Thesis
Walking through John 9, Pastor Scott Rogers shows that a genuine encounter with Jesus produces real, visible life change. The man born blind could not explain the theology of his healing, but he could not deny what had happened to him: 'I was blind, but now I see.' The sermon calls followers of Jesus to approach Him with humility and obedience — the same posture the blind man took — and to hold firmly to what they know God has done in their lives, even when they cannot answer every skeptical question about faith.
Key points
- 1
The book of John was written to confirm that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that life comes through believing in Him.
- 2
Jesus is mission-focused and unwilling to be sidetracked by theological rabbit trails — regardless of what caused our suffering, God can use it for His glory.
- 3
A genuine encounter with Christ changes your life — the blind man's neighbors could not even recognize him, just as Pastor Scott's classmates could not recognize him after six years of walking with Jesus.
- 4
A Christian is someone following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus — change is part of the package.
- 5
The posture that receives transformation is humility and obedience — do what Jesus says and receive what He gives.
- 6
Don't give up what you do know for what you don't know — your personal story of change is powerful testimony even when you cannot answer every skeptical question.
- 7
God can use even our darkest moments and biggest struggles for His glory and to reveal Himself to others.
Outline
Purpose of John and Setup
Pastor Scott establishes that the book of John exists to confirm Jesus's identity as the Messiah and Son of God. He reads John 20:30-31 and provides context from John 8, where Jesus declares 'I am' before Abraham and the Pharisees attempt to stone Him.
The Miracle: John 9:1-7
Jesus encounters a man blind from birth, deflects the disciples' question about whose sin caused it, and heals the man in the unconventional way — making mud with saliva and sending him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy.
The Interrogation and the Testimony
The healed man's neighbors take him to the Pharisees, who interrogate him repeatedly about the Sabbath healing. His parents deflect out of fear, and the man is ultimately thrown out of the synagogue for defending Jesus.
The Encounter with Jesus and the Big Question
Jesus finds the man after he is cast out; the man believes and worships Him. Pastor Scott poses the central question: Is it possible to have a genuine encounter with Christ and remain the same? He argues the answer is no, using his own reunion story as illustration.
What Change Looks Like and How to Pursue It
Pastor Scott unpacks what genuine Christian transformation means — 'I was blank, but now I am blank' — and identifies humility and obedience as the posture required to receive change, summarized as 'Do what Jesus says; receive what He gives.'
Don't Give Up What You Know
Using the Alexa story and a series of hard skeptical questions, Pastor Scott encourages believers to hold firmly to their testimony even when they lack answers. The honest response to transformation is: 'I don't know how, but I do know who — Jesus.'
God Uses Our Story for His Glory
Returning to John 9:3 and Romans 8:28, Pastor Scott closes by calling the congregation to see their own struggles and dark moments as potential platforms for God's glory — making each believer a living billboard for what Christ has done.
Memorable moments
whether he's a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see
I don't know how, but I do know who. Jesus
Do what Jesus says. Receive what he gives
a Christian is someone who's following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus
regardless of what caused it, if we submit our hearts and surrender our life to Christ, God can use it for his glory
Don't give up what you do know for what you don't know
Application
Pastor Scott's call to action is both simple and deeply personal. First, come to Jesus with humility and obedience — stop resisting what He asks, and trust that doing what He says and receiving what He gives is the path to real transformation. Second, own your story. Fill in your own 'I was blank, but now I am blank' — and refuse to abandon that testimony just because you cannot answer every hard question someone throws at you. You don't need all the answers; you just need to know who changed you. Finally, let God use your story. Your struggles, your darkest moments, your 'stuff' — none of it is wasted. Submitted to Christ, it becomes the very thing He uses to display His glory and point others toward Him.
