners. 818 00:37:56,699 --> 00:37:59,733 Now, that's an Old Testament principle, if I regard iniquity 819 00:37:59,733 --> 00:38:01,666 in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. 820 00:38:01,733 --> 00:38:03,599 That's what the Old Testament says. 821 00:38:03,633 --> 00:38:05,266 This man knew his Old Testament. 822 00:38:05,333 --> 00:38:07,500 God doesn't hear sinners, but look next. 823 00:38:07,533 --> 00:38:10,699 But if anyone is God fearing and does his 824 00:38:10,733 --> 00:38:14,099 will, he hears him, verse 32, 825 00:38:14,099 --> 00:38:17,566 since the beginning of time. 826 00:38:17,633 --> 00:38:20,633 It has never been heard that anyone 827 00:38:20,633 --> 00:38:24,833 opened the eyes of a person born blind. 828 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:28,066 Like I said, there is no such thing at 829 00:38:28,066 --> 00:38:30,599 all in the Old Testament about this. 830 00:38:30,699 --> 00:38:33,833 This man knew his theology, he was a 831 00:38:33,833 --> 00:38:36,966 reasonable man, he knew his Old Testament, verse 832 00:38:36,966 --> 00:38:40,066 33, if this man were not from 833 00:38:40,066 --> 00:38:41,800 God, he could do. 834 00:38:41,866 --> 00:38:46,066 He couldn't do any miracles. 835 00:38:46,133 --> 00:38:49,199 He's been doing 836 00:38:49,199 --> 00:38:50,933 100s of them in front of your face. 837 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:52,566 For 3 years. 838 00:38:52,599 --> 00:38:55,766 He couldn't do this if he weren't from God. 839 00:38:55,833 --> 00:38:59,000 So this man, he's taken over the meat tank 840 00:38:59,033 --> 00:39:00,400 here, the blind beggar man. 841 00:39:00,466 --> 00:39:01,966 They used to be blind guy. 842 00:39:02,033 --> 00:39:04,866 He's become a preacher. 843 00:39:04,900 --> 00:39:07,900 He's pulling 844 00:39:07,900 --> 00:39:10,966 from the Old Testament, and he's talking to the religious leaders of Israel. 845 00:39:11,033 --> 00:39:11,566 Huh? 846 00:39:11,633 --> 00:39:14,699 First, he's sarcastic, and 847 00:39:14,699 --> 00:39:17,766 now he's very specific and clear minded and faithful to the Old Testament, 848 00:39:17,766 --> 00:39:20,800 and even referring to the Old Testament principle that God 849 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:22,366 doesn't hear the prayer of sinners. 850 00:39:22,433 --> 00:39:25,733 He's giving them an explanation of reality. 851 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:30,733 Sensible, reasonable, logical explanation. 852 00:39:30,766 --> 00:39:33,833 And by the way, don't forget, he's got proof with alive eyes looking 853 00:39:33,833 --> 00:39:34,866 right at him when he's doing it. 854 00:39:34,900 --> 00:39:38,133 To which they respond with, 855 00:39:38,133 --> 00:39:39,500 contempt. 856 00:39:39,599 --> 00:39:41,566 And abuse. 857 00:39:41,633 --> 00:39:42,599 Verse 34. 858 00:39:42,766 --> 00:39:44,500 They answered him. 859 00:39:44,566 --> 00:39:47,800 You were born entirely 860 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:50,966 in sins, and are you teaching 861 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:52,366 us? 862 00:39:52,533 --> 00:39:55,766 And then they get physical, the last stage 863 00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:57,066 that we talked about last time. 864 00:39:57,099 --> 00:39:59,333 So they put him out. 865 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,566 They threw him out. 866 00:40:02,699 --> 00:40:06,533 That's the ultimate end of unbelief investigating a miracle. 867 00:40:06,599 --> 00:40:08,633 Can't deal with it. 868 00:40:08,699 --> 00:40:11,766 And in our own lives. 869 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:15,566 How many people do you know that continue right 870 00:40:15,599 --> 00:40:19,033 this very moment to live out their lives rejecting Christ? 871 00:40:19,300 --> 00:40:21,033 Rejecting his gospel. 872 00:40:21,099 --> 00:40:23,366 It's tough. 873 00:40:23,433 --> 00:40:25,966 What do we do with that? 874 00:40:26,033 --> 00:40:29,266 Reality, especially with our family members. 875 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,233 Well, big picture. 876 00:40:32,266 --> 00:40:36,166 I want you to think way back to when we were in John 6. 877 00:40:36,233 --> 00:40:39,333 How did Jesus handle that reality 878 00:40:39,333 --> 00:40:40,366 in John 6? 879 00:40:40,500 --> 00:40:42,533 This is where Jesus went. 880 00:40:42,633 --> 00:40:45,699 No man can come. 881 00:40:45,766 --> 00:40:49,599 Unless the Father who sent me draws him. 882 00:40:49,666 --> 00:40:53,033 No one can come. 883 00:40:53,133 --> 00:40:56,366 Ability, unless it is granted 884 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:57,666 by the Father. 885 00:40:57,699 --> 00:41:01,666 And all that the Father gives, 886 00:41:01,666 --> 00:41:04,800 and all that the Father grants will come to 887 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:07,966 Jesus, and he will raise every one of them 888 00:41:07,966 --> 00:41:10,300 on the last day guaranteed. 889 00:41:10,366 --> 00:41:11,933 Every one of them. 890 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:13,666 He loses not one. 891 00:41:13,733 --> 00:41:17,099 The only way any person 892 00:41:17,099 --> 00:41:20,866 who rejects Christ in his gospel can be delivered 893 00:41:20,866 --> 00:41:23,866 from the captivity of the slave market 894 00:41:23,866 --> 00:41:27,033 of unbelief is to be delivered by the 895 00:41:27,033 --> 00:41:28,766 power of God. 896 00:41:28,833 --> 00:41:30,400 And what can we do, folks? 897 00:41:30,466 --> 00:41:32,866 It was responsibility land, plead. 898 00:41:32,933 --> 00:41:36,466 Plead with God. 899 00:41:36,599 --> 00:41:38,533 For your lost family members. 900 00:41:38,566 --> 00:41:41,133 Plead with God for their souls. 901 00:41:41,266 --> 00:41:44,133 Blead with God to be gracious. 902 00:41:44,199 --> 00:41:47,199 Present the only gospel that exists, and 903 00:41:47,199 --> 00:41:50,199 plead with God, to say because 904 00:41:50,199 --> 00:41:52,300 the natural man does not understand this. 905 00:41:52,366 --> 00:41:55,366 Things of the spirit of God, their foolishness to him, 906 00:41:55,366 --> 00:41:58,666 because they're spiritually appraised, and 907 00:41:58,666 --> 00:42:01,000 the natural man is spiritually dead. 908 00:42:01,133 --> 00:42:03,099 And we hear it all the time. 909 00:42:03,166 --> 00:42:04,066 What can a dead man do? 910 00:42:04,133 --> 00:42:05,800 Stink. 911 00:42:05,866 --> 00:42:07,500 See it. 912 00:42:07,533 --> 00:42:10,533 We don't, we 913 00:42:10,533 --> 00:42:14,900 don't go out into the world with the message of the gospel with any hope. 914 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:18,766 That, that, that we have the power in 915 00:42:18,766 --> 00:42:22,500 our own selves and our own facts and our own ability, 916 00:42:22,500 --> 00:42:25,666 no matter how eloquently we can present the gospel, to 917 00:42:25,666 --> 00:42:28,666 shatter the, the, the blackness and 918 00:42:28,666 --> 00:42:31,666 the darkness of own belief, with our own persuasion. 919 00:42:31,733 --> 00:42:34,000 There's no way that we can possibly do it. 920 00:42:34,066 --> 00:42:36,099 It didn't happen like that for you, did it? 921 00:42:36,166 --> 00:42:40,199 It certainly didn't happen like that for me when we go out with the truth. 922 00:42:40,233 --> 00:42:43,466 We present it as best we can, and 923 00:42:43,500 --> 00:42:46,633 we plead with God to draw people out of 924 00:42:46,633 --> 00:42:50,033 the bondage of unbelief effectually. 925 00:42:50,099 --> 00:42:51,666 To himself. 926 00:42:51,699 --> 00:42:55,533 And the story of the blind man is 927 00:42:55,533 --> 00:42:57,500 the perfect illustration of this. 928 00:42:57,599 --> 00:43:00,833 The man in his blindness represents 929 00:43:00,833 --> 00:43:03,900 spiritual blindness, and Jesus 930 00:43:03,900 --> 00:43:07,533 initiates, and Jesus heals, 931 00:43:07,533 --> 00:43:10,599 and brings the man to perfect healing, 932 00:43:10,599 --> 00:43:12,333 just like he does for us. 933 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:14,033 We weren't looking for Jesus. 934 00:43:14,099 --> 00:43:16,366 He came looking. 935 00:43:16,433 --> 00:43:20,166 Pray, Father heaven, we thank you for this. 936 00:43:20,199 --> 00:43:23,433 Fantastic, wonderful story as always, 937 00:43:23,433 --> 00:43:25,366 uh, in these gospels, how? 938 00:43:25,366 --> 00:43:28,433 Great it is for us to kind of like get 939 00:43:28,433 --> 00:43:31,500 in a time machine and just go back to these 940 00:43:31,500 --> 00:43:33,599 accounts that actually happen. 941 00:43:33,633 --> 00:43:35,266 This is not fiction. 942 00:43:35,333 --> 00:43:38,333 This is an actual relating of actual 943 00:43:38,333 --> 00:43:42,233 history in the life of the god man Jesus Christ. 944 00:43:42,300 --> 00:43:45,633 And so I pray today, Lord, that it would deepen 945 00:43:45,633 --> 00:43:46,766 our understanding. 946 00:43:46,833 --> 00:43:50,733 Of all the truths that we've learned here today. 947 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:53,199 And as we go back out into our world. 948 00:43:53,266 --> 00:43:56,333 Lord, that it would that it would motivate us 949 00:43:56,333 --> 00:43:58,966 to live even more for your glory. 950 00:43:59,033 --> 00:44:01,733 As always, I pray if there are any here who are still blind. 951 00:44:01,833 --> 00:44:04,833 We plead with you, Lord, to 952 00:44:04,833 --> 00:44:05,966 draw them to yourself. 953 00:44:06,033 --> 00:44:07,066 Safe. 954 00:44:07,133 --> 00:44:08,933 We pray that all we've done today. 955 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:12,333 Has been done in such a way as to bring you all 956 00:44:12,333 --> 00:44:13,666 the glory. 957 00:44:13,733 --> 00:44:14,633 In Jesus' name we pray. 958 00:44:14,733 --> 00:44:15,099 Amen.