Man Born Blind (Sermon Blog)
Message Overview:
In this message, guest speaker Pastor Matt Henry walked us through John 9, the powerful story of a man born blind and the way Jesus met him in his suffering. Through Scripture and personal testimony, Pastor Matt reminded us that suffering is not evidence of God’s absence—but often the place where God is most at work. This story invites us to shift our questions, trust God’s purposes, and believe that Jesus is still bringing light into dark places.
Jesus Sees Our Suffering
The story begins with a simple but important detail:
“As Jesus went along, He saw a man blind from birth.” — John 9:1
Before the man speaks…
Before anyone asks a question…
Jesus sees him.
Pastor Matt emphasized this truth:
Jesus does not overlook suffering
Jesus notices people others pass by
Jesus sees us before we ever call out to Him
Truth to remember:
👉 Jesus sees our suffering.
Asking the Wrong Question
The disciples immediately asked Jesus:
“Who sinned—this man or his parents—that he was born blind?”
This reflects a common assumption:
If something bad happens, someone must be at fault
Pain must be punishment
Suffering must be deserved
But Jesus corrected their thinking.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned… this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” — John 9:3
Pastor Matt pointed out:
“Why did this happen to me?” is often the wrong question
Suffering is part of a broken world, not always a personal failure
A better question is:
👉 “God, what are You up to?”
God Is Always Up to Something
Throughout Scripture, we see that God is never idle—even in pain.
Pastor Matt highlighted several reminders:
God’s plans are bigger than what we can see (Jeremiah 29:11)
God works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28)
Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3–5)
Sometimes:
God heals immediately
Sometimes God heals gradually
Sometimes God heals fully in eternity
But God is always at work.
Jesus Brings Light into Dark Places
Jesus declared:
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” — John 9:5
Then He did something unexpected:
He made mud
He placed it on the man’s eyes
He sent him to wash
This was not a partial healing.
This man was born blind—and no one had ever seen anything like this before.
When the man washed, he came back seeing.
Key truth:
👉 Jesus does not just improve our situation—He transforms it.
When God Waits
Pastor Matt connected this miracle to other moments in Scripture, like the story of Lazarus.
Sometimes God waits—not because He doesn’t care, but because:
He is revealing His glory
He is strengthening faith
He is doing something greater than immediate relief
Waiting does not mean abandonment.
Waiting often means God is preparing something deeper.
Seeing God in the Middle of the Story
Through his own testimony, Pastor Matt shared how suffering reshaped his understanding of faith, healing, and trust in God.
The lesson from John 9 is clear:
God does not waste pain
God does not ignore suffering
God is present, even when answers feel delayed
What looks like tragedy may become testimony.
What feels like darkness may be the place where God’s light shines brightest.
A Question for Reflection
Jesus healed the man’s physical blindness—but the greater miracle was revealing who He truly is.
The story invites us to ask:
Where do I need to trust God’s purpose instead of demanding explanations?
Where might God be at work in ways I cannot yet see?
Am I willing to let Jesus bring light into my darkest places?
Pastor Steve will resume the Restoration series next week with Part 2.
Join us as we continue exploring how God restores lives with hope, strength, and purpose.