The Gospel of John: John 9.1-12

Read and meditate on John 9.3.
Even the saddest, most desperate situation is fraught with potential for the glory of God, and to send a message of hope.

                                       ” ³But Jesus said,
“Not him, and not his parents sinned; instead,
this man is blind so that in him the works
of God should be revealed.”

- John 9.3

Reflect
1.  Jesus dismissed the notion that this man’s suffering was due to any personal sin. But it was certainly the result of sin. Explain.Complete this prayer: Lord, all around us are people suffering because of sin, and not necessarily their own. Give me a heart of compassion to…

2.  Jesus said that the works of God would be manifest in this blind man. In what way? How would it be evident that this was a work of God? You have worked in my life, Lord, in many ways, and I give you thanks for…

3.  In another sense, we could say that the works of God would be manifest on this blind man. Explain. You have redeemed me for good works, Lord, so today, help me to…

4.  Let’s keep the larger scene in mind. Jesus had been called a deceiver. The religious leaders tried to make Him out to be a heretic. Yet He continued to make lofty claims, culminating in His claim to be “I AM.” Jesus was now on His way out of town, but He left a “calling card” for the city of Jerusalem. Why did it seem important to Jesus to do this good work? Can we expect to be effective as witnesses for Christ without good words and good works? Explain. Make me a more consistent witness, Lord. Today, show me…

5.  This blind man was symbolic of the people of Jerusalem who opposed Jesus (cf. Jn. 8.12). Thus, by performing this work, Jesus sent a message of hope to the people who had heard Him in Jerusalem during and after the Feast of Tabernacles. Explain. What are the implications of this for the good works we are called to do? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“Here again is another difficulty if [it is true that] it was not possible that the glory of God should be shown without this man’s punishment. Certainly it was not impossible, for it was possible. But it happened so “that [God’s glory] might be made evident even in this man.” One might ask, however, Did he suffer wrong for the glory of God? Tell me what he did wrong. For what if God had never willed to make him at all? But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness. Because he recovered the sight of the eyes within. What were the Jews profited by their eyes? They incurred the heavier punishment, being blinded even while they saw. And what injury did this man have because of his blindness? For through his blindness he recovered his sight. As, then, the evils of the present life are not evils, so neither are the good things good. Sin alone is an evil, but blindness is not an evil. And he who had brought this man from not being into being also had power to leave him as he was.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus might have “wiped the dust” of Jerusalem off His feet, and left the people there with the charges and threats of their leaders ringing in their ears. Instead, He left the city with a work of glory and hope. What can we learn from this about being witnesses to this Lord?

Closing Prayer
I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
The LORDis gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORDis good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Psalm 145.1-12

Psalm 145.1-12 (Brother James’ Air: The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want)
I will extol You, God, my King, and ever praise Your Name!
I bless You, Lord, for everything each day, and e’er the same!
Great are You, Lord, my praise I bring; unsearchable Your fame!
To ev’ry generation we Your wondrous works shall tell.
The splendor of Your majesty we contemplate full well.
We speak of all Your mighty deeds and all Your greatness tell!

Then shall we all the glorious fame of Your great goodness sing –
Your righteousness, Your gracious Name, Your mercy: praise we bring!
Your steadfast love remains the same, mercy our covering.

Your works shall thank You; all Your saints shall bless and praise You, Lord.
Your reign we bless without restraint; Your power fills our words.
Our children we shall educate in all Your splendor, Lord.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.