Reading Through John Devotionals – Week 9
See all Devotionals: https://graceforohio.org/category/reading-through-john-devotionals/
Day 57
1 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.”
The disciples saw a theological puzzle: they wanted to identify the sin that was at the root of the man’s blindness. Jesus had a different perspective. Jesus saw a person in need. Too often, we focus on causes instead of compassion, on blame instead of blessing. The disciples asked who had sinned, assuming the man’s blindness was punishment. Jesus, however, redirected their focus: this was an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed.
Suffering can shake our faith, leading us to ask, “Why, Lord?” But Jesus invites us to see suffering as a moment where God’s glory can shine. The man’s blindness was not a curse, but a canvas for God’s work. Sometimes, our struggles are not about our past sins but about God’s future plans.
Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.” This light doesn’t just heal physical blindness; it reveals spiritual truth. In a world darkened by suffering and sin, Christ’s presence brings clarity and purpose. How can you shift your attitude to be more like Jesus?
Day 58
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.
Jesus used an unconventional method to heal the blind man—spit, mud, and obedience. This reminds us that God’s ways are often beyond our understanding. Sometimes, healing and breakthroughs come in ways we don’t expect. His methods may seem unusual or even uncomfortable, but they are always purposeful.
Just as the blind man had to trust Jesus and take action, we too must step forward in faith, even when the process doesn’t align with our expectations. What appears to be an obstacle may actually be a divine setup for a greater revelation of God’s power.
The man had a choice: he could have dismissed Jesus’ instructions as strange or inconvenient. Instead, he obeyed, and his obedience led to transformation. Many times, God asks us to take steps of faith that may seem illogical, but trusting Him leads to divine intervention.
Are there areas where God is calling you to trust Him, even if it doesn’t make sense?
Day 59
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 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.”
16 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.
17 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.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 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.” 22 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. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
When God works in our lives, not everyone will respond with joy or belief. The healed man was brought before the Pharisees, who were more concerned with legalism than the miracle itself. They could not see beyond their rigid traditions to recognize God’s power at work.
The healed man, however, held his ground. He did not know everything about Jesus yet, but he testified to what he had experienced: “I was blind, but now I see.” His words were simple yet powerful. He didn’t engage in theological debates or attempt to explain how the miracle happened—he simply shared what he knew to be true.
In the same way, our testimony doesn’t need to be complex or eloquent. It doesn’t need to have all the theological answers. It just needs to be an honest account of what God has done in our lives. When we share how Jesus has transformed our lives, even in the simplest words, we bear witness to His power and invite others to experience His work for themselves. How is God working in your life right now? Who can you share that with today?
Day 60
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 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.” 22 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. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
Their son had been born blind. The miracle of their son’s healing should have been a moment of great joy for the blind man’s parents. Instead, fear overshadowed their response. When questioned by the Pharisees, they acknowledged that their son had been blind from birth but refused to testify about how he was healed. Their fear of being expelled from the synagogue—a serious consequence in Jewish society—led them to distance themselves from both their son and Jesus.
Their response challenges us to examine our own faith. Do we sometimes hold back from openly identifying with Christ because we fear rejection, ridicule, or loss? The blind man’s parents had undeniable proof of God’s power, yet their fear silenced them. In contrast, their son, though much less influential, boldly proclaimed the truth.
Are there areas in your life where fear is keeping you from fully following Jesus? Whether in conversations with family, colleagues, or friends, ask God for the courage to stand firm in your faith. How can you rely on God’s strength to be bold like the blind man, rather than fearful like his parents?
Day 61
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
This passage reminds us of the power of a changed life. The man didn’t need theological training or a long argument—his testimony was simple and irrefutable. He had encountered Jesus, and that encounter changed everything. The man was able to clearly articulate how Jesus changed his life.
Similarly, our personal testimonies are powerful. We may not have all the answers, but we can declare with confidence, “One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see.” When we speak of God’s work in our lives, we share undeniable evidence of His power and grace.
What is your answer to how Jesus has changed your life? How does Jesus continue to change your life? Who can you share that change with today?
Day 62
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
After boldly testifying about Jesus, the healed man was cast out of the synagogue. Rejected by religious leaders and possibly even by his own community, he found himself alone. But Jesus sought him out.
This moment reveals the heart of Christ—He does not abandon those who stand for Him. When the world rejects us, Jesus draws near. The man had already received physical sight, but now he was about to receive something greater: spiritual sight.
Jesus asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man was open but uncertain. When Jesus revealed Himself, the man’s response was immediate: “Lord, I believe.” His journey was complete—not just from blindness to sight, but from unbelief to faith. He worshiped Jesus, recognizing Him as Lord.
The blind man had gained both spiritual sight and physical sight. —first his eyes were opened, and then his heart. This passage reminds us that true sight is not about what our eyes can see but about recognizing Jesus for who He truly is. Though we physically see, there are times we remain spiritually blind. Pride, self-sufficiency, and hardened hearts can prevent us from receiving the spiritual sight Jesus offers. What are areas in your life where you struggle to see with spiritual clarity? What truth does Jesus want to speak to you?
Day 63
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Spiritual blindness is not about lacking knowledge but about refusing to accept the truth. The Pharisees had Scripture, religious status, and outward righteousness, yet they rejected Jesus. Their self-reliance made them blind to the light standing before them.
This is a sobering warning for us today. It’s easy to assume we “see” because we know about God, attend church, or follow religious practices. But true sight comes from humble dependence on Christ. If we become spiritually proud—thinking we have all the answers or that we don’t need God’s grace daily—we risk falling into the same trap as the Pharisees.
How do you need God’s grace today? In what areas of your life are you willing to let God reveal need for growth? How can you cultivate a heart of humility, always open to God’s guidance?
Day 55-63 Provided by Grace Church.
See all Devotionals: https://graceforohio.org/category/reading-through-john-devotionals/