IBF インターナショナル・バイブル・フェローシップ

12/09/2026

【massage by Pastor Kitazawa】

IBF Sermon Manuscript 65
“He Said, ‘I Am the Man.’”
John 9:4–17

①
Two weeks ago, in our worship service, we looked together at John chapter 9.

Today, I would like us to continue the story and see what happened afterward to the man who had been healed.
This man had been blind from birth, but through the work of the Lord Jesus, he was given his sight.
But this was not simply a matter of one man suddenly being able to see. It was not such a simple event.
Things were about to move in a big way.
First, when the people heard what had happened, they were amazed and gathered around. Because they had often seen him around,
they said in their astonishment:
“Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”
(John 9:8, NIV)

Now, was there anyone who shared in his joy and said to him, “You can see now! That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you!” ?
Sadly, it seems there was not even one person who showed him that kind of compassion.
Perhaps we could say that the people at that time lacked compassion for him.
Rather than being concerned about what had happened to this blind man, they seemed to be much more interested in another question:
“Who in the world is this man called Jesus? He performed such a miracle.”

②
Some people thought : “No, this isn’t the man who used to sit there. He just looks like him.”
Yes, the change in this man was so remarkable that some people even took him for a different person.
Imagine the faces of the people surrounding this man who had been healed. I imagine there must have been many puzzled and bewildered faces.
And so, one question after another was thrown at him.
“Are you really the man?”
“How is it that your blind eyes are now open?”
“Where is this man called Jesus now?”
Then, in verse 9, the man clearly says to them:
“I am the man.”
(John 9:9, NIV)

His response was off in a way that most people would overlook at first glance.
And yet, there is something familiar about these words that came from his mouth.
Yes. In the original Greek, the expression used here is the same expression that Jesus Christ used in John 8:58 when He was being questioned by many people and declared:
“I am!”
(John 8:58, NIV)

This does not mean that we should understand this man as somehow becoming another version of Jesus Christ the Savior and answering the people’s questions in Jesus’ place.
I think that would be taking the interpretation a little too far.
That is not what the Gospel of John is telling us here.
Rather, what Scripture wants us to see is this:
This man, who had been blind from birth, was surrounded by many people.
They pressed him with questions, almost as though they were saying,
“Well? What do you have to say? Surely you’re not going to tell us that this Jesus is the Savior, are you?”
And when they questioned him in that way, this man, just as the Lord Jesus Christ had done, spoke clearly and firmly about who he himself was:
“I am the man.”
When I was younger, every time I read this passage, I often found myself thinking,
“Does it really matter that much to our faith what this man said?”
But then I passed fifty, then sixty, and then seventy...
And little by little, I began to understand the weight of these words of Scripture.

③
Let me step away from the bible for just a moment.
I would like to share a small personal confession with you.
You may find this a little hard to believe...
but the truth is, I actually have a rather shy side to my personality.
Being a pastor is a fairly visible position. You tend to stand out.
And, to tell you the truth, that is something I do not particularly like.
About twenty years after I became a pastor, our youngest child became a university student.
One morning, after my morning prayer, a thought suddenly came to me.
“Now that the busiest years of raising our children are behind us, perhaps this would be a good opportunity for me to step down from such a visible position as being a pastor.
What if my wife and I went away somewhere together—to a small town where no one would come looking for us and no one knew who we were—and simply lived a quiet life?
Would God allow me to do that?”
Have you ever felt something like this?
Have you ever wanted to become, so to speak, a kind of “hidden Christian”?

Now, let us return to the Bible.
This man who had once been blind stood before the people and said firmly,
“I am the man.”
He said it clearly and decisively, almost as Jesus Christ Himself had said “I am” in John chapter 8.
When we consider the society of that time, it must have taken tremendous courage for a person with a serious disability to stand up and speak openly and clearly about himself in public.
And yet, he openly declared to the people around him who he was, what he was going to believe, and what hope he was going to live by.
When I read this,
I am deeply moved by him, and my heart is stirred:
“What an amazing man. What an admirable man. This is exactly the first step a Christian should take.”

④
Come to think of it, the Lord Jesus said something like this in the Sermon on the Mount.
We find it in Matthew 5:13–16.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus particularly emphasizes: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14, NIV)

Sometimes, especially when I am tired, I find that without even realizing it, my faith grows weak and I want to hide myself.
But this man who had once been blind was surrounded by people and placed under tremendous pressure.
And at that very moment, he declared clearly:
“I am the man.”
“What a remarkable man. What a strong man.”
Whenever I read this passage, I am deeply moved by him.

⑤
I told you about my own tendency to want to hide myself. How about you?
Do you ever put yourselves under a bowl I sometimes do?
Do you place your light on its stand and let it shine so that the people around you can receive its light?
Let me say once again what Jesus said.
You are the salt of the earth.
Because of your saltiness, this world is kept from decay.
You are the light of the world.
No matter how many dark events may occur or no matter how painful and sorrowful things may happen, through the light that shines from you, people will come to discover true hope.
Yes. in God’s hands, each and every one of you Christians is a vital instrument—someone God intends to use to make a decisive difference in this world.
This is what the Lord Jesus is telling us.

⑥
Now then, what happened afterward to this man whose sight had been restored by Jesus?
Because he did not hide himself before the people, but spoke the truth openly, he was eventually cast out by the people of the community.
But the Lord Jesus Christ sought out this man and spoke to him.
We read in verses 35–38:
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

Christians throughout the world have heard this man’s confession of faith and have been deeply moved by it.
Every time I read this passage, I too receive new strength, and I find myself thinking,
Perhaps I can make another effort to share the gospel.”

I would like to close today by sharing with you the Word of God spoken through Isaiah, a prophet in the Old Testament.


It is Isaiah 41:10.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Amen.

2

12/09/2026

【北澤牧師のメッセージ】

IBFへの説教原稿６５「彼は、『私がその人です。』と言った」　ヨハネ９：４－１７

①先々週の礼拝では、ヨハネの福音書９章の所をみなさんとご一緒に観てゆきました。

・きょうはその癒された人が、その後どうなっていったのかについて観てゆきたいと思っています。

・生まれながらの盲人であった彼は、主イエスの御業により、目が見える様になりました。
それは、単に、一人の人の目が見えるようになった、という、そういう単純な出来事ではありませんでした。

・事は大きく動いてゆきます。　最初に、この出来事を聞いて驚き集まって来た者たちは、彼のことを日頃よく見かけていた人たちでした。彼らはこのように驚きの言葉を発します。
「これは・・座って物乞いをしていた人ではないか・・」

・このとき・・「お前、目が見える様になったのか・・よかったなあ・・」と言って、この人と喜びを分かち合った、そういう者がいたか、と言いますと・・そのような心の温かい者は、残念ながら、一人もいなかったようです。

・このように、当時の人々の反応は、何と言いましょうか・・人への思いやりに掛けていたと言いましょうか・・この、元盲人がどうなったのかということよりも・・その御業をされたイエスという者はいったい何者なのか・・そちらの方に興味があったようなのです。

➁ところで、この騒ぎ始めた人々の中に、「この人はあそこに座っていた人ではなく、ただ似ているだけではないか・・」そのように思った者もいたようでした。そうです。この人の変わりぶりが余りに大きかったので、そう思ってしまう人も現れたのでした。

・この時、この癒された人を取り囲んでいる、人々の、その顔を想像してみてください。
何とも不思議そうな顔が並んでいたのではないでしょうか・・。

・この時、目を癒された人は、周りの者たちから次々と質問攻めに遭います。

・「お前は、その本人なのか」「見えなかった目が、今、どうして目が明いているのか」
　「そのイエスとか言う者は今どこにいるのか・・」

・そこで、この元盲人は、ついに、人々に、はっきりとこう言います。
　→「私がその人です。」

・この彼の、この返事・・何か、ピンとこない・・一見、多くの人が見過ごしてしまうような・・そんな言葉ようですが・・

・しかしこの彼の口から出たこの言葉・・、どこかで聞いたことのある感じが致します。

・そうです。　これは、ヨハネ８：５８の所で、イエスキリストが、多くの人に質問攻めに会った時に語られた、「わたしはいるのです。」という言葉と、原語ではまったく同じ言い方となっているのです。

・しかし。だからといって、勿論、この人が、自分のことを、救い主イエスキリストの分身のようになって人々の質問に答えていった。と理解するのは間違った解釈であると思います。

・ヨハネの福音書は、ここで、そういうことを伝えているのではないのです。

・そうではなく、聖書がここで伝えたいのは、この生まれながら盲人であった人が・・多くの人に取り囲まれて・・「どうなのだ、どうなのだ・・まさか、あのイエスが救い主だとでもお前は言うのではないだろうな・・」そんな感じで問い正してきたとき、彼は、あの主イエスキリストと同じように、自分の事を、隠さず、きっぱりとこう証言したというのです。
→「私が、その人です。

・若かりし日、私はここを読む度によくこんなことを思いました。　「この男が何を言ったか、そんなことは、自分たちの信仰にはあまり大事な事ではないのではないだろうか・・」

・しかし５０才を過ぎ、６０を過ぎ、７０を過ぎ・・だんだんと、ここにある聖書の言葉のその重みがわかってきました。
　

③少し聖書記事から離れますが・・ここで、この私の小さな告白をしたいと思っています。

・皆さんはちょっと、信じられないかもしれませんが・・　
・・実は、この私には、意外にも、内気な面があるのです。　

・牧師という立場は、けっこう目立ちます。実は・・これが、私は、はっきりいって、あまり好きではないのです。

・牧師という立場になって、２０年程したとき、一番下の子が大学生になった時でした。
　私は朝の祈りの後、ふとこう思いました。

・「子育てもひと段落下した、この機会に、牧師というような目立つところからは降ろさせてもらって・・この後は、妻と二人だけで、どこかだれも尋ねてこない、だれも知られていない小さな町に行って、ひっそりと暮らすというのははどうだろうか・・神さまはおゆるしになるだろうか・・」

・皆さんは、いかがでしょうか・・。「そんな、隠れキリシタンのような気持にはなったことはないでしょうか・・」

・聖書に話を戻します。

・この元盲人の、この人は、人々の前で自分のことを何も隠さず、「私が、その人です。」と、きっぱりと、まるで、あの時のイエスキリストが語られた時のように、告白するのでした・・。

・当時のことを考えてみますと、重い障害者が、自分のことを公にはっきりと発言して行くというのはとても勇気がいることだったに違いありません。

・しかし彼は今、自分はどういう者か、これから自分は何を信じ、何を希望に生きてゆくことになってゆく人間なのか」彼はここで周りの人たちにきっぱりと告白したのでした。

・私は思います。「すごいなあ。立派な人だなあ・・これこそキリスト者のとるべき第一歩だなあ・・」そう思い、感動し・・心熱くなるのです。

④そういえば・・主イエスは、山上の説教という所で、このように語っておられます。

・マタイ５：１３－１６です。
　「あなたがたは、地の塩です。　　もし塩が塩気をなくしたら、何によって塩気をつけるのでしょうか。もう何の役にも立たず、外に捨てられて、人々に踏みつけられるだけです。」

・「あなた方は、世界の光です。　山の上にある町は隠れることができません。また、あかりをつけて、それを桝の下に置く者はありません。燭台の上に置きます。そうすれば家にいる人全部を照らします。」

・「このように、あなたがたの光を人々の前で輝かせ、人々があなた方の良い行いを見て、天におられるあなたがたの父をあがめるようにしなさい。」

・特にイエスさまが強調しておられるのはここです。→「あなたがたは、世界の光です。山の上にある町は隠れることができません。」　

・私は時々、特に疲れを覚えている時など、無意識で、自分を隠そうとしまう不信仰なところがあるのです。

・しかしこの元盲人は・・人々に取り囲まれて、プレッシャーをかけられたその時に、はっきりとこう宣言したのでした。→　「私が、その人です。」

・「すばらしいなあ・・強い人だなあ・・」そう思い、感動させられます。

⑤自分を隠そうとしてしまう、私の話はさしおきまして・・皆さんは、いかがでしょうか・・
　皆さんは、ご自分を、私の様に、枡の下におくようなことはけしてなさらずに、いつもご自分を燭台の上に置いて、周りの人たちに光を届けておられるでしょうか・・

・イエスさまの語られたことをもう一度申し上げます。
→あなた方は地の塩です。　あなた方の塩気があるので、この地上は腐ってゆかないのです。

・あなた方は世界の光です。　どんなに暗い出来事が続いても・・どんなに悲しい出来事がたとえあったとしても・・あなた方の放たれる、その光によって、人々は本当の希望を見出してゆくことができるのです。

・そうです。神さまにとって、あなた方キリスト者一人一人は、切り札なのです。主イエスは、このように語っておられるわけです。

⑥ところで、この、イエスさまから目が見えるようにさせていただいた彼は、その後どうなって行ったのか、ですが・・

・人々の前で自分を隠さず、本当の事を言った彼は、そのことで、何とこの後、町の人たちから追放させられてしまうのでした・・。

・しかし、主イエス・キリストは、町を追い出された彼を見つけ出して、このように言います。

・３５節～３８節です。「イエスは、彼らが彼を追放したことを聞き、彼を見つけ出して言った。
「あなたは人の子、つまり、主イエス・キリストを信じますか。」

・その人は答えた。
「主よ。その方はどなたでしょうか。私がその方を信じることができますように。」

・イエスは彼に言われた。「あなたはその方を見たのです。あなたと話しているのがそれです。」

・彼は言った。「主よ。私は信じます。」そして彼はイエスを拝した。

・世界中のキリスト者がこの彼の信仰告白を聞いて、感動させられてきました。私もここを読む度に、力が与えられ、「もう少し、伝道をがんばってみようかな・・」そう思います。

・イザヤという旧約聖書の預言者を通した神さまからの御言葉を皆さんにお届けして、終わりたいと思います。イザヤ４１：１０です。

・恐れるな、わたしはあなたとともにいる。たじろぐな。わたしがあなたの神だから。わたしはあなたを強め、あなたを助け、私の義に右の手で、あなたを守る。

05/09/2026

【伊野牧師のメッセージ】

「後の雨の時に、主に雨を求めよ。」ゼカリヤ書10章1節

今日はゼカリヤ書10章に入ります。10章の1節には、「後の雨の時に、主に雨を求めよ。」と書かれています。後の雨とは、春に降る雨で収穫期の雨です。穀物の出来、不出来はこの雨が豊かに降るかどうかにかかっています。主に雨を求めよとは、宮を建て、礼拝する民に向かって、大いに主に祝福を求めなさい、とのチャレンジに満ちた御言葉です。この10章は、背景にイスラエルの民が、神殿を立てることにより祝福される民となるとのメッセージが含まれています。

前回は、ゼカリヤ書9章9節のみ言葉を取り上げました。「シオンの娘よ。大いに喜べ。エルサレムの娘よ。喜び叫べ。見よ。あなたの王があなたのところに来られる。この方は正しい方で、救いを賜わり、柔和で、ろばに乗られる。」と書かれています。彼らが造り上げる神殿に、主イエスがおいでになるのです。神殿は、イエスの贖いの業を証しするのです。彼らと同様に、大いに主に祝福を求める人生、それが私たちの本来の歩みでもあると思うのです。

ところが、かつてのイスラエルの民は、神の助けが必要な時に、真の神に目を向けずに、占いや偶像に目向けてしまったのです。それが2節の言葉です。つまらないことをしゃべる。虚しいことを語る。「それゆえ、人々は羊のようにさまよい、羊飼いがいないので悩む。」と書かれています。彼らは、ソロモン王の時代に、一度は神の神殿を建て、神に目を向け、御言葉に従い、神の祝福の中に歩むことをめざしたのです。神の御心は、イスラエルの民は、聖なる国民、祭司の王国として生きることでした。残念ですが、民の羊飼いであるはずの為政者の多くは、神を愛し、民を愛すると言う神の御心からそれて行ってしまったのです。

少し歴史を振り返ります。ソロモン王の時代に神の神殿が建てられました。神は、ソロモン王の働きを祝福し、大いに用いられたのです。ソロモン王は良き羊飼いとして、民を導き、民と共に礼拝を捧げ、祈りを捧げ、神の民としての歩みを確かに始めたのです。ソロモン王の祈りをいくつか読んでみます。列王記第一8章27から30節には、「しかし神は、はたして地上に住まわれるでしょうか。見よ、天も、いと高き天もあなたをいれることはできません。ましてわたしの建てたこの宮はなおさらです。 しかしわが神、主よ、しもべの祈と願いを顧みて、しもべがきょう、あなたの前にささげる叫びと祈をお聞きください。 あなたが『わたしの名をそこに置く』と言われた所、すなわち、この宮に向かって夜昼あなたの目をお開きください。しもべがこの所に向かって祈る祈をお聞きください。 しもべと、あなたの民イスラエルがこの所に向かって祈る時に、その願いをお聞きください。あなたのすみかである天で聞き、聞いておゆるしください。」とあります。神殿を完成し、民の良きリーダーとして、私たちの祈りを聞いてくださいと心から祈っています。

ところが、しばらくするとソロモン王も神の祝福から離れていきます。さらに残念なことに、その次の世代から国が2つに分かれます。北イスラエルと南ユダです。ソロモンの子供レハブアムも、もし神に聞き、自らの民を愛そうと決断ができたなら、国は2つには分裂しなかったと思われます。分裂し、離れて行った北イスラエルは、すぐに神への信仰をなくし、金の子牛を礼拝する民となってしまったのです。南ユダは何とか持ちこたえますが、しかしその国も最終的にバビロンによって滅ぼされ、民は捕囚とされていきます。ところが、今、彼らは奇跡的にエルサレムに戻ることができたのです。これも驚くことに、ソロモン王に祈りに含まれているのです。

列王記第一8章46節から50節です。「彼らがあなたに対して罪を犯すことがあって、――人は罪を犯さない者はないのです、――あなたが彼らを怒り、彼らを敵にわたし、敵が彼らを捕虜として遠近にかかわらず、敵の地に引いて行く時、 もし彼らが捕われていった地で、みずから省みて悔い、自分を捕えていった者の地で、あなたに願い、『われわれは罪を犯しました、そむいて悪を行いました』と言い、 自分を捕えていった敵の地で、心をつくし、精神をつくしてあなたに立ち返り、あなたが彼らの先祖に与えられた地、あなたが選ばれた町、わたしがあなたの名のために建てた宮の方に向かって、あなたに祈るならば、 あなたのすみかである天で、彼らの祈と願いを聞いて、彼らを助け、 あなたの民が、あなたに対して犯した罪と、あなたに対して行ったすべてのあやまちをゆるし、彼らを捕えていった者の前で、彼らにあわれみを得させ、その人々が彼らをあわれむようにしてください。」と書かれています。
このソロモン王の祈りを神は覚えておられ、捕囚からの解放という神の奇跡が起こります。

今イスラエルの民は、エルサレムに戻り、そしてもう一度神殿を建てなおし、神を礼拝する民、神の御言葉に聞き従う民になろうと決断をしたのです。その彼らに、この10章は豊かな祝福を約束しているのです。

神の祝福とは、具体的に何でしょう。北イスラエルと南ユダも、もう一度神によって愛され、贖われた民となると言うことです。8節には、「わたしは彼らに合図して、彼らを集める。わたしが彼らを贖ったからだ。彼は以前のように数がふえる。」とあります。あがなう、この言葉は北イスラエルと南ユダに向かって語られています。6節には、「わたしはユダの家を強め、ヨセフの家を救う。わたしは彼らを連れ戻す。わたしは彼らをあわれむからだ。」とあります。ヨセフの家とは、北イスラエルを指しています。神は、北イスラエルと南ユダを神の民として回復されるのです。7節には、「エフライムは勇士のようになり、」とあります。エフライムも北イスラエルを指します。「彼らの子らは見て喜び、その心は主にあって大いに楽しむ。」と書かれています。喜ぶ、楽しむという言葉は、回復された民の姿をよく表しています。彼らはもう一度、この神殿を再建し、ともに神を礼拝する民となるのです。その祝福はその子供たちに及ぶのです。

この希望を持って、さらに多くの民がこの地に戻ってくるのです。10節には、エジプトの地、そしてアッシリアから彼らを寄せ集める、とあります。そして集まった民が多くなるので、ギルアデの地とレバノンへ連れて行くが、そこも彼らには足りなくなる、とあります。多くの民が戻って来て、イスラエルの民は増えていくのです。そして11節は、苦難の海を渡り、海では波を打つ、とあり、彼らは苦難から解放されていくのです。反対に、かつて彼らを奴隷としたエジプトもアッシリアも低くされます。そして12節で、「彼らの力は主にあり、彼ら主の名によって歩き回る。」とあります。この地に戻ってくる民の力は主にあるのです。

もう一度、10章の内容を振り返ります。神は神殿を立て、礼拝者になろうと決断した民を祝福します。そして、後の雨の時に、主に雨を求めよとチャレンジします。皆さん、皆さんが救われたその理由はなんでしょう。皆さんが優れていた、全て人がそうではないと思います。神の恵みのゆえに皆さんは救われたのです。キリストの愛ゆえに、私たちは救われたのです。そして私たちは、神の民として、今神を礼拝し、神をほめたたえ、神の御言葉によって生きようと決断をしています。主の祝福が注がれることを信じて、神の回復を待ち望んで、主に祝福を求めたいと思うのです。

自然の回復は、現在の私たちにとっても大きなテーマです。私たちは今、地球温暖化の影響をいろんな所で見ます。荒れ狂う天気の恐怖を持って今私たちは生きています。しかし、秩序をもたらす神がおられるのです。目を神に向けて、主に祝福の雨を求め、私たちの人生を大いに祝してくださいと祈ろうではありませんか。もう一度契約の民として生きようと決断する時に、たとえ失敗を経験した民にも回復の時が訪れます。その時は確かに来るのです。その信仰を持って主に祝福の雨を求める。これが10章のチャレンジです。

ゼカリヤ書10章1節を口語訳で読んでみます。「あなたがたは春の雨の時に、 雨を主に請い求めよ。 主はいなずまを造り、大雨を人々に賜い、 野の青草をおのおのに賜わる。」と書かれています。神の約束は、確かです。神は、「いなずまを造り、大雨を人々に賜い、 野の青草をおのおのに賜わる。」と約束しておられます。たとえ約束が遅れたとしても、まだそのようには見えなくても、私たちは目を主に向けて祈ろうではありませんか。そして、神の祝福が注がれる時を待ちましょう。収穫には時間がかかるからです。

感謝のことに、私たちはキリストを信じ、救われ、神を礼拝する民となっています。しかし、まだこの地上では、時には病気になったり、苦しんだり、不安になったり、悲しいことが私たちの人生には起こります。そんな私たちでも、祝福の雨を降らしてください、と祈ることができます。目を天に向けて、また、野の青草を見つめながら、あなたの祝福を与えてくださいと祈っていきましょう。いつの日か神は私たちの祈りに豊に答えてくださるのです。

↓メッセージが聞けます。（日曜礼拝録音）【iPhoneで聞けない方はiOSのアップデートをして下さい】今日はゼカリヤ書10章に入ります。10章の1節には、「後の雨の時に、主に雨を求めよ。」と書かれています。後の雨とは、....

05/09/2026

【Message by Pastor Ino】

“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime” (Zechariah 10:1)

Today we will read from Zechariah chapter 10. Zechariah 10:1 says, “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime.” This is a rain that falls during the spring harvest season. Whether crops will grow successfully depends on whether the rain falls abundantly or not. “Ask the Lord for rain” is a challenge to the people who were building a temple to worship the Lord, urging them to seek God’s blessing. Chapter 10 contains a message that the people of Israel would become a nation blessed by God through building the temple.

Previously, we read Zechariah 9:9, which said: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.” The Lord Jesus would one day come to the temple they were building. The temple would bear witness to Jesus’ work of redemption. Like Zechariah’s people, I believe we are meant to live a life in which we earnestly seek God’s blessings.

However, when the Israelites of old needed God’s help, instead of turning to the true God, they turned to divination and idols. That is what verse 2 says: “The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.” During the reign of King Solomon, they had built the first temple of God, turned their eyes toward Him, obeyed God’s words, and aimed to live within his favor. God’s will was for the people of Israel to live as a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. Unfortunately, many of Israel’s rulers—who were supposed to be shepherds of the people—strayed from God’s will, which was to love Him and love their people.

Let’s briefly recall that history. The first temple in Israel was built during the reign of King Solomon. God blessed King Solomon’s work and used him mightily. King Solomon was a good shepherd to his people; he led them in worship and prayer, setting them firmly on their path as God’s people. Let me read parts of Solomon’s prayer. In 1 Kings 8:27-30 he prays, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” Solomon, a good leader who had built a temple for the Lord, prayed earnestly for God to hear the people’s prayers.

But after some time, even King Solomon strayed away from God’s blessing. And even more tragically, starting with the next generation, the kingdom split in two: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. It is thought that if Solomon’s son Rehoboam had listened to God and determined to love the people, the kingdom would not have split. Northern Israel, having split off, soon lost its faith in God and worshiped a golden calf. Southern Judah managed to hold on but was ultimately destroyed by Babylon, and its people were taken into exile. Yet, they were miraculously able to return to Jerusalem later. Interestingly, this was foreshadowed in King Solomon’s prayer.

Let’s read more of his prayer, from 1 Kings 8:46-50: “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy.” God remembered this prayer of Solomon, and by a miracle He delivered them from captivity.

By the time of Zechariah, the people of Israel had resolved to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the Temple, and once again be a people who worship God and obey His Word. Zechariah chapter 10 promises them abundant blessing.

What is this blessing of God? Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah will once again become a people loved and redeemed by God. Verse 8 says, “I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.” The word “redeem them” is addressed to both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Verse 6 says, “I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them.” The tribes of Joseph refer to the northern kingdom of Israel. God will restore both kingdoms to become a people of God again. Verse 7 says, “The Ephraimites will become like warriors . . .” Ephraim refers to the northern kingdom also. Verse 7 says “Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.” The words “joyful” and “rejoicing” show a restored people. They will once again rebuild the temple and be a people who worship the Lord. And this blessing will extend to their children as well.

Carrying this hope, even more people will return to this land. Verse 10 says that they will be brought back from Egypt and Assyria. They will be gathered in Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be enough room for them. Many will return, so the people of Israel will grow in numbers. Verse 11 says they will pass through the sea of trouble and the sea will be subdued; they will be set free from suffering. Meanwhile Egypt and Assyria who had enslaved them will be brought low. Verse 12 says, “I will strengthen them in the Lord
and in his name they will live securely.” It is the Lord who has the power to bring them back to this land.

Let’s summarize what we have read in Chapter 10. God will bless those who resolve to build the temple and worship him. Zechariah challenges them to ask the Lord for rain. Brothers and sisters, why were we saved? It is not because we are all exceptional or worthy. It is by grace that we have been saved. It is by Christ’s love that we have been saved. And therefore we decided to worship as a people of God, to praise Him and to live according to his Word. We believe the Lord will pour out his blessing; we await restoration; and we seek his blessing.

The restoration of our physical world is an important issue for us today. We now see the effects of global warming in many places. We live in fear of destructive weather. Yet there is a God who brings order. Let us turn our eyes to God, ask the Lord for a shower of blessing, and pray that He will greatly bless our lives. When we resolve to live once again as people of the covenant, a time of restoration will come—even for a people who have experienced failure. That time will surely come. With this faith, let us ask the Lord for a shower of blessing. This is the challenge given in chapter 10.

Let me reread Zechariah 10:1. “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.” God’s promise is certain. He promises to send the thunderstorms, gives showers of rain to all people, and gives plants of the field to everyone. Even if his promise seems slow in coming and we cannot see it, let us turn our eyes to him and pray. Let us wait for the time that his blessing will be poured out. It takes time for the harvest to appear.

It is wonderful that we have believed in Christ, been saved, and become a people who worship God. Yet on this earth we go through times of sickness, suffering, anxiety, and sadness. During these times, we can still ask the Lord to send his shower of blessing. Let us lift our eyes to the heavens, gaze upon the greenness of the fields, and pray, “Lord, bless us.” One day, the Lord will answer our prayer abundantly.

↓メッセージが聞けます。（日曜礼拝録音）【iPhoneで聞けない方はiOSのアップデートをして下さい】今日はゼカリヤ書10章に入ります。10章の1節には、「後の雨の時に、主に雨を求めよ。」と書かれています。後の雨とは、....

29/08/2026

【Message by Pastor Kitazawa】
John 9:1–12 — “So That the Works of God Might Be Displayed”

Today’s Scripture passage is from John chapter 9.
First, in order to understand the central theme of today’s passage, I would like to talk about four important points in this account.

The first point we should notice is how the Bible introduces the man who appears in this story.
It says:
“As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth.”

This man had been blind ever since he was born.

Therefore, the fact that he could not see—and that, in the society of ancient Israel, where people with disabilities often faced severe discrimination, he had no choice but to live as a beggar.
It was not something for which he himself was responsible.

Let me explain this a little further.
Suppose, for example, that someone begins using illegal drugs, and while under their influence commits a robbery. Eventually, that person is arrested and sent to prison.

In a case like this, we would have to say that at least part of the cause and responsibility for the dark path that person came to walk lay within the person himself.

Of course, in any situation, it would not be right to say simply that a person alone is responsible for his or her own misfortune.
But in a case like this, we would still have to acknowledge that at least part of the cause of that troubled life came from the choices that person had made.

However, the man in today’s passage—the man who sat begging—was different. The source of his suffering was not found in something that he himself had done.

Now, suppose you see someone who is suffering greatly, and you can find no fault or cause in that person himself—and yet that person continues to bear such hardship.
When you encounter such a reality, how do you understand the reason why that suffering has come upon that person?

The second point is that the Bible deliberately tells us that Jesus saw this man.
What was in the heart of Jesus Christ as He looked at this blind man?
I find something very meaningful in this simple yet profound expression:
“Jesus saw him.”

What kind of look did Jesus give this man? What was in the heart of Jesus at that moment?

But before we consider the way Jesus looked at him, let us think about ourselves. When we see people who are living under heavy burdens, as this man was, how do we usually look at them?
What kind of thoughts and feelings do we have toward them?

Now, let us look at the third point in today’s passage.
Here, the disciples asked the Lord Jesus this question.

Verse 2 says:
“His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’”

If we take some time to think carefully about what their question really meant, we begin to see the coldness in their hearts toward the blind man and their distorted way of looking at people who suffer.

In fact, all of the disciples seemed to share this assumption:
“If a person is suffering, there must be some reason for it. If the cause is not found in that person himself, then it must lie somewhere else—perhaps with his parents, or perhaps with one of his ancestors. There must be some cause behind it.”

Where had they learned to think this way? It is a very sad way of looking at another person.

In Japanese, we might express this idea by saying, “He must be suffering as a punishment for something.”

This kind of thinking is often described by the Japanese expression inga ōhō—the idea that a person’s present suffering is the inevitable consequence of wrongdoing.

It is rather surprising that the disciples of Jesus themselves seem to have been influenced by this kind of thinking: that a person is punished for wrongdoing, or that a person suffers misfortune because of something wrong that he or she has done.
It is, in fact, a very harsh and cold way of thinking.

But is this kind of thinking found only among Japanese people or among people in ancient Jewish society?

Let me change the subject for a moment.
This happened many decades ago around the time when I first met Pastor Ino. At that time, I was a young seminary student. One day, I visited the office of Donald Peterson. He was an American and the president of our seminary. I asked him a question.

I said,　“In Japan, I think there are many people who strongly believe in this idea that suffering comes as a consequence or punishment for what someone has done. What about Americans? Do Americans not think this way at all?”

President Peterson’s answer surprised me somewhat.
He answered very clearly:
“Yes, they do. They do. It may not take exactly the same form as it does among Japanese people, but Americans also tend to think in this way.”

Come to think of it, the German missionary who led me to faith had said something similar. In other words, this tendency to think in terms of cause and punishment seems not to be limited to any particular nationality or culture. Rather, it seems to be a sad way of thinking into which people all over the world can easily fall.

Now, returning to today’s passage, when the disciples saw this blind man, they did not realize just how cruel their words actually were. What they were really saying was something like this:
“Jesus, is this man blind because God is punishing him?”
That was the attitude that lay behind the disciples’ question.

The fourth point is, of course, the answer Jesus gave them.
Let us read verse 3:
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

To put Jesus’ answer in simpler words, we might say:
“This is not divine punishment. This man is in this condition so that God’s power, God’s greatness, and God’s glory may be revealed in his life.”

Some of you may still feel that this is a little difficult to understand.
So let me put it in even simpler terms.
What Jesus is saying here is something like this:
You may be right in the middle of suffering even now.
And people may look at you coldly and wonder,
“Why has this person’s life become so miserable? What caused this to happen?”
Perhaps you yourself may even begin to think,
“Has my life become like this because of my own sin? Or is it because of the sin of someone in my family?”
But such despair is mistaken.
First of all, your suffering is certainly not some kind of divine punishment.
When a person finds himself or herself in a painful or unfortunate situation, we cannot simply conclude that the person brought it upon themselves.
If you were born blind and have had no choice but to spend your days begging, that is not the result of something you did, nor is it something for which you are responsible.

Then why did this happen?
Now we begin to see the answer.

After this, the Lord Jesus heals this man’s eyes.
When many people hear what has happened, they come because they want to see this man for themselves.
Some even take him to the Pharisees, who were among the leading religious authorities of that time.

In other words, this man became someone who testified to the greatness of the Lord Jesus.
In that sense, somewhat like Billy Graham, a famous American evangelist, this man became a person through whom others came to hear about how wonderful Jesus is, and his life was greatly used for the proclamation of the gospel.

Someone whose circumstances seemed to be nothing but tragic came to realize the love of Jesus Christ, the Savior, and made the decision to receive Him as their Lord.
Their lives were completely transformed, and through them, the goodness and glory of God began to shine forth. I am sure many of you know examples of people whose lives were changed in this way.
Helen Keller and a Japanese Christian poet and artist, Tomihiro Hoshino are well-known examples of such people.

Today, I would like to introduce Genzo Mizuno, a Japanese Christian poet.
He lived with very severe physical disabilities and could move only by blinking his eyes. In that sense, his disability was even more severe than that of the man in today’s passage.
Maybe some people think of his life as the very picture of misfortune.
And yet, the poems written by Mizuno, who was a Christian, have continued to encourage not only me but many other people as well.

One of his poems goes like this. I imagine that Mizuno wrote these words after waking in the early hours of the morning, while the rest of his family was still asleep:

“Lord, here there are only You and me.
Dawn is still far away,
and I can see nothing and hear nothing.
Lord, here there are only You and me.
To a heart longing for light,
there is Your Light that illuminates all things.
Lord, here there are only You and me.
To a heart trembling in the darkness,
there is Your heart, filled with peace.
Lord, here there are only You and me.
To a heart chilled by the night dew,
there is Your love, which never changes.”

Yes, God is not looking only at those who live with severe disabilities.
He is looking at each and every one of us.
And through each one of you, God can reveal His works.
That is the kind of God we worship.
So today, once again, let us remember this truth as we step forward into a new week.
Now, let us ask Pastor Ino to lead us in prayer.

↓メッセージが聞けます。（日曜礼拝録音）【iPhoneで聞けない方はiOSのアップデートをして下さい】①きょうは、先月の礼拝と同じ聖書個所、ヨハネの福音書8章を見てゆきたいと思っています。・その前に、先ずは、先月.....