Blind Religiosity

This sermon is a follow-up to the events in verses John 9:1-12, about Jesus healing the man who was born blind. It is preferable to listen to that sermon first.

The Pharisees investigate the healing by interrogating the man who was healed of his blindness. Then they examine his parents. And, finally, they question the healed man again and castigate him and cast him from their presence. Though he was cast out by the religious leaders, our compassionate Savior speaks once more to the healed man and leads him to a true conversion and to true worship.

The Pharisees are incensed that Christ would dare heal on the Sabbath. They reveal their legalistic misunderstanding of the Sabbath. We may also misunderstand the purpose of the Lord's Day. We can either be legalistic, like the Pharisees, or we might swing to an opposite extreme of ignoring the purpose and meaning of the Sabbath. Pastor Linehan shows us, briefly, how we should honor God on the Lord's Day.

Though the Pharisees were experts in the Law, they were blind to the fact that the Messiah had just performed a great, Messianic sign, or fulfillment of prophecy, before their very eyes. They were not glad that a man had received his sight, nor were they humble before the Savior. They were very religious, yet they were blind.