If it was not one’s intention to miss worship on the First Sunday of the New Year, one can still tune into Christ The King Baptist Church and hear a Word from Heaven.
Pastor John W. McVicker, Sr., explains the dialogue between the blind man and the super saints, also known as the Pharisees, and between the man’s parents and the super saints.
John 9:25 (NIV), “A Testimony in The Past Tense”
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
In verse 1 of John, Chapter 9, according to Pastor John W. McVicker, “This was a hard, helpless, and hopeless case. In verse 2, the question was, whose sin? McVicker explains, “People suffer at the hands of individuals .” In verse 3, there was erroneous thinking of the disciples. “This happened so the word of God might be displayed in him.”
Verses 4-6 explain the blind man’s testimony. “The testimony followed an irritation in his life. The testimony followed the irritation.” McVicker emphasizes Jacob, Job’s disaster, Jonah, and more. The blind man endured his irritation; he had his illumination. The healing came after the blind man obeyed Jesus.
“He obeyed the Word of Jesus. He came back seeing.”
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
McVicker added, Verses 8-10, the people asked isn’t this the blind man who used to beg? In verse 13, when the blind man was questioned by the super saints, he responded, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see.”
Pastor McVicker explained how people are ready to focus on faults. There is damnation before dialogue. “They hold onto your past as if it’s a current event. It doesn’t matter what God has done.”
“His testimony was going to be examined now by the super saints. V13.’
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.
John 9:13, New International Version
McVicker said in verse 24, “He wouldn’t debate. His attitude was, I don’t know, but I was blind.” The Blind man responded, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know, but I do know. I was blind, but now I see.”
This continuous dialogue between the Blind man and the super saints and the super saints talking to the Blind man’s parents.
The Pharisees wanted to know how and when he regained his sight.
“He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.”
V16 and 17, “This man is not from God; he healed on the Sabbath.”
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.
John 9:16, New International Version
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.”
John 9:17, New International Version
McVicker disclosed, “The super saints were divided, and sometimes they didn’t get along.”
They turned to the blind man, who rebuked them, …” He is a Man of God more than any of you.”
McVicker emphasized. “The super saints continued their request. They became obsessed with someone else. They got his parents in the courtroom.”
“Is this your son that you say was born blind?
How is it he can see?”
“How he can see, we don’t know anything about that.”
John 9: 18-20, New International Version
McVicker added his approval of the parents being confident. The Parents stood their ground. “We know he’s our son, and he was born blind.
As he can see, we don’t know anything about that.
Ask him; he’s old enough and no longer under our jurisdiction.”
“No one can tell your story better than you.
You know how he brought you through and over.
You know how He made a way for you.
Their parents said, Ask him. Can’t nobody tell it like the Lord has done for you!
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
The super saints recalled the man to the witness stand.
They told him, “Give God GLory. We know Jesus is a sinner.”
His Attitude, “Jesus might be some or all of what you said. I don’t know, and I don’t care. I was blind, but now I see.”
He told Jesus’ critics, “There may be things that I know. I may not understand a lot of stuff, but I was blind, but now I see.”
“The conjunction speaks to the transition.
I was sinking deep in sin, sinking to rise no more. But, the master of the sea, heard my despairing cry.
We are hard-pressed on every side but not in despair.
We are persecuted but not abandoned.
How many can say I was, but now.
Threshold of a New Year, look back over the last year and have a testimony over the previous year.
At times, I gave out, but I didn’t give up.
I felt helpless but not hopeless.
I stopped a few times, but I did not quit.
I have a testimony in the past tense because God’s grace will give you deposition in the past tense.
The songwriter said I was sinking deep in sin.”
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
“I once was, but
I survived the changes.
I survived the challenges.
I survived the disappointments.
I survived the discouragement.
The heartbreak.
Letdowns.
Setbacks.
The Lord has been good to you.”
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
If one does not have a church home for the New Year, Christ The King Baptist Church extends an invitation for morning worship on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am located at 7750 N. 60th Street,(Port)(One block before Bradley Road). Masks are required. Sunday School begins immediately after worship. Feel free to listen to any previous sermons from Christ The King Baptist Church on youtube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFSan8KFQLHJ_PM2f5VKbng/videos.
Reporter Jude 