John 9:35-38 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said to him, Do you believe on the Son of God?… I. THE DEMAND CHRIST MAKES UPON THE HUMAN HEART — Faith (ver. 35). 1. Personal. It must be the trust of the individual soul. 2. Immediate. It must be exercised now without delay. 3. Intelligent. It must be directed to the right object — the Son of God. II. THE HOMAGE CHRIST ACCEPTS FROM THE HUMAN HEART — Worship (ver. 38). 1. Adoring: more than outward courtesy and formal obeisance — even the prostration of the spirit. 2. Believing: rooted in and proceeding from the soul's faith in Christ. 3. Joyous. III. THE WORK CHRIST PERFORMS ON THE HUMAN HEART — Judgment (ver. 39-41). 1. Indirect. It follows as an inevitable result of His presenting Himself as the Light of the World. 2. Real. It infallibly results in — (1) Separating men into two classes — "the not seeing" and "the seeing." (2) Retributively acting upon them in accordance with their ascertained characters and dispositions. 3. Progressive. This work is going on as truly and efficiently as when Christ was upon earth. 4. Permanent.Lessons: 1. The importance of ascertaining in which group one is placed by Christ's judicial work. 2. The necessity of faith corresponding in fulness to the revelation of Himself which Christ has given. 3. The propriety of making Christ the object as well as the ground and medium of our worship. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? |
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