Expelled
Opening Prayer
As you open your Bible today, give Jesus the glory for the great things he has done–for you and those you know.
Read John 9:13-34
[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.” [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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Who better understands the miracle, the blind man or the Jews?For the first time in these chapters, Jesus is not at the center of the questioning. The healed man takes center stage (30,31). Do you agree with what he says? A moment later he gives as clear a testimony as Jesus could ask for (33). On one level this account seems humorous, but as it progresses we see it’s no laughing matter. The man’s parents are intimidated by the Jewish authorities for fear that they will get expelled from the synagogue (22)–and they are right for that is exactly what happens to the healed man (34). In January 2011, 11 families in a village in Laos were expelled by their village officials for being Christian. Because they refused to give up their faith, their houses were destroyed, their livestock confiscated and their children denied access to the village school. They were forced to move out and live at the edge of the jungle, building simple shelters and with barely enough food or water to survive. Amazingly, despite the treatment they received, other families also professed allegiance to Jesus Christ. They in turn were threatened with guns and evicted from the village. Would you be willing to be expelled from your community for following Jesus?
Apply
Pray for these Laotian Christian families, that God, who can do miracles, will help them live and stay strong.
Closing prayer
Father God, help me today to stand firm for my Christian faith. Help others to do the same, I pray.
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