John 9:18-41 (NRSV)
Read John 9:18-41 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18The Jews 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 Verse 19and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" Verse 20His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; Verse 21but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." Verse 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Verse 23Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." Verse 24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." Verse 25He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." Verse 26They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" Verse 27He 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?" Verse 28Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. Verse 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." Verse 30The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. Verse 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Verse 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. Verse 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." Verse 34They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
Verse 35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" Verse 36He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Verse 37Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." Verse 38He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.
Verse 39Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Verse 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Verse 41Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
Devotion
Today we continue our reading of the "scenes" in John 9.
Scene 5 (John 9:18-23)—The power struggle increases. The enemies of Jesus do not believe the man who has received his sight, so they ask his parents: Is this your son? And, if he was healed, how did that happen? The parents are so scared of being driven out of the synagogue that they tell them to ask their son: "He's old enough."
Scene 6 (John 9:24-34)—The Pharisees summon the man who was blind and now (supposedly) is healed and accuse him of being a sinner. The man, who is drawing on another sort of healing, replies that all he knows is that he was blind and now can see. They keep asking the same questions. Finally the man comes back with a question: Why do you want to hear the answer again? Slyly, he asks, Do you also want to be his disciple? The Pharisees are angry! Then come the Pharisees' theological lecture, full of certainty and—dead wrong. John 9:30-33 relays the truth of God.
Scene 7 (John 9:35-38)—Hearing what is happening, Jesus finds the man born blind and guides him through to the wonderful words of confession: "Lord, I believe." And the man worships Jesus.
Scene 8 (John 9:39-41)—Finally, Jesus' summary turns things upside down: "I came for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who think they see may become blind."
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, bend your ear to our prayers and come among us. Bring light into the darkness of our hearts and anoint us with your Spirit. Amen.