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)

John 9:1-12

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

2) Scripture Reading: John 9:1-12
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. ⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. ¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” ¹² “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.

3) Devotional Thought
Many people marvel at this miracle performed by Jesus. However as I read this passage, my focus is on the disciples because I am so quick to pass judgment on others. I especially like to focus on the shortcomings of others because it makes me look better in my own eyes. When I do this, I am so pathetic. I make such poor judgments, just like the disciples, because I can’t really see the journey others have been on or how far they have come in their relationship with God. Additionally, I can’t see God’s purpose in what He is doing until after He is finished. In this case of restoring the blind man’s sight, Jesus reveals God’s purpose before He is finished performing this healing. His purpose was to reveal God’s glory to this blind man, the disciples and an entire crowd.  
I always want to know what God is doing and why. It seems the closer I get to Him by reading His Word, praying and obeying Him, the more I see Him do and the more I understand why He is doing it. The less I read His Word and pray, the more I rely on myself to make judgments about what I think I see Him doing and why I think He is doing it. Remember these truths spoken of in the book, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby: 1) God is always at work around us and He wants us to join Him in His work, and 2) God wants a intimate love relationship with us that is real and personal. If we have that relationship with God, we will see where He is working, we will join Him in His work, and we will know why He is working as we work by His side. What we won’t be doing is judging others or judging God.

4) Questions to Ponder

Can you see God working and do you know why He is doing what He is doing? Is your relationship so intimate with God that He is revealing His purposes to you?

5) Prayer
Lord, I want to be so intimate with You that You will want to reveal Yourself, Your plans and Your purposes to me. Holy Spirit, help me to do the things necessary to develop a deep love relationship with You. Give me the discipline to read Your word and pray so that the Father can reveal Himself to me. In Jesus name, Amen.