Sight for the Blind
In "Sight for the Blind," Pastor Josh Siergey shares the story of a man born blind who encounters Jesus and experiences outrageous grace. Some people are open and changed, while others refuse to see what’s right in front of them, revealing the difference between a surrendered heart that receives grace and a self-reliant heart that pushes it away. It challenges us to ask: are we really seeing - or missing what matters most?
Use these materials to go deeper into this message on your own, or with your small group.
Passage Breakdowns, SOAPS Format & Instructions (Weeks 1-12)
Passage Breakdowns, SOAPS Format & Instructions (Weeks 13-26)
If you’d like to follow along with us using the Gospel of John Scripture Journal, you’re welcome to purchase a copy here
Well, good morning everybody. Grateful for this illustrious intro I got from Pastor Paul—makes me feel pretty awesome.
I am indeed Joshua Siergey, the new executive pastor. Actually, I’m not super new anymore now that we have Jordan Marotti on staff. I’m not the new guy anymore, so I’m always happy to pass off the “new guy” title to someone else.
I have been officially on staff since February 1st. It’s only been a few months, but I’ve already gotten to see God doing some incredible things here at the chapel. How many dozens of people have we seen get baptized right here on this stage since February? Dozens and dozens.
I’ve gotten to see the awesome ways our preschool and family ministries pour into our kids. I’ve seen real, biblical discipleship happening among our men, women, and young adults. I’ve seen the spiritual fruit of our congregation on display—the goodness, kindness, and joy produced through things like Night to Shine. If you were involved in that, what an amazing event.
These are just a few of the ways I’ve seen God at work. I could go on all day. But as it comes to my role, one of my favorite things is to dream big about the future and plan for it so it unfolds the way God wants it to. I’ve only had a couple of months to do that—and honestly, it took me the first month just to figure out how to log into my email and use the copy machine—but I think I’ve gained some competency now.
Here’s one thing I know for sure: God has been at work at this chapel for a long time—almost a hundred years. Right here on this property, there’s a long history of preaching God’s Word and winning souls for Jesus. And I also know this history is only just beginning.
I’m incredibly excited to see what God might do over the next hundred years.
I know our church has strong, wise leadership. I know we have an active and engaged congregation. I know we have skilled and passionate staff members who are sold out for what Jesus is doing here and for God’s kingdom. And I know this for certain: if we keep stewarding these God-given gifts well and pointing them in the right direction, there is no limit to what God can do.
I’m fired up to be part of that team. And I want to say thank you—for allowing me and my family to be part of the chapel family. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
We’re coming off an awesome Easter weekend. So many people were here hearing the truth of God’s Word and celebrating Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection. Maybe you came for the first time over Easter—or maybe today is your first time. If so, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here, and I hope it’s not your last time.
If you haven’t been following along, we’ve been working through the Gospel of John. Last week, Pastor Dave covered chapter 8, where one of the big themes is Jesus as the light of the world. That theme continues into chapter 9, which we’re in today.
As is tradition, I’m going to read the whole chapter—all 41 verses. We’re in this together.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
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.
We made it.
There’s a lot happening in this chapter—many characters and themes—but one of the strongest themes is blindness.
Blindness is one of people’s greatest fears. But for others, it’s a daily reality—like the man in this story. I find it inspiring when people overcome physical limitations and succeed despite them.
Think of Ray Charles—legendary musician, 17 Grammy Awards. Or Trevor Thomas, the first visually impaired person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail—over 2,000 miles. Or Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf and became the first person with those challenges to earn a bachelor’s degree.
She once said: “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
That idea comes to life in this passage. We see that blindness takes multiple forms.
As chapter 9 begins, Jesus and His disciples encounter a man blind from birth. The disciples ask, “Who sinned—this man or his parents—that he was born blind?”
Today, that sounds like a strange question. But in their cultural and religious understanding, it made sense. They believed suffering was tied to specific sin—even generational sin.
Jesus responds with a third option: neither. This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
This would have been shocking. It completely challenged their worldview.
And this brings us to the first point: grace can be outrageous.
In their eyes, this man’s blindness represented sin and unrighteousness. But Jesus reframes it as an opportunity for God’s glory. That’s radical.
The man was born blind—never had sight, never would without intervention. He was condemned socially and spiritually in his community. But then he encounters Jesus—the light of the world—and everything changes.
Grace can be outrageous.
Then comes the miracle. Jesus makes mud with saliva and puts it on the man’s eyes. Let’s be honest—it’s a strange method. It breaks Sabbath rules, defies expectations, and frankly, it’s a little uncomfortable to picture.
But the man doesn’t resist. He’s desperate. He has nothing to lose.
And this leads to the second point: a surrendered heart receives grace.
The man accepts what Jesus offers without hesitation. His desperation becomes the doorway to transformation.
Sometimes God’s grace doesn’t look the way we expect. Sometimes it’s not neat or comfortable—sometimes it’s “spit mud.” But a surrendered heart receives it anyway.
The man obeys, washes, and comes back seeing.
Then comes the aftermath. The Pharisees investigate, question, and try to discredit what happened. They’re more committed to their agenda than to the truth. Despite witnessing a miracle, they miss it entirely.
Which leads to the final point: a self-possessed heart repels grace.
Their pride blinds them. Their certainty keeps them from seeing what God is doing right in front of them.
Jesus later says that those who think they see will become blind, while those who are blind will see. The contrast is complete.
The formerly blind man gains both physical and spiritual sight. The Pharisees, despite their knowledge, remain spiritually blind.
In the end, it comes down to this: surrender leads to grace. Pride blocks it.
I was reminded of this on a mission trip after Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. We worked with a woman named Miss Margarita. One day she said, “When I wake up, I try to come to Jesus like a blind beggar, relying on Him for everything.”
That’s a surrendered heart.
Like the blind man, she was ready to receive whatever God gave her—even if it came in unexpected ways.
Helen Keller was right: having sight without vision is worse than blindness.
The man in this story had no earthly accomplishments. But spiritually, he received everything—because he surrendered.
And that’s the lesson: when we surrender, Jesus works miracles.
We are justified by faith, not by works. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
My hope is that we leave more aware of our spiritual need—recognizing how much we depend on Jesus—not just for salvation, but for ongoing transformation.
That we are healed from spiritual blindness by the light of the world, Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray.
Dear Lord, thank you for how you’ve moved among us today. Open our eyes, heal our spiritual blindness, and help us walk in your light. Draw us to you, and continue your work in us, making us more like you each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
