Monday, November 11, 2024
Do you Believe?
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” John 9:35
To get the full context of our focus verse for today you are encouraged to read all of John 9. The man born blind has been healed by Jesus, brought before the Pharisees and kicked out of their midst. Upon hearing this, Jesus finds him. Think about that, Jesus finds him! The Pharisees cast him out of the temple, and the Lord of the temple found him. Upon finding him, Jesus asks him a very basic but profound question, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Son of Man was a messianic title one that tied Jesus to the sacrifice prophesied by John the Baptist. In short he was asking this man if he believed in the Messiah. The same question can be asked of us. Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe in such a way that your life has been changed? Jesus is part of the triune God and is our Savior if we put our faith and trust in him. Pray and think about your relationship with Jesus. What is He asking of you daily?
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Who is He?
He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” John 9:36
You are encouraged to read all of John 9 as we consider verse 36 today. Up till this point the blind man has not physically seen Jesus. Although we have a tremendous amount of evidence that he has seen Jesus with his heart. Earlier on in John 9 verses 8-9 show this evidence. The man has changed so much people are questioning his identity. This man didn’t go through a physical makeover as such. He likely didn’t get a haircut, or buy all new clothes, or shave his beard. This man simply encountered Christ and was healed of his blindness. The evidence suggests that this healing went beyond just his eyes, but changed his heart. He is approached by a man he has never seen, and asked if he believes in the Son of Man, in the Messiah. His answer provides us a glimpse into his heart. His answer is stronger than saying yes, his answer says absolutely I do, just point him out! This man’s encounter with Jesus changed his life! If you have encountered Jesus can you say the same? Is your life drastically different than when you didn’t know Jesus? Pray and reflect on your relationship with Jesus today. What is He asking you to change to be more like Him?
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
He is Speaking to you
Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” John 9:37
For further reading today I would encourage you to read all of John chapter 9. Jesus confirms here what we had thought, the blind man had seen him previously with his heart, now it’s time to see him with his eyes. Imagine being the healed blind man and hearing this statement. You just stood in front of the Jewish leaders, the same ones that likely used you as an object lesson and ridiculed you, and after talking with them you were amazed that they, as religious leaders of the time, didn’t recognize that Jesus was of special importance. You pointed out the obvious, and were kicked out. Now this man finds you and asks if you believe in Jesus? Now he says to you, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” Not only does your heart leap for joy, there is also relief. You were right about Jesus! Now you get to see him. What about you, have you seen Jesus for who he truly is? Are you allowing him to be the Lord of your life? Pray and ask God to reveal to you where you need to hear him and listen to his voice.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
I Believe
He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. John 9:38
Please read John 9 to get the full context of this verse. Can you imagine being face to face with Jesus! We are able to enter his throne room, converse with him, have profound fellowship with him… yet I am waiting in great excitement for the day I get to see him face to face. After all this man has gone through, I can’t imagine the joy he is feeling. Up until a few days ago, he was blind from birth. His entire existence up to that point, he had never seen anything. He heard though, and what he heard were not likely to be words of encouragement or even kind. They centered around his and or his father’s sin. He had to beg for his livelihood. Then one day, he heard the voice of Jesus and responded. Through the work of Jesus in his life, he was healed of his blindness and able to see. That interaction likely played over and over in his mind, and now he is standing face to face with Jesus. There was not a more appropriate response. This man worshiped him! Is this our go to response when we experience the goodness and grace of Jesus? Take time today to reflect on all Jesus has blessed you with and take time to worship him for all that he has so graciously given you.
Friday, November 15, 2024
We all need Jesus
Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” John 9:39
Let’s begin today by reading the entirety of John 9. I found this quote extremely enlightening:
“Christ came to earth so that those who think they have spiritual insight may be shown to be blind, and those who do not suppose they have this spiritual insight may see. His whole argument centered around a person’s sense of need. If someone felt no need, he would not see; but those who knew they were blind were the ones who could be made to see” (Hughes, p. 164). Kenneth O. Gangel, John, vol. 4, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 186.
Do you understand what great need you have for Jesus? Do you understand that your need for Jesus doesn’t go down once you know Him? The Gospel doesn’t stop applying to us once we believe, but we should realize how much more we are in desperate need of it every day. As you reflect today, pray that you will realize your need and respond accordingly.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Who are blind around us?
Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. John 9:40-41
Begin today by reading all of John 9. As we finish our time in John 9 today, I believe it is only prudent if we open our eyes to the blindness around us. Hope and pray that your eyes have been opened and that you realize your need for the Gospel daily. Within that daily realization we must recognize the blindness all around us. The Pharisees asked Jesus if they were also blind, this isn’t a typical question we will be asked. However, we need to be asking, “Are my friends/family/co-workers/etc blind?” They may not know or understand, but you do. You have been given the gift of sight, and it’s imperative that we do what we can to share that gift with others. Jesus has paid the price to outfit all of humanity with the ability to see, are you sharing that free gift with those in your circle of influence? As you reflect today pray that God will give you an opportunity and the boldness to share the Gospel with those people you know.