TO DISPLAY THE WORKS OF GOD

Passage: John 9:1-7

Key verse: 3

NIV

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi,(A) who sinned,(B) this man(C) or his parents,(D) that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.(E) As long as it is day,(F) we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(G)

After saying this, he spit(H) on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”(I) (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.(J)

Read full chapter

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, (A)“Rabbi, (B)who sinned, (C)this man or (D)his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but (E)that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must (F)work the works of him who sent me (G)while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, (H)I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, (I)he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. (J)Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in (K)the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and (L)came back seeing.

Read full chapter

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Who sinned? (1-5) When the disciples saw a man blind from birth, begging on the street, they assumed that his blindness was the result of sin. The only way they could process this seemingly tragic circumstance was to assign blame to either the man or his parents. Jesus said that neither had sinned. Rather the man's blindness was an opportunity to display God's work in his life. We often do not know why we suffer. But we can always see our life as the time to do and reveal God's work. While Jesus was in the world, he was the light of the world and did his Father's work. He encouraged his disciples to do the same. 2. Jesus restores sight to the blind man (6-7) After correcting his disciples' wrong understanding of sin and suffering, Jesus turned his attention to the blind man. Jesus made mud with his saliva and put it on his eyes. Perhaps Jesus did this to show his intention of healing him. Then Jesus told him to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash. When the man did so, his eyes were opened, and he could see.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for displaying your work even in dark and difficult times. Thank you for opening my eyes.

One Word: Display the work of God