As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. vs1-3

The blind man received his sight by obeying Jesus, and then he began to suffer for Him. This is our inheritance as God’s children and what we’ve been appointed to in His mercy.

First, God has a purpose in the salvation of the elect that far outweighs our depravity in sin. “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” He created us for His glory, not the glory of His wrath but for the glory of His amazing grace [Rom 9:22-23].

Receive this purpose as you go into the world! There are people that God will save, who are dead and lost in sin. They are as blind as this man spiritually. They are whoremongers, prostitutes, and homosexuals. They are in grotesque sin, but it is not our job to point the finger of blame and congratulate ourselves on moral superiority. No! Some of these are God’s elect, and we preach the gospel to all to get it to them, and we preach in love!

We have the blessed privilege of enduring all things for the elect’s sake. How can we preach the gospel to people that we hate? We cannot! Look past their sin to Jesus Christ, and call them to repentance. Some are depraved at this moment, so that God can be glorified in their salvation.

Secondly, there is something that we must do, if we want to be saved. vs5-6

Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

Many people think that election means that we do nothing. Oh no! Nothing could be further from the truth. We repent and believe the gospel, as we’ve been commanded.

Receive this love of God. John 1:12, “But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—” Acknowledge that He’s loved you freely without any cause in yourself. Acknowledge that He chose you, because whoever believes is chosen, called, and predestined. Acknowledge that you didn’t earn His love, and He will cause you to live holy. Receive Christ as He is, and add nothing to Him.

This is too hard for mankind, but God gives us grace, as He gives us the command. Never stop preaching commandments and warnings [2 Tim 3:16-17]. Never preach too low, but bring people to the word of God. They’ll receive it with understanding, if God is working.

Thirdly, the fear of man and false religion is going to cause many to turn against us. vs13-23

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Some preach the gospel, as if there is no suffering. As if you will be well received by family, or you can hide the gospel to avoid offense. That is not the way. True Christianity is a coming out for Jesus Christ in baptism and gathering with the saints [Heb 10:24-25]. It is not a secret discipleship; it is a missionary mindstate. A person may keep their faith hidden, as they seek to bring others in, but they cannot hide by refusing to live for others. Christ showed Himself to the world, in due time, because He was appointed to suffer. The New Testament knows nothing about hiding Christ.

Come out for Him boldly, and suffer according to the power of God [2 Tim 1:8]. Do not be ashamed of the testimony or of those who suffer. Do not hide the gospel for comfort, but live to make Christ known. We have hardships to endure, and we have a Savior who’ll find us, stand with us, and give us greater revelations of His glory [John 9:35-38]. We must push our chips all in and commit ourselves wholeheartedly. Do not cower, because you’ll lose what you could have gained, which is the blessedness to persecution.