The Gospel of John: John 9.13-27

Read and meditate on John 9.26, 27.
The boldness of this man is astonishing. O that all the Lord’s witnesses might be as bold as he was!

           ²⁶They said to him again, “But how
did this occur? What did He do to you?
How did He open up your eyes?” ²⁷So to
them he replied, “I have explained to you
already, but you did not listen. Do
you want to hear it once again? Do you
want to become disciples of Him, too?”

- John 9.26, 27

Reflect
1. The Pharisees returned to the question of method: “How did He do this?” Did they really want to know how He did this, or did they ask this for some other reason? Complete the following brief prayer: I know, Lord, that people may ask me questions about the Gospel I simply can’t answer. Help me to…

2.  As I read verse 27, it seems to me the blind-man-now-healed has resigned himself to the inevitable. Now, instead of being very careful and succinct in his answers, he goes on the attack. What was he risking by doing this? Sharing the Good News can be a bit risky at times, Lord, but let me remember that…

3.  He jabbed two sharp barbs under the skin of these Pharisees. First, they weren’t good listeners. Was there any truth to that? Should we expect people who don’t want to hear the truth to listen politely as we tell it? Why or why not? They may never hear a word I say about You, Lord, but…

4.  Second, he charged them with wanting to be Jesus’ disciples! Thus he punched his ticket out of the community (v. 35). He was willing to risk being ostracized for the sake of the truth. Are you? Make me willing, Lord, to…

5.  Some might think this beggar overstepped the bounds of decency by getting up in the Pharisees’ grill like this. What do you think? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Do you see how boldly the beggar speaks with the scribes and Pharisees? It shows how strong truth is and how weak falsehood is. Truth, though it grasps only ordinary people, makes them to appear glorious; falsehood, even when it is among the strong, shows them to be weak. What he says is like this: you do not pay attention to my words; therefore, I will no longer speak or answer you when you question me continually to no purpose. You do not want to hear in order to learn but so that you can lay insults over my words.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Can you see how this man became bolder the more they challenged his testimony? Should you expect the same to be true for yourself? Explain.

Closing Prayer
The LORD reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!
Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.
His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.
Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols.
Worship Him, all you gods.
Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.
You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 97.1-10

Psalm 97.1, 6, 9-12 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King!)
Rejoice, the Lord is King! O earth, lift up your voice;
Be glad, you islands, shout and sing: Rejoice! Rejoice!
    Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

The heav’ns above declare His glorious righteousness;
And tribes and peoples everywhere His Name confess.
    Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

All you who love the Lord, despise sin’s wicked ways!
Praise Him Who guides us by His Word through all our days.
    Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!
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.