October 24, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

John 9 - This entire chapter deals with Jesus healing the man born blind.  You may find it incredulous that the disciples asked Jesus if this man's blindness was due to his own sin, or that of his parents!  But perhaps they were thinking that God knew what this man would have done later in life, that he was inflicted with blindness to keep him from some major sin.  Jesus made clear that this affliction did not come because of anyone's sinfulness.  It happened "that the works of God should be revealed..." verse 3.  Even though this man would suffer blindness for years God had a reason for allowing it for so long.  This can help all of us to be patient when an affliction goes on and on and we wonder why.  Jesus did heal this man, verses 6,7.  The Jewish leaders would be dumbfounded as to how this happened since they wouldn't believe in Jesus' miraculous powers.  Eventually this man was "cast out of the synagogue" verse 34.  But Jesus would save him, verses 35-38. 

John 10:1-21 - Jesus declares Himself to be "the door of the sheep" in verse 7, and "the Good Shepherd in verses 11 and 14.  He used the illustration of Shepherd and sheep to show His relationship with those who would believe in Him.  There are wonderful truths to be found in these verses but one in particular is Jesus' statement that He would "lay down" His life on His own, verse 18.  You can't help but think of Psalm 23 when you read this passage in John.