Day 297 – John 9-10

Talking Points

• Everything hinges on who you believe Jesus to be. So, Jesus pushed further for a decision as to His identity. Healing on the Sabbath again in plain view of many, including the Pharisees, Jesus’ actions forced them to declare their belief about Him. Some said His law-breaking proved He was not from God. Others, after seeing such a great miracle, asked, “How could He not be?”. “And there was division among them.” (John 9:16)
• Unwilling to surrender their status and upset their world, the healed man’s parents stuck with ambiguous answers: “We know he is our son. We know he’s been blind from birth. We can certainly testify he can see now. Yet, if you want to know how it happened, ask him.” Even the joy of a now-seeing son could not outweigh the approval of the world, especially the religious elite.
• Because the Pharisees insisted that they could “see,” their sin was a willful rejection of Jesus as the Christ, and their sin remained (9:41).
• Jesus declared that not only is He the Savior, He is the only means of salvation. While others may try to soften His claim, Jesus was resolute and bold and asserting, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved” (10:9).
• The Good Shepherd is a beautiful, encouraging picture. He knows His sheep. He’s intimately related to His sheep, so that they are comforted by His voice. He reveals His true love, “the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (10:11). I love that Jesus is the one telling of such a shepherd, because He is that Shepherd!

Thoughts

“…one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

So many songs come to mind as I read these words:
“Then like the blind man
That God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord –
I saw the light!”

“I was bruised, but Jesus healed me,
Faint was I from many a fall,
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me!”

“At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!”

“Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

“Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.”

Though under tremendous pressure from the world around him to compromise, the formerly blind man stood, spoke out, and testified to the truth of Jesus and what He had done for him. From the first meetings with Jesus, people who’ve truly seen Him and found Him to be worthy of their trust have been excited about proclaiming this good news. We’re changed, and He’s the reason!

Those of us who see, it’s time to stop fearing what men may say and to stand boldly for the truth of who Jesus is and what He’s done for us!