John 9:24-34
Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts
S – What verse stands out to me today?
O – What is God revealing about Jesus?
A – How should this change my life today?
P – What is my prayer in response?
Scripture
(John 9:24-34, NLT) 24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” 25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” 26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” 30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” 34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.
Observation
This interaction really starts to show the tension. They call the man born blind to the synagogue for a “second time” in order to ask more questions.
The Pharisees are confident that Jesus and this man who was healed by Jesus are in fact “sinners”. The term is used 4 different times in these verses.
They are questioning him about his healing and how it was even possible. He doesn’t really know exactly, he just knows he was blind and now he is not.
As this interaction continues, the man born blind starts to push back a little on the religious leaders. He asks, “Do you want to become his disciples, too?” He healed me, and “you don’t know where he comes from?” Then he makes this statement in verses 31-33: “31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” The blind man presents them with a difficult conclusion that causes them to recoil by with name-calling (sinner) and expulsion (threw him out of the synagogue).
Application
If this man (Jesus) were not from God, he couldn’t have done it. I believe this. I am a “total sinner” like the Pharisees said of the man born blind and would have been kicked out of the synagogue just like him. While I was trapped in my own sin, Christ died for me. (Romans 5:8)
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for rescuing me from my own sin. Without you I would still be lost and separated from you. I am so grateful that while I was a “total sinner”, you died for me. I am now a son of God, saved, redeemed, and restored. Help me to live into this identity today! In Jesus’ name, amen.
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