John 9:13-23

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes) 

2) Scripture Reading: John 9: 13-23They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.  Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.  But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

3) Devotional:Bono, lead singer of the band U2 was sharing with an interviewer his thoughts on karma and grace:

“You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that ‘as you reap, so you will sow’ stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.”

This story is a great example of this concept.  Here, the disciples are asking a question that is based on this karma way of thinking.  What did this man do to deserve being blind?  What did his parents do?  Why is he reaping this horrible disease?  Yet, Jesus responded not out of karma, but out of grace.   He did, what this man could not do for Himself.  Give him the ability to see.  The scandal of the cross is that you and I don’t get what we deserve.  Grace interrupts it.  For many of us that is good news because we’ve all done a lot of “stupid stuff,” and need grace to offer us forgiveness and a second chance.

4) Questions to Consider:What do you need Jesus to do for you now that you can’t do yourself?  How can you experience God’s grace to free you today?

5) Prayer:Jesus, I know I don’t deserve your love or your mercy.  But I choose to receive your grace today.  Show me where you want to bring greater forgiveness and healing in my life.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)