John 9:6-10 Having said this, Jesus 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.”
 
THE man “used to beg”. He is changed, new in Jesus’ power! See this communion of Jesus and the healed man as a picture of the Holy Spirit healing our sin. Salvation is a Spirit-led cooperation between God and man.
   Most often Jesus simply spoke healing. Here, he uses word and actions to restore God’s creative design. This personal, transforming interaction between God and a man reflects the creation: Genesis 2:7 The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Then God spoke his will to Adam to obey his commands and rule the earth. God created. God instructed. God blessed. Adam obeyed. Then sin broke this pure intimacy. Thus, Jesus came to re-birth man to God’s creation purpose.
   In a like manner, Jesus reflects the Father. With dust he formed new eyes. The man then responded to obey Jesus’ will for his life, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam”. Through the Father, the dry dust became life. In Jesus, blind eyes were born again to see. The entire man was made new in God’s merciful power.
   Yes, God’s kingdom is a cooperation between God and his creation. We have been reading of so many who viciously denied Jesus’ sovereign power. What made this man different? In his grace and mercy, the Spirit of God had given to this man a faith to believe Jesus. The God-given faith prepared him for the Light to open his eyes. Spirit led, he stood before Jesus that day. He heard from God in God’s time. God acted. Then the man acted. In faith, he went to the pool. He went home seeing. This is the way of salvation. We are born blind to God’s life-giving power. Yet, God prepares his own for recovery of sight for the blind, (Luke 4:18c), so you will believe and see the Light.
   Are you saved in Christ? This is God’s gift! Rejoice in God’s grace to personally come and heal your blindness. Ephesians 2:3b-5 Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.  
   By grace, Jesus touched the man’s eyes. By faith, the blind man faithfully responded to Jesus. By grace, the blind man saw. How joyous to know God’s gracious love.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Spirit, for empowering me with the faith to receive and believe in Jesus. Open my eyes further each day to see more of the Light. Amen.

John 9:1-5 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 work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As 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 of the world.”
 
MOST of us, I believe worldwide, know the words of the song “I Saw the Light”. Here’s one verse and chorus:
 
Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
 
This is a good theme song for John 9. For the next week we’ll look at this chapter comprised of this remarkable story of healing, mercy, belief, doubt, fear, retribution and revelation. The testimony of Jesus Christ, Light of the World, will come from a man born blind to the world. We’ll see how Jesus opened his eyes and his heart to confess belief in the Light of the World. And you’ll see who remains truly blind to Jesus. Go ahead, read John 9 now. It should be read in its entirety to understand God’s purposeful will as we see how Jesus overcomes the blinding darkness with which we are born.
   A first lesson, though, is difficult for many of us. Teaching, “But this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Jesus tells us the Lord God will take us into testing times, so our victory in the conflict will glorify, or praise God’s name. The Jews viewed such infirmity as blindness was sin’s penalty. Indeed, sinful actions do cause certain diseases to affect people. But we begin to see the Light of Jesus’ salvation as we know God takes us at times through dark valleys. Walking faithfully through these dark places, we will see the Light. Our testimony will be, “Our God heals.” The sovereign God has formed this man to be blind, so Jesus can demonstrate physical healing to the Jews. And the story will be told through the ages.
   Further, this healing is a foretaste of Jesus’ resurrection. The Light is showing himself to his people. Who will see? And who will remain blind?
 
Prayer: I pray, Lord, I learn in these next lessons how to know with more trust, “You are the Light.” Amen.

John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
 
IF someone asked you, “Who is Jesus to you?” I hope this is one place you will go to answer their question.
   See, for example, how you can answer, “Jesus is the source of eternal life.” “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Know he is the Son of God: “My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” Your answer can also be, “Jesus has full knowledge of God the Father: “I know him.” Even more your answer can be, “Jesus is the eternal God: “Before Abraham was born, I am!” 
   Know Jesus. Be firm in your belief. As the Jews sought to destroy Jesus, sin’s forces aggressively strive to destroy your faith. Remember Peter’s urgent warning to the early church: 1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Peter surely experienced the devil’s devouring attacks. Thankfully, we can look to Acts to know Peter is a stunning testimony of Jesus’ resurrection power. The devil could not devour or destroy Jesus’ passionate disciple, preacher and evangelist.
   Doubters and schemers want to cast you aside. People will focus on your sins to convince you that you are unworthy of Jesus. Pressure will come on you to conform to the world’s misunderstanding of God.
   In response, do this: Listen closely to what you hear. Contrast the faithless world’s words to Jesus’ “I tell you the truth,” Know your faith must be in the eternal Truth, who points you to the Father.
   Who do you say Jesus is? Confess and live as did Peter in Matthew 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for revealing yourself fully to us. I pray for faith to believe in you through all circumstances. Lord, deliver me from evil. Amen.

John 8:48-50 The Jews answered him, “Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.” 
 
THE rebuilder of Jerusalem after the 70-year exile in Babylon was Nehemiah. Hear his words praising God: Nehemiah 9:30-31 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples. 31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. Nehemiah worshiped the Lord, understanding God’s patient, merciful love. The Lord’s mercy preserved Israel from annihilation. It was time to rebuild a city, a nation and the Jews’ hearts to glorify God.
   How patient and loving the Son of God was as he stood before the Jews that day in the temple. Their accusations grew larger and deeper. How repulsive it is to read their claim Jesus is demon-possessed! This is charging Jesus is the son of Satan. The great blasphemy came from those accusing Jesus of blasphemy. Certainly they deserved death.
   Further, the Jews believed they spoke a second severe insult as they accused Jesus of being a Samaritan. The people of Judea judged the Samaritans a mixed pagan-Jewish people. They were no children of Abraham! The Jewish authorities were digging deeply to discredit Jesus. Insults are sin’s weapons to minimize others. But Jesus refuses to judge them. God’s love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4a), indeed! He is also slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3)
   God’s patient, slow to anger love formed Jesus’ persistent response against the Jews’ hateful accusations. He knew his truth would create turmoil in sinful hearts. He was prepared for the battle. Foremost, Jesus kept in mind the reason and purpose of his incarnation. With love on his heart and eternal salvation on his mind, Jesus patiently loved these hateful accusers. The Savior had come to draw God’s people into God’s house. The Son of Man patiently held back the whirlwind of his judgment to await the day of salvation. Notice again that Jesus emphasizes that his actions honor the Father. He defends the Father against all insults.
   In Christ we see the Christian way. Defend God with all you say and do. Be patient and loving with your accusers and those who blaspheme God. Tell them of God. Live focused on God’s mission. Love and serve others with a patient love. This is your role. One day the whirlwind will come, and the Judge will deal with the unbelievers. Your work is to speak of Jesus, then leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.
 
Prayer: Father in heaven, holy be your name. I pray for a patient love for those who are difficult to love. Help me to speak and live my love for you and for them. Amen.

 John 8:37-38 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
 
THERE is a breakdown between the Jews and their father Abraham. See Abraham’s faithful life summarized in Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Father Abraham’s legacy is that he was God’s faithful servant. See also Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and God credited it to him as righteousness.
   In contrast, Abraham’s descendants have become faithless orphans. Only bloodlines, not faith lines connect them to Abraham. Abraham is their father in name only. Evidence of their unbelief is again demonstrated in the Jews’ evil desire to kill Jesus. Why would the apostle so often repeat this deadly divide between God and his people?
   One reason, perhaps, would be in response to John’s own experience as Jesus’ apostle. John had stood before the brutal cross. He mourned the deaths of very many Christians in the early church. His own life had experienced great trials. For some 60 years or more to this point when he wrote the gospel, John had witnessed unbelieving Jews’ killing God’s people. John’s repetition of the Jews’ desire to kill Jesus may be to help them know this is not possible. You can’t kill the Lord of life with either physically or with unbelief. The power of the cross overcomes the chasm. Jesus is alive. Worship him.   
   John also uses Jesus’ testimony to bridge this divide. “I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” Jesus moves the teaching from earthly unbelief to heaven’s perfect union. This is another repetition. John, in several ways demonstrates Jesus’ divine origin. He came from the Father’s presence to witness of the Father. The Son knows exactly what the Father does. He came to do as his Father. In the Holy Spirit’s power, Jesus, the man, was fully present with God.
   In a like manner, be present with God. Live as if he is with you. After all, the Spirit dwells within us. People need to see God in you, so they will understand what it means to be God’s child. Looking to the faithless Jews, one would not know Abraham’s faith. When you say, “I am a Christian.” will people know God is your Father?
   Also, does Jesus’ testimony help you understand heaven is a real place? Here and elsewhere in Scripture, we can glimpse heaven’s stunning reality. We don’t know exactly what will happen in eternity, but all we need to know is we will be present with God. God created mankind to lovingly be present with him and with one another. Eternity will be the perfection of being present with God, loving the Father, loving one another.  
   This is Jesus’ testimony of the Father. Live in joy because Jesus has come from the Father’s presence to make the way for you to be present with the Father forever.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for demonstrating the Father’s perfection as you lived on earth. I rejoice in the anticipation of being present with you and the Father forever. Amen.

John 8:33-35 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
 
ONE very important reason to study and know history is to learn from our past. Around the world, governments, people groups, families and the church repeat age-old problems. Tragically, dissension, division and arrogance make us slaves to sin. Will we ever be free of these evils? Do we somehow think we are superior to or isolated from the past?
   Apparently, the Jews thought that way. They were in great error to say, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.” Did they forget 400 years of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt? Did they forget idolatrous kings led their ancestors to  such horrible sins as sacrificing children to stone idols? Had they forgotten the 70-year exile to Babylon? Even more, did they somehow forget Judea and Galilee were under the authority of tyrannical kings and the Roman Emperor? From generation to generation, Abraham’s descendants knew physical and spiritual enslavement.
   Why was their history so marred? Moses spoke God’s warning to Abraham’s descendants in Deuteronomy 30:15-18 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
   It is very clear, isn’t it? Sin kept Israel from truly being Abraham’s descendants, in the Father’s family. They missed God’s freedom because they chose to leave his loving protection.
   What do we do with this sin legacy in our world and our lives? Do you want to be free? Do you desire your church and your nation to be free? God has given to the world the means to break sin’s deadly chains. He is Jesus. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Look to your life. Know what is wrong. Look to Jesus. Know what is right. Call on the Spirit to break sin’s bonds. Live free of sin, bound to the Savior. Be a child of God in the Father’s family.
 
Prayer: Turn me, Lord, from past habits that chain me in any way from being your child. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.  
  
 

John 8:30-32 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
 
LIKELY, you have heard the Bible summarized with, “Believe in God. Believe God.” These verses are a good summary of s faithful, active belief in the Lord God.
   It seems when we read the gospels and teach on Jesus’ life, we see Jesus in conflict with unbelieving Pharisees, priests and the general population. Certainly, this has been true throughout John. As Jesus battles with the Jews’ unbelief, we can easily forget God was transforming many to put their faith in him. Is it not a remarkable work God was doing to renew minds for people to “Believe in God”? Hearts and minds came to faith! Souls were being rescued from death. Hallelujah!
   Jesus then affirms their faith with these remarkable, often quoted words, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In faith, the believes’ lives will change. We’ll see, as is the case with all new believers today, they don’t truly know what this faith means for their lives. But a new beginning is occurring for God’s faithful.
   Believing in God, do you celebrate Jesus’ strengthening, promising words? Of course, you do. That’s why we love to say, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” and pass this truth to others. Such a magnificent truth is worth knowing and saying. It indicates you believe in Jesus’ resurrection power to transform the lives of those who follow Jesus’ teachings in faith. Indeed, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) How good to believe in God, to know God reigns over sin, darkness and death!
   What joy, then, it is to live in response to your living freedom. Here, then, is where you show the world you “Believe God.” As you believe Jesus’ truth has set you free from sin and in the sure hope of eternal life. Believing God, you forgive as you are forgiven. You see the light amid troubles. You know even death is no more. Your prayers include petitions to for God to save your loved ones as you are eager to help others seek Jesus’ freedom, too.
   We’ll see in our next lessons the people here still needed to see more of Jesus to fully believe he is the risen Savior of the world. You can praise God that you can see all of Jesus in the gospel and believe his words.
   Do you believe in Jesus? Then believe God. Faithfully live into his truth.  
 
Prayer: I thank you, God, that I believe in you. I pay I have the faith to believe your words, that I live free of sin’s chains. Amen.
  
 

John 8:28-29 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
 
ARE you sent? Have you ever thought that where you are at a moment of any day is because God has sent you there? Do you know you are reading this because God sent you here? Where he sends you can be for your benefit or for others’ – and always for his.
   For example, you may be in a grocery store, at the market, and a mother is having trouble with two toddlers. She could use some help for a moment to settle the circumstances. Do you say, “May I help you?”
   What happens when you do help? Your purpose was to give her relief, a moment’s rest. God sent you into that meeting at that time to be a helper, to serve someone’s need.
   Now you have an opportunity to love Jesus and love others. When she says, “You’re so kind.” You say, “It’s not me. It’s really my Lord Jesus in my life. The Bible tells me Jesus was very kind to people in need. I simply am doing what he has shown the world. It’s not me. I’m here to help because my Good Shepherd led me here.”
   John repeatedly records Jesus’ teaching how he, the Son of God, had come in the Father’s will to show the Father’s love, justice and mercy to the world. Jesus is your model for showing God to the world.
   Yes, you are sent in the Father’s will some place each day to do God’s work. Joyfully, a Christ-follower gets to go where the Spirit of Christ sends you. Be an eager messenger of the great love Jesus has shown to you and the world. Remember, the Son always did what pleased the Father. Go and do likewise. Please the God who has saved you.
 
Prayer: Guide me, Holy Spirit, into the places the Father sends me. Help me to submit to and follow the Good Shepherd. Amen.

John 8:21-27 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” 22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” 23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.” 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”  
 
JESUS continues to preach to the Jews, “I am going away.” But they are confused about why and where he is going. They even wonder, “Will he kill himself?” This demonstrates the great divide between heaven and the world. This gap between sin and faith is deadly, “You will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
   Notice the Teacher said, “sin” here and not “sins” as in verse 24. What is the difference? The “sin” is unbelief. Not knowing, “Who are you?” people will live in their sins and die in their sins. Not knowing Jesus, one can never know that Jesus has gone to heaven. Unbelief keeps us eternally away from Jesus.   
   John was urgent to repeat Jesus’ words (also recorded in John 13 & 14). As his life drew to a close, he wrote to convince unbelieving Jews, “Jesus is Lord.” Jesus, too, had a limited time to teach. Both knew that some would come to believe in Jesus crucified, died, buried, raised and ascended. Many Jews would come to faith to know, “Who is he?”
   The Light of the World spoke to illuminate his identity to the world. The world does not naturally know Jesus. That is why the church – you and me – today is to be as John. Individually and corporately, we must urgently repeat and proclaim Jesus’ identity. Yes, we must even teach, “You will die in the sin of unbelief.” because that is the truth. If the church is not willing to do this, we, too, will be counted among the unbelievers.
   Think of it. If Jesus had not said these things, how would we know true faith? How could we know now where Jesus has gone? The truth is hard to speak because our ministry is to those who are, like we once were, from below. Look up, though, to the One from above. Be saved in faithful belief that Jesus is Lord. Be loving to tell the world.
 
Prayer: Remove from my mind, Lord, anything that keeps me from fully believing in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.   
 

John 8:13-20 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”  20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.  
 
AS Jesus has just declared, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) in the temple courts, the Pharisees want proof of his self-testimony. After all, he is claiming he is YHWH – the almighty creator God. In Jesus’ response, here are five lessons we can learn of the Christian life.
   First, a Christian must know Jesus is the only authority who can teach us of himself. Human beings teach one another, but we all have a limited knowledge of God. We must accept Jesus’ words of his identity as complete truth. Arguing with Jesus, as many “theologians” and others have done throughout history only detracts from God’s holy nature. Faithfully, know God is more than your mind can fully conceive.
   Second, Christians must not put Jesus is on trial. The Pharisees relied on the law to discredit Jesus. The law did require two witnesses to authenticate another person’s testimony. But the Pharisees were putting Jesus on the same level as a human on trial. They looked to the law to discredit Jesus instead of using the law to define Jesus. Christian living means we do not put Jesus on trial, blaming him for grief and brokenness. Christians humbly live under Jesus’ providence.
   Third, the Father affirms Jesus. The prophets proclaim the Messiah’s coming. God speak his approval at Jesus’ baptism. Recognize the Father’s voice at Jesus’ Transfiguration. Know Jesus acts under the Father’s will. A Christian faith understands the Father testifies for the Son.
   Fourth, Christians must know God’s will was for Jesus to minister for a particular time. I believe this is the third time in the last two chapters that John confirms Jesus could have easily been arrested. The time would come but not here. The Christian life accepts God’s timing for all events. Be still and know your life is in God’s hand.
   Five, Jesus knows where he comes from and where he is going. Christians must know your faith comes from God, and you are going to heaven. Think about this. How does this impact your life?
 
Prayer: Thank you, God, for showing us your truth here. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to live faithfully, trusting you always. Amen.