John - Week 29

Could a Sinner Do This 

READ 

John 9:30-33 

30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” 

The Jewish leaders said they didn’t know where Jesus came from, as if that disqualified Him from being the Messiah. This man with no theological education gave a better answer than the Jewish leaders with all of their schooling. Think about all he knew: God does not listen to sinners but to those who worship Him and do His will. He had experienced a miracle and these leaders wanted him to think the one who performed it was a sinner because He did a good deed on the Sabbath.  

REFLECT 

Have some looked down on you because you do not have as much education as they do? This did not stop the man born blind from speaking up for Jesus and neither should it stop you. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 to see what it says about the wisdom of the world. Let this encourage you the next time you feel intimidated because someone has more education than you. You can never get enough of good biblical education, but the wisdom of the world will not make you wiser about spiritual matters.  

Thrown Out 

READ 

John 9:34-36 

34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue. 

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” 

These religious leaders not only called this man a “sinner” but also a “total” sinner. And their proud hearts were upset because he tried to teach them something. Notice the compassion of Jesus for this man when he heard that he had been thrown out of the synagogue. Jesus asked about the faith of this one who had experienced a miracle. The man, however, did not even know who the “Son of Man” was, revealing he was not a believer when he experienced the miracle of sight. 

REFLECT 

Have you heard the expression, “People won’t care how much we know until they know how much we care”? Jesus freely mingled with unbelievers so that He might give them the message of forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  

RESPOND 

Read Luke 24:13-27 to see how Jesus used questions to draw out information He already knew. Think about this and consider some questions you might ask to draw out what unbelievers believe. 

 Yes I Believe 

READ 

John 9:37-39 

37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” 

38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. 

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” 

Notice the words to the previously blind man in answering who the Son if Man is: “You have seen him.” The man had seen nothing since birth and now he has seen the one who can bring forgiveness of sin and eternal life. He needed to hear nothing else and said, “Yes, Lord, I believe.” The indication of the genuineness of his faith was that he worshiped Jesus. The man had experienced sight the Lord Jesus came to give, but Jesus also came to show those who think they see that they are really spiritually blind. 

REFLECT 

What was your first response after you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Have you shared this with someone else? 

RESPOND 

Your compassion will be increased for the lost as you think of them as spiritually blind. You should pray that their spiritual eyes be opened as you talk to them. Lydia’s eyes and heart were opened as Paul talked to her and others (see Acts 16:13-15). 

Are We Blind 

READ 

John 9:40-41 

40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 

41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. 

The Pharisees were quick to get the point Jesus was making: He was accusing them of being blind—spiritually blind. Jesus let them know that they were guilty because they were claiming they could see whereas they could not. There are also those today who think they have spiritual insight even though they deny the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. 

REFLECT 

Have you met those who spoke with authority but it was apparent they did not believe what the Bible says about how to get right with God? 

RESPOND 

Read Luke 5:30-32 to see how Jesus answered the Pharisees on another occasion. Those who consider themselves healthy don’t need a physician but those who know they are sick do. Pray that God will open the eyes of those to whom you witness to realize they are in need of help.  

Thieves and Shepherds 

READ 

John 10:1-3 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

The blind man had heard the call of Jesus and followed Him, but he was expelled by the Jewish leaders. Remember there were no chapter and verse divisions when this was first written. You would read about the Pharisees denying the healing of the blind man and Jesus as the Messiah. Then Jesus tells about those who recognize His voice and those who do not. Anyone who does not come legitimately to the sheepfold is a thief and a robber. This sheepfold represents the nation Israel. Jesus was the legitimate Messiah; others—the Pharisees—were thieves and robbers. 

REFLECT 

Does it help you to realize that there were no chapter and verse divisions when the Bible was originally written? Those divisions were added later to aid in referencing. So keep in mind the last chapter as you go into the next. 

RESPOND 

Read the last part of Hebrews 11 and the first part of chapter 12 to see how these two chapters blend into each other. Share this knowledge with others.