The Gospel of John: Sight That Leads to Surrender - Rejection to Revelation | Ps. Mark Missenden

7 September 2025Find out more about Jesus⁠https://hillschurch.org.au/Jesus⁠Find the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.⁠https://hillschurch.org.au/alpha⁠Can we pray for you? Request prayer.⁠https://hillschurch.org.au/⁠ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link below⁠https://hillschurch.org.au/give⁠OverviewWeek 3 of “Sight That Leads to Surrender” (John 9). The man once blind is cast out by people—but sought out by Jesus. His journey lands where all true sight must: faith that bows in worship.PassageJohn 9:35–41 (supporting: Rev 3:20; Luke 19:10; John 4; James 4:6; Heb 13:8).Big IdeaJesus pursues the rejected; humility opens the door; true sight surrenders in worship.Flow / Movements 1. Jesus finds the cast-out (v.35) • “When Jesus heard… he found the man.” • Gospel heartbeat: the Shepherd moves toward the overlooked, excluded, humbled (cf. Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus). • Takeaway: You are not an afterthought to Jesus; he is the Initiator. 2. Humility opens; pride closes (vv.35–37) • “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” / “Who is he, sir? I want to believe.” • Posture matters: pride shuts the door, humility opens it (Rev 3:20; James 4:6). • “Son of Man” (Dan 7): the divine-human King with authority to save and judge. 3. Faith responds with worship (v.38) • “Yes, Lord, I believe”—and he worshiped. • He doesn’t get a five-year plan; he gets a Person. Worship shifts eyes from what is unknown to Who is unchanging (Heb 13:8). 4. Sight & judgment clarified (vv.39–41) • “I came… to give sight to the blind and show those who think they see that they are blind.” • Judgment here = revelation/sifting: humble seekers receive light; self-assured “seers” harden into blindness. • Culpable blindness isn’t lack of data; it’s resistance to Jesus’ light.Key Truths • Jesus pursues before we perform. Grace is first-mover. • Availability beats ability. The man’s simple, honest need is the doorway to sight. • Worship is faith’s first action. Bowing precedes explaining. • Blindness can be religious. Knowing Scripture yet missing its Author is the Pharisaic tragedy.Applications • Trade self-sufficiency for humble dependence. Name a place you’ve been “holding it together.” Pray, “Jesus, I need You here.” • Practice worship in uncertainty. This week, sing/pray before solving. Let praise precede plans. • Listen to learn, not to win. Shift from criticism to compassion—in family, team, and church conversations. • Welcome the cast-out. Who’s on the margins you can actively seek, include, and seat near you? • Keep testimony simple. Before—Jesus—After. Share it with one person; give Jesus the credit.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon