God’s Renewing Word of Hope
Introduction
John 9:1-12: Today’s reading begins with a conversation between Jesus and his disciples, prompted by their seeing a man who had been born physically blind. At the time of Jesus, some believed that a person who was blind was being punished by God for sinning, or for the sin of one’s parents. Jesus rejects the connection the disciples make between sinful actions and illness. The man’s blindness is an occasion that will reveal God’s power at work in Jesus.
Scripture Reading
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. 2His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents’ sin?”
3Jesus answered, “His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins. He is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me; night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.”
6After he said this, Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud with the spittle; he rubbed the mud on the man’s eyes 7and told him, “Go and wash your face in the Pool of Siloam.” (This name means “Sent.”) So the man went, washed his face, and came back seeing.
8His neighbors, then, and the people who had seen him begging before this, asked, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”
9Some said, “He is the one,” but others said, “No he isn’t; he just looks like him.”
So the man himself said, “I am the man.”
10“How is it that you can now see?” they asked him.
11He answered, “The man called Jesus made some mud, rubbed it on my eyes, and told me to go to Siloam and wash my face. So I went, and as soon as I washed, I could see.”
12“Where is he?” they asked.
“I don’t know,” he answered.
Today’s Key Verse: John 9:5
[Jesus said:] “While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.”
Reflect
In today’s reading, the healing of the blind man is at Jesus’s initiative (verses 6, 7). How do people react when they realize that the man can now see (verses 8, 9)? The healed man serves as a witness to his own healing. How does he respond to those who question him (verse 11)?
Pray
Lord Jesus, you are the light for the world, and you have revealed God’s power at work in you. Keep me close to you and guide me each day in the way of your truth. Amen.
And now, join us in prayer concerning the Warfighter’s Study Bible, created to deploy God’s hope and strength to U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families: Lord God, we pray for the launching of the Warfighter’s Study Bible, introduced by American Bible Society’s Armed Services Ministry, and that it will bring wholeness, comfort, and strength to the military community. We pray that this customized Bible, containing articles written by the military, will help heal spiritual wounds from military service, and replace hurt and brokenness with hope. And we pray, Lord God, that you would protect and defend every member of our military community, and uphold them and grant them your peace. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
John 9:13-41: The Pharisees investigate the healing