So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 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.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

John 9:8-12

So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 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.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” John 9:10-12

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 9:8-12, as neighbors of the blind man healed by Jesus in vv1-7 question the man about how and who healed him.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is referred to in the text as healing the blind man - He is the One who heals both physically and spiritually.  We can rest assured that He will heal us spiritually in this life and physically for eternity. In Heaven, there will be no more sickness (Revelation 21:4).  If we are healed physically in this life, we know that it is God's work in us and His Light shining in and through us to draw others to Him.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We can see the power of the blind man's testimony as he recounts his healing exactly as Jesus performs it in vv1-7.  He is unafraid to share his testimony.  All believers have a powerful testimony and God gives us the words to say when we allow Him to work in and through us.  The blind man's testimony causes his neighbors to seek Him - see v12.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise that Jesus heals - both spiritually and physically.  Follow the example of the blind man and be unashamed to share your testimony with others and allow Him to work in and through you as He gives You the words to share.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are the Great Physician - healing me both spiritually and physically!  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the unbreakable promise that I will be healed physically for eternity and be in Heaven with You and all of the other saints.  I am undeserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Acts 9-12

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:34-36

Day 326 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing primarily on the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles. My commentary* notes: "God’s eternal plan all along has been that all people of the world—Jew and non-Jew alike—should come to know him through Christ Jesus....The first Gentile recipient of the gospel message is a devout Roman military leader by the name of Cornelius....the church’s Gentile ministry and fellowship grows steadily, even to the point that when the Jewish Christians in Judea have a special financial need, the Gentile Christians in Antioch volunteer to supply that need."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

I am reminded that all are deserving to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and we are to dismiss any thoughts we may have regarding who might believe or not.  Believers are to speak as Peter did in Acts 4:20 when he said "[a]s for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard". We must feel compelled to not only be the hands and feet of Jesus with our actions but also with our words.  It is then up to God to either make someone a believer or not - we are simply the messenger. God may provide us the words, but faith itself is a gift from God, and although God may work through us, it is not from anything we do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me faith...and faith in those around me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin continues, including worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

John 7

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. v16-18

In John 7, the disciples encouraged Jesus to go to Judea for Sukkot or the Festival of Tabernacles (v1-9).  Jesus went in secret and taught in the temple (v10, 14).  The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” (v15)

Jesus invites (and desires) us to have a personal relationship with Him so that He can teach us directly through daily study and time with Him.  While it is often helpful to have others teach us God's word - there is no replacement for our own personal time with God.  If we surrender to Jesus, He will transform our thoughts (Romans 12:2) and work through us.  

On a related note, John Piper encourages us by sharing how God helps give us words to say in our defense of Jesus and other difficult circumstances.

Also in this story in John 7 where Jesus teaches us the Festival of Tabernacles, Jesus challenges the Jews to focus on people's heart condition and not on external behavior.

Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly. v24

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and and who saved me (while still sinning!) - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and salvation.  I worry and I have much sin!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.