Day 35
Today’s reading: John 9:18-41
In the Dark
〰️
In the Dark 〰️
Reflections
It is indeed the paradox of Christianity that most times, those who believe they are full of knowledge often know the least. In the kingdom of God, nothing can be accessed without humility. This is why the kingdom often seems to be filled with people from the lower strata of society—they are more willing to depend on God, having little else to rely on. Knowledge, wealth, and power can make one feel invincible, but the reality is that true access to God comes only when we acknowledge our complete dependence on Him.
The Pharisees, for example, considered themselves experts of the law and could not accept any knowledge that contradicted their exalted traditions. But to access God, we must come to the realization that our own wisdom and resources are thoroughly insufficient. We must be entirely dependent on Jesus.
This is not to discourage the pursuit of knowledge. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Humility becomes even more profound when you have much and choose to lay it down for the sake of following Jesus. The call today is to carefully examine your life to see where you are relying solely on your own abilities rather than on God. Where is your knowledge leading you to act in opposition to God’s will, rather than in alignment with it?
Study Questions
In what ways do you rely on your knowledge and abilities rather than on God? Is your identity tied to your expertise or accomplishments, and how can you shift that dependence to trust in God's guidance?
How does the healed man describe Jesus throughout the story in John 9? Track how his understanding and descriptions of Jesus evolve as the story progresses.
In light of John 9:39 and Isaiah 42:6-7, what is the symbolic significance of this healing in relation to salvation? How does the healing of the blind man represent a deeper spiritual truth about Jesus' mission and the offering of salvation to the world?
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.” John 9:39-41 NLT
