THE "RELIGION" OF JESUS
#697 THE “RELIGION” OF JESUS
Scripture John 9:13-41 NIV Orig. 2/17/78
Rewr. 11/20/86
Passage:
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Purpose: To help us to get a better picture of Jesus by better understanding the real religion He believed and practiced.
Keywords: Christ the Mediator Doctrine Religion Commitment
Introduction
People had problems with their religion in Jesus’ day as well. It revolved simply around the fact that religion had become common-place. The Hebrews had this heritage of God’s presence and power undergirding them. That He knew about them and cared. Most of them were born into homes where they had parents, even fathers, interested in sharing this spiritual destiny with the young. And there were synagogues enough, not one on every corner, but enough. They also had the Temple in Jerusalem. So, they were a religious folk, but it was an outward form of religion. They looked for ways to minimize any struggle that might be brought on by such a religious outlook. They wanted a religion that would cost them as little as possible.
In Pilgrim’s Progress, we find the story of a religious pilgrim. Some think it to have been a parable of Bunyan’s own life and pilgrimage. He tells of the pilgrim who is called “Christian” on his journey to the “Celestial City.” He meets other pilgrims who are going the wrong way. There was “Timorous” and “Mistrust” who come running down the road shouting “Go back, man! Go back! There are lions in the path!” Then there was “Mr. Pliable.” He was the one of enthusiastic beginning. But one day on the journey, he fell into the “Slough of Despond.” He climbed out on the side nearest his own house, a pathetic mud-smeared thing, and made tracks for home, never to be seen again.
Paul addressed the problems of the early church in the first twelve chapters of I Corinthians. He wrote the people about worship, Christian character, God’s holiness, marriage, etc. In the context of spiritual gifts, however, he reminded them, “You may have the best of religions, and unparalleled comprehension of it, but if you do not have love for others, your religion is without purpose.”
This message is to the end that we may better understand the religion of Jesus, and thereby better adapt it to our own lives.
I. Jesus’ Religion Establishes an Ethic not Afraid to Speak of Sin. V39, 41 “And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say ‘we see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
They, like many today, allowed themselves the prerogative relative to sin. It did not matter that there were clear declarations from the law. Deuteronomy 6:6 “These words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Fear God, and keep His commandments: This is the whole duty of man.”
They had therefore achieved a level of sophistication whereby they rationalized God’s place and sovereignty in their lives. It continues to happen. Some renounce formal marriage ceremonies, [saying] it’s just a matter of record, or [out of] disdain for God. Many have simply set moral law aside.
There has found its way amongst us a movement called “God is dead.” Not new, but even contemporary theologians are radicalizing it. They pronounce human words, thinking to discount “unacceptable” words.
I mentioned a few days ago, S.M. Lockridge, black pastor who will be speaking at our Evangelism Conference in January. He preached at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans a few years ago, and he spoke eloquently to this very question. I quote: “We live in an alienated age, a computerized environment, and a psychedelic society. Offbeat theologians and their fraternity mates have plunged themselves into the depths of existential despair. They have romped around in their sub-surface playpens and have emerged to announce that God is dead. Now this shouldn’t have been surprising to us for the Bible informs us that the ‘fool has said in his heart, “there is no God.”’ And when I first heard that absurd statement it made me want to ask some stupid and senseless questions. Like, ‘Who assassinated Him? What, no one was called? Who signed His death certificate? Who was so well acquainted with the One pronounced dead, that he could identify the deceased? In what obituary column did you find His name?’ And, ‘Why was I not notified? I’m a member of the family?’”
Jesus’ “religion” begins with an appropriate evaluation of sin.
II. Jesus’ Religion Declared a Doctrine Determined to Raise Questions. V16 “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, this man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath.”
Jesus is not at odds with those who would question contemporary religious forms. At issue is truth. If what is done, though new and different, has truth as its goal, then Christ is in it. In fact, to accept something just because it is palatable to the religious masses is spiritually inept. Such statements as (1) Don’t make waves; (2) Don’t muddy the water; (3) Let well enough alone; (4) It was good enough for Grandpa; would have been morally and spiritually unacceptable to Christ. They should be for us as well.
This malady beset the elder brother in Jesus’ parable. He had not gone against the “traditions” of family honor. Even if tempted, he had overcome. He had protected the “status quo.” But he is ready to turn his own brother over to the ravages of a decadent society without so much as a camel knuckle to chew on. How like many people’s religion he really is.
There were questions needing a Voice, and Jesus would voice them. There are ample examples. In the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard, . . . but I. . . .” More than fifteen times this conjunction of alternate thesis is used. According to Jesus, then, what is true spirituality? Is it keeping our bills paid, working regularly, going to church usually? Or are these nothing more than things we ought to do anyway?
Listen to Mark 8:34 “Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Taking “cross” may be just the ordinary. Following Jesus is the extraordinary.
Whatever the question is, after it is asked, and answered, are we closer to Him?
While in New Iberia, I was asked one year to serve as a judge for the Louisiana High School Speech Rally. One session I was to judge “extemporaneous speech.” I walked in the room to discover what the choices of topics included. I don’t recall the others. One I won’t forget: “Good Old Plastic Jesus.” These high school students were asked to make up a speech about a Jesus who could be manipulated, bent around the finger.
But that’s not Jesus. What some would want to make of Him.
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus said, Ask all the questions you like so long as you end up with this simple doctrine.
III. Jesus’ Religion Sought a Standard that Substantiated a Changed Lifestyle. V35f “Jesus heard that they had cast him (blind man) out; and when he had found him, he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ . . . then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ and he worshiped him.”
It is no easy matter to always be what others want us to be. Whether parents, children, employers, neighbors, church friends, etc. National Geographic report of danger to gorilla handler was more likely if jealousy involved.
He likewise understands lack of fulfillment when working only to please ourselves. Ecclesiastes 2:4, “I made me great works; I builded me houses; . . . and, behold, all was vanity.”
The only viable choice remaining is that of a life standard based on the Word of God. The family of the man in our text turned from their own son from fear of a religious tribunal. The people who knew him best reject what they do not understand rather than to abuse their own ego needs. Much of the world’s intolerance is in the name of religion. At times, the sincerest believers suffer the greatest abuse. But those who walk with God are therein comforted not by religion, but by a personal walk of faith.
Closing
Gertrude, Mabel and Judy were offered a ride from Emmanuel Church in New Orleans. “I don’t drive on Bourbon Street.” Gertrude: “And there we were living on Bourbon Street.”