The Circumstances of Worship
Introduction
John 9:1-38
In recent months, we have been looking periodically at the theme of “Worship” in our Sunday morning services.
We have dealt with this subject by looking at “The Concept Of Worship” from Genesis 22. We’ve considered “A Call To Worship” in Exodus 34, and “Some Components Of Worship In Isaiah 6.” We saw “The Congregation That Worships” from 2 Chronicles 29. And we looked at Psalm 95 at “The Callousness Of Worship.” We also studied “A Conversation That Included The Subject Of Worship” in John chapter 4.
This morning, it’s on my heart to deal with some of “The Circumstances Of Worship” from John chapter 9.
I want to clarify that in talking about the “circumstances” of worship, I am not referring to the forms or formats involved in worship such as what songs are used. I am not referring to whether we should use hymn books or words projected on a screen using PowerPoint; nor am I talking about whether we should use a sound system to amplify sound. To have church at 9 am or 11 am is a preferential format, not a Biblical mandate. And just because we say “Sunday School at 10 a.m. & Worship at 11” doesn’t mean we have either one.
In order to worship, do you have to have a red brick building with a steeple on top? You can worship in that type of structure, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
I believe that the Bible teaches us that we should be faithful to the worship gatherings. And corporate worship will probably involve some kind of building. But on a personal level, you don’t necessarily have to be in church to be a worshipper. In fact, we see here in our text that the man whose sight had been restored, worshipped in John 9:38 after the hypocrites had thrown him out of church for teaching their Sunday school class (vs. 34).
I am not talking about the circumstantial forms that are used in worship, but I want to talk about the circumstantial factors that lead to worship.
Even the factors involved in worship can vary from person to person. One lady wrote…
Worship brings all kinds of responses, as I observed in church recently. An elderly woman was standing with eyes closed and hands raised in prayer and praise. The three-year-old standing in the pew in front of her turned around and gave her a high-five! (Jennifer Smith – Fort Gratiot, Michigan.
Christian Reader, “Kids of the Kingdom”)
Another lady was reminded of how singing varies from person to person. She said, “In the middle of the soloist’s number at church, my young grandson Chandler tugged on my sleeve and whispered, ‘She can’t sing very well, can she?’ Knowing the woman had a deep love for the Lord, I said, ‘Chandler, she sings from her heart. That’s what makes it good.’ He nodded thoughtfully. Several days later as he and I were singing along with the car radio, Chandler stopped and said, ‘Nana, you sing from your heart, don’t you?’” (Barbara McKeever – Urbana, Ohio. Christian Reader, “Kids of the Kingdom”)
I believe though that the circumstantial factors that lead to worship in John chapter 4 are factors that are at work in the heart and life of every true worshipper of God.
As we study this chapter, we find that…
I. The Circumstances Leading To Worship Involved The Miraculous
(John 9:1-15)
(John 9:16) Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
A. The Details Of This Miracle
(vs. 1-7)
1. There Is A Sightless Man Involved In This Miracle
(John 9:1-2) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. {2} And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Craig S. Keener said…
Those blind from birth (9:1) were not known to recover (9:32) – at least not without direct supernatural intervention. (From the IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament)
2. There Is A Strong Message Involved In This Miracle
(John 9:3-5) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. {4} I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. {5} As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
The Barnes’ Notes commentary says…
[Neither hath this man sinned ...] That is, his blindness is not the effect of his sin, or that of his parents. Jesus did not, evidently, mean to affirm that he or his parents were without any sin, but that this blindness was not the effect of sin. This answer is to be interpreted by the nature of the question submitted to him. The sense is, “his blindness is not to be traced to any fault of his or of his parents.”
[But that the works of God] This thing has happened that it might appear how great and wonderful are the works of God. By the works of God, here, is evidently intended the miraculous power which God would put forth to heal the man, or rather, perhaps, the whole that happened to him in the course of divine providence first his blindness, as an act of his providence, and then his healing him, as an act of mercy and power. It has all happened, not by the fault of his parents or of himself, but by the wise arrangement of God, that it might be seen in what way calamities come, and in what way God meets and relieves them.
Some commentators suggest that “the night cometh” is a reference to Christ’s impending death.
3. There Is A Strange Method Involved In This Miracle
(John 9:6-7) When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, {7} And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Wikipedia.org says…
Saliva is the watery and usually frothy substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands. Human saliva is composed mostly of water, but also includes electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes.
Again Craig Keener said…
Spittle was sometimes used for healing in pagan circles, so it would naturally represent an agent of healing in popular thought. But spittle was still more widely considered vulgar and gross, and its application would make the man uncomfortable if he knows what it is. (from IVP Bible Background Commentary)
Warren Wiersbe suggested that the clay illustrated the incarnation of Christ who was “sent” into this world.
Wikipedia goes on to describe the curative and cleansing effects of saliva…
A common belief is that saliva contained in the mouth has natural disinfectants, which leads people to believe it is beneficial to “lick their wounds.” … Saliva is an effective cleaning agent used in art conservation. Cotton swabs coated with saliva are rolled across a paintings surface to delicately remove thin layers of dirt that may accumulate
B. Notice The Dialogue About This Miracle
(vs. 8-15)
1. The Community Was Talking About It
(John 9:8) The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
(John 9:10) Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? (John 9:12) Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
neighbors – Greek 1069. geiton, ghi'-tone; from G1093; a neighbor (as adjoining one's ground); by impl. a friend:--neighbour.
2. The Clergy Was Talking About It
(John 9:13-15) They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. {14} And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. {15} Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
3. The Convert Was Talking About It
(John 9:9) Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
(John 9:11) He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
(John 9:15) Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
II. The Circumstances Leading To Worship Involved The Marvelous
(John 9:16-34)
(John 9:30) The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
marvellous – Greek 2298. thaumastos, thow-mas-tos'; from G2296; wondered at, i.e. (by impl.) wonderful:--marvel (-lous).
The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that the word “marvellous” is a Greek word (thaumaston) that means…
wonderful; a. worthy of pious admiration, admirable, excellent. b. passing human comprehension. c. causing amazement joined with terror. d. extraordinary, striking,
A. It’s Marvelous In Spite Of The Criticism In This Man’s World
(vs. 16-23)
1. When It Comes To Christ, There Is A Spirit Of Division
(John 9:16-17) Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. {17} They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
division – Greek 4978. schisma, skhis’-mah; from G4977; a split or gap (“schism”), lit. or fig.:-- division, rent, schism.
2. When It Comes To Christ, There Is A Spirit Of Doubt
(John 9:18-21) But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. {19} And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? {20} His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: {21} But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
In the case of his parents, there was not so much a spirit of doubt as of fear and non-commitment. Our world, like that world, is full of doubt and non-commitment about what Jesus is able to do in a person’s life.
3. When It Comes To Christ, There Is A Spirit Of Defiance
(John 9:22-23) These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. {23} Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
confess – Greek 3670. homologeo, hom-ol-og-eh'-o; from a comp. of the base of G3674 and G3056; to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:--con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.
To confess means that you would say the same thing about Jesus that He was saying about Himself. It has the idea that you were acknowledging Him as the Christ.
Barnes’ Notes explains that to be “put out of the synagogue”…
refers to excommunication from the synagogue. Among the Jews there were two grades of excommunication; the one for lighter offences, of which they mentioned 24 causes; the other for greater offences. The first excluded a man for 30 days from the privilege of entering a synagogue, and from coming nearer to his wife or friends than 4 cubits. The other was a solemn exclusion forever from the worship of the synagogue, attended with awful maledictions and curses, and an exclusion from all contact with the people. This was called the curse, and so thoroughly excluded the person from all communion whatever with his countrymen, that they were not allowed to sell to him anything, even the necessaries of life.
B. It’s Marvelous In Sight (View) Of The Confidence In This Man’s Witness
(vs. 24-34)
1. This Man Confidently Emphasized The Difference
(John 9:24-27) Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. {25} He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. {26} Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? {27} He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
2. This Man Confidently Emphasized The Defense
(John 9:28-31) Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
{29} We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. {30} The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. {31} Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary states…
The youth had now no need to say another word; but waxing bolder in defense of his Benefactor, and his views brightening by the very courage which it demanded, he puts it to them how they could pretend inability to tell whether one who opened the eyes of a man born blind was “of God” or “a sinner” – from above or from beneath – and proceeds to argue the case with remarkable power.
3 This Man Confidently Emphasized The Divine
(John 9:32-34) Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. {33} If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. {34} They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
III. The Circumstances Leading To Worship Involved The Manifestation
(John 9:3, 35-41)
(John 9:3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
manifest – Greek 5319. phaneroo, fan-er-o'-o; from G5318; to render apparent (lit. or fig.):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that this word “manifest” means “to become known, to be plainly recognized, thoroughly understood.”
A. Notice How The Works Of God Are Manifested
(vs. 7, 35)
1. The Lord Cures Our Problem
(John 9:7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
2. The Lord Comprehends Our Pain
(John 9:35) 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?
heard – Greek 191. akouo, ak-oo'-o; a prim. verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
3. The Lord Comes To Our Position
(John 9:35) 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?
found – Greek 2147. heurisko, hyoo-ris'-ko; a prol. form of a prim. heuro, hyoo'-ro; which (together with another cognate form heureo, hyoo-reh'-o) is used for it in all the tenses except the pres. and imperf.; to find (lit. or fig.):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon indicates that one aspect of this word “found” is “after searching, to find a thing sought.”
He came looking for me! And He keeps finding me in my times of need.
B. Notice How The Way Of Grace Is Manifested
(vs. 35-41)
1. The Way Of Grace Is A Way Of Invitation
(John 9:35) 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?
Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament says…
The form of the question indicates the confident expectation of an affirmative answer. It is almost an affirmation, “you surely believe;” “you” (su – emphatic) who have borne such bold testimony to me that they have cast you out.
2. The Way Of Grace Is A Way Of Identification
(John 9:36-38) He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? {37} And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. {38} And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
3. The Way Of Grace Is A Way Of Indictment
(John 9:39-41) And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. {40} And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? {41} Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Conclusion
The name John Newton is familiar to many believers. (The cyberhymnal website says…) Newton’s mother died when he was seven years old. At age 11, with but two years schooling and only a rudimentary knowledge of Latin, John went to sea with his father. His life at sea was filled with wonderful escapes, vivid dreams, and a sailor’s recklessness. He grew into a godless and abandoned man. He was once flogged as a deserter from the navy, and for 15 months lived, half starved and ill treated, as a slave in Africa.
A chance reading of Thomas à Kempis sowed the seed of his conversion. It was accelerated by a night spent steering a waterlogged ship in the face of apparent death. He was then 23 years old. Over the next six years, during which he commanded a slave ship, his faith matured. He spent the next nine years mostly in Liverpool, studying Hebrew and Greek and mingling with Whitefield, Wesley, and the Nonconformists. He was eventually ordained, and became curate at Olney, Buckinghamshire, in 1764.
A marble plaque at St. Mary Woolnoth carried the epitaph which Newton himself wrote: John Newton, Clerk
Once an infidel and libertine A servant of slaves in Africa,
Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Gospel which he had long laboured to destroy. He ministered,
Near sixteen years in Olney, in Bucks, And twenty-eight years in this Church.
Perhaps the thing we know best about John Newton are the words that he wrote beginning with these lines…
"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see."
Those who have experienced the miracle and the marvel and the manifestation of God’s Amazing Grace are those that know how to worship God.