Ashes to Fire: Week 4 - With Jesus Along the Road

Sermon by Alan Scott

Our Source of Identity:
For some the man along the road was "that sinner guy." People questioned whether his parents caused his blindness. People questioned whether his own sin caused his blindness.

Following the healing, no one could find the true source of his identity. The people around the healing couldn't. The friends and neighbors couldn't. The Pharisees couldn't and, while the parents confirmed his identity as their born-blind son, they couldn't ID the changed seeing man in front of them.

This man was confusing everyone. He had been labeled by his sin. Then Jesus comes along and becomes the source of his identity.

Our Source of Authenity:
Authentic Identity = authenity. When Jesus discovers he was throne out Jesus goes and finds him. Judgment has been passed; he has been thrown out of the synagogue because he is steeped in sin. Imagine the confusion of being given sight and being told no one can rejoice with you because they can't wrap their head around the idea that the sin is "just gone."

The identity of this man was important enough that Jesus finds him where he is and says, "I'm the one you've been looking for."

And the man worshiped him.

True worship will begin when we forsake all other gods.

The blind man no longer cared about the identity people gave him. He had found his source.

Each week gathering at a place of worship is our chance to regain our authenity.

We often are really sure that we know what God thinks of us. Whatever words we put in God's mouth. However, ultimately the Cross is what God thinks of me. The importance of that Cross demonstrates the level of importance God has already placed on my life.

To find our authenity we have to let go of what others think and what others believe in regard to our lives. We also have to repent of the things we have said God believes about us. We then have to allow Jesus to open our eyes and accept His view of us.

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