John
9:1-41 - Empowered by God, Jesus gives sight to the blind
man (3,6-7). ‘The Pharisees’ hear the man’s testimony (15). ‘Some of’
them reject the Lord (16,24). There will always be those who refuse to
believe in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. They will pour
scorn on those who have come to know the Lord. The man gives his
testimony: ‘One thing I know… I was blind, now I see’ (25). The
Pharisees continue to fire questions at him (26). He puts the most
challenging question to them: ‘Do you too want to become His disciples?’
(27). They hurl insults at him (28). Fools attack what they don’t
understand. The more they rage, the more they show their folly. We say,
‘Lord, I believe’, and our spiritual ‘eyes’ are opened (38; 2
Corinthians 4:6). Don’t be ‘blind’, despising the believer and the
Saviour (39-40; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
10:1-42 - The Christian life
is not easy. The devil ‘comes only to steal and kill and destroy’ (10).
Satan was working through the religious leaders. They were trying ‘to
stone’ Jesus (31). ‘Again’, they failed (39). They could not take Jesus’
life. ‘His hour had not yet come’ (18; 7:30; 8:20). When Satan attacks
us, we must remember this: God is in control. God has given us great
promises (28-29). Jesus saves. Jesus keeps. His salvation is eternal:
‘He didn’t bring us this far to leave us. He didn’t teach us to swim to
let us drown. He didn’t build His home in us to move away. He didn’t
lift us up to let us down’. Satan will cause us plenty of trouble. Be on
the alert (1 Peter 5:8). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
Looking to Jesus, we are assured of this: Satan will be defeated
(Revelation 12:9).
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