Daily Bible Reading (Tuesday, April 17th)

10

John 9 (ESV)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jewsa]">[a] did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesusb]">[b] to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”c]">[c] 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt;d]">[d] but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Footnotes:

  1. John 9:18 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 22
  2. John 9:22 Greek him
  3. John 9:35 Some manuscripts the Son of God
  4. John 9:41 Greek you would not have sin

10 Comments

Yes Bruce, I noticed the audio - awesome! I love this feature.

I listen to the old testament in the morning when i'm getting ready for work through this app (sounds like the same one anyway - 'the study bible' by Grace to You)

We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.
I love this passage! The man is mocking the pharisees, and the way his parents talked of him I imagine he was a young adult. It makes me think of the way my own children would put this, 'Really dude? I was blind and now I can see. Jesus did it. What's not to get here?' Young people have a great way of just cutting to the chase, and this guy nailed it. Praise God for the passion and boldness of youth in Christ, may I be so bold!

I once was blind but now I see! Amazing grace has set me free! Not only do I rejoice in the salvation I have received but this account assures me that the Lord can open the eyes of anyone. We need to pray specifically, and believing that the Lord will open eyes of those we know and love. Also - is everyone noticing the addition of the audio so that now you can listen to the chapter?

We have been encouraged by Pastor Bruce to be at the task and blessing of PRAYER. The once blind man also offers up a word of encouragement to us to be at the task of praying, ". . . but if ANYONE is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." What are saying and doing in our "idle" time? May our lives manifest a heart of worship by doing his will that we be reassured that our prayers are heard by our loving Father in heaven.

22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.

It is wild to me, that after witnessing this miracle of Christ, they still fear the Pharisees. Rather than be bold to proclaim what they have witnessed, they feared the authorities and deferred to their son.

I think that inconsistency of faith, is also in me. Though having been brought sight, I often fail to be bold both with others and just holding onto faith when I am being tested.

I pray for a bold faith, it's not a spirit of fear I've been given. Not a spirit of anxiety, or whatever else. He is a Spirit of joy, hope, peace.

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” Thank you God for your great plan of redemption that would allow the blind to see you and know you. Work through us so that even more can come to know you and enjoy the prescence of your Holy Spirit in their lives.

We’ve already seen just how hard hearted the Pharisees are in previous chapters, so their response is no surprise at all. The response of the blind man‘s parents is embarrassing though. They feared man and denied Jesus in front of the Pharisees. They cared more about politics and social norms of having access to the synagogue than having access to Heaven itself! Father, give me the grace to care more about Jesus than anything this dying world ever has to offer.

"One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” Amen! Jesus opens the eyes of the blind and sets them free! He takes our hearts of stone and replaces them with hearts of flesh. What an amazing Savior!

I am so thankful for the work of Christ. He used his power and authority to physically heal a man born blind, what an incredible transformation and picture of salvation! Likewise, the transformation of a Christian is profound. We are dead in our trespasses but have been made alive in Christ! He conquered death for us and it is by grace through faith we are spiritually healed for eternity.

Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man, a man blind from birth. I was born blind from birth, spiritually blind. Jesus opened my eyes. He turned me from a blind man to a man who has real vision, a man who can see the glory of God in His Word and my own sinfulness. Like the blind man in the story, our response should be to worship Him in Spirit and truth. Praise God that He opens the eyes of the blind even today.

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