The Gospel of John: John 9.13-27

Read and meditate on John 9.15, 16.
Jesus can upset the settled status quo and create division where none existed before. It’s what we expect of Him.

                               ¹⁵So right away,
the Pharisees inquired concerning how
he had received his sight. “I’ll tell you how,”
he said, “He put clay on my eyes. I went
away and washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶And then
the Pharisees replied, “This Man has not
been sent from God, because, whereas He ought
to keep the Sabbath, He does not.” “But how,”
asked others, “can a sinner do what now
we see this Man has done, these many signs?”
And so there was division.

- John 9.15, 16

Reflect
1.  The Pharisees asked a simple question, and they received a concise answer. The man did not attempt to explain; he merely told them his experience. What did Jesus do? What did he do in response? What was the outcome? Can this provide an outline for your own testimony of Christ’s work in your life? Explain.Complete this prayer: Help me to clear and confident, Lord, when it comes to telling others about…

2.  The Pharisees were so hung up on their tradition – which it was their job to enforce – that they minimized the miracle wrought on this poor man. Do you think this happens in the church sometimes? Do we allow our settled ways of believing or doing things to keep us from seeing the mighty works of God? Explain. Lord, help me to be alert to Your great works, so that…

3.  Others among the Pharisees weren’t so ready to dismiss Jesus as a sinner. They appear to have been more thoughtful, and more inclined to consider other possibilities (v. 16b). If you had been present in this situation, what might you have said to this second group of Pharisees, to keep the conversation going? I know there must be people in my Personal Mission Field who are more open-minded toward You, Lord. Show me how to…

4.  As we have seen before in John’s gospel, Jesus creates such a powerful response in people that divisions can arise, and people can become set against one another over the question of Jesus. Should we try to avoid such uncomfortable situations? What should be our posture whenever such divisions become apparent? Give me grace in all my words, Lord (Col. 4.6), that I may know how to…

5.  Let’s face it: When we talk with people about our experience of Jesus, and what He has done for us, some people will dismiss our testimony, while others will be willing to talk a bit more, but perhaps without believing the Good News. Does either of these responses affect the truth of what we have seen and known about Jesus? Should either of these responses prevent us from bearing witness? How can we prepare for each of these responses? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“Passing over the miracle in silence, they give all the prominence they can to the supposed transgression. They do not charge him with ‘healing on the sabbath day’ but with not ‘keeping the sabbath.’ ‘Others replied rather weakly, “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?”’ They were impressed by his miracles, but only in a weak and unsettled way. For whereas the fact of whether the sabbath was broken or not might have divided them, they still had no idea yet that he was God. They did not know that it was the Lord of the sabbath who had worked the miracle. Nor did any of them dare to say openly what his sentiments were, but they spoke ambiguously—one, because he thought the fact itself improbable, another, from his love of status. It follows, ‘And there was a division among them.’ That is, the people were divided first, and then the rulers..” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus did not avoid conflict over His claims. Neither did those who experienced His grace and power. Neither must we. We are appointed as His witnesses, so we need to be prepared. How will you prepare to be a witness for Jesus today?

Closing Prayer
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound.
For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands.

Psalm 92.1-4

Psalm 92.1-4 (Sweet Hour: Sweet Hour of Prayer)
How good it is to thank the Lord, and praise to God Most High accord;
By day to let His kindness ring, His faithfulness by night to sing.
With ten-stringed lute, resounding lyre, and sweetest harp we’ll lift You higher.
For You have made our souls rejoice; we sing Your praise with blended voice!

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.