John 9:13-23, Bigger God

 “Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. 

They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 

“We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬, ‭19‬-‭20‬, ‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus intentionally healed on the sabbath to help the Pharisees see their own blindness.  Jesus still acts differently than I would expect ,even today…he needs us to see that He is bigger and more powerful than the box we imagine for him.

John 9:1-12, Shame to Glory

“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 

He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This man lived blind for his entire life, he was used to it, but there was suffering and ridicule, it was not a happy existence.  Blindness was his identity, it is all he knew…most people felt like he had to live this way because it was punishment for something bad.  Then Jesus flips the script and shows how the blind man’s suffering and identity was instantly turned into a powerful tool in the hands of God.

Yes, the man gained sight, but even more powerfully he gained a testimony and new identity.  His biggest weakness was now used by God as the most convincing evidence of the power of God.

Lord, let me to give You my biggest weaknesses so that Your power may be displayed through them.  Help me to see Your hand at work as I lay down my pride.

John 8:48-59, Obedience not Performance

“If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father — about whom you say, ‘He is our God’ — he is the one who glorifies me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭54‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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All glory to God alone!  He alone is worthy to receive glory!  Jesus is defending the honor that He is getting but makes a great statement that is true of Him and true of me.  If I get honored because I am doing something great, it really is worthless…there is no eternal reward in that.  It sounds more like pride…

However, if I am recognized by God for accomplishing His will, that is something to be blessed by, that is something with eternal value.

Lord, help me to focus on obeying Your Word and coming to You when that is challenging!

John 8:33-47, Truth vs Lies

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 

Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬-‭47‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Truth vs lies is the argument Jesus is making in a very true but offensive way.  The religious leaders He is talking to are discounting everything Jesus is saying because they don’t like it.  They are not evaluating it based on truth or reality.  In fact their arguments ignore plain facts about who they are and where their people have been.

Jesus is pointing out that they are not listening to Him or even processing the words He is speaking.  What they don’t understand is that Jesus words are perfect and true and they literally bring eternal life…if they would just critically listen and evaluate.

lord, help me to listen intently to Your Word so that I can know you more and draw near to You!

John 8:30-32, Believe & Follow

 “As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭30‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to hear, read or remember Your Word and believe it.  Give me a faith that is confident in whatever You say and FOLLOW it, even if it is hard or uncomfortable.  I want to follow You and experience the true freedom You promise!!!

John 8:21-29, God in Us

“Who are you?” they questioned. “Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 

So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭25‬, ‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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While Jesus was on earth doing His ministry, everyone wanted to know who He was.  He rarely said outright that He was the messiah, but He alluded to it in many ways and constantly talked about God as His Father.  I love how Jesus reminds the that God is always with Him…just like He is with us today!

Lord, help me to live like God was living inside me, because He is!!!!