D. D. Lewis

Prayer based on John 9:24-41

This obedient blind beggar continues to grow in faith through opposition and receives salvation.

Father, we praise You for You lead and sustain Your children through opposition and bring them to salvation. (John 6:44)

The Pharisees call the man who was blind back in, and they try to intimidate him. They tell him they know Jesus is a sinner and command him to give glory to God. The man who was blind responded humbly. He said I do not know if Jesus is a sinner, but I do know that I was blind, and now I see. The Pharisees begin to interrogate him again. Faith continues to rise in the man who was blind. He tells the Pharisees they have already heard and would not listen, so why do they want to hear his testimony again? He then boldly asks them if they desire to become disciples of Jesus. (Verse 27) The Pharisees revile him and proudly proclaim they are disciples of Moses and then degrade Jesus and His disciples. "We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." (Verses 28-29) The man who was blind dares to teach the Pharisees using powerful arguments. (Verses 30-33) The Pharisees are enraged. They call the man an unqualified sinner, unfit to instruct them, and they cast him out of the synagogue. (Verse 34) When Jesus heard they cast him out, He set out to find him. When He did, He asked the man if he believed in the Son of Man. The man humbly asked Jesus: who is the Son of Man so I may believe in Him? Jesus tells him He is the One. The man confesses his belief and worships Jesus. (Verses 35-38) Jesus has come to give sight and righteousness to His blind, humble children. (Psalm 146:8) And to expose the blindness of unrighteous people who say they can see. (Verses 39-41)

Father, help us understand what is involved in true conversion so we may marvel and rejoice over Your work in salvation as we should. Amen.

Let us read and meditate on John 5:1-15 and John 9:6-38.
List the similarities and differences between these two accounts.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. Why is the blind beggar not intimidated by the Pharisees or discouraged by the unbelief of his neighbors?
2. The blind beggar gives an invitation (Verse 27) and teaches (Verses 30-33) before conversion. (Verse 38) Do you find that amazing and unique?
3. What are the signs and results of true conversion?
4. How is the glory of God in salvation on display in this passage and in Your life?
5. If a poor blind beggar having every disadvantage can come to salvation, what keeps others who have many advantages blind and lost?

Prayer based on John 8:46-59

Jesus asks the Jews if anyone can prove Him guilty of sin: the name calling begins, Jesus makes another claim to be God, and the Jews try to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself from them.

Father, we praise You for Your Son who never retaliated but always spoke the truth in perfect harmony with You.

The Jews claimed they never were enslaved and Abraham was their father. Jesus then corrects their miss conceptions. (Verses 33-45) Jesus then asks the crowd if any of them can prove Him guilty of sin. Since the claims of Jesus are undisputable and they cannot accuse Him of any wrongdoing, the only action they have left is to stoop to name-calling. They hated the Samaritans, so the worst name they could call Jesus was a demon-possessed Samaritan. Jesus rebukes them and tells them that He honors His Father, and they dishonor Him. Jesus then provokes the Jews by telling them another truth. Whoever obeys His Word will never die. The Jews respond with a rebuke: Abraham and the prophets died, and then they ask two questions. Are You greater than Abraham? Who do You think You are? Once again, Jesus tells them God is His Father; He knows Him, obeys Him, and His Father glorifies Him. He then provokes the Jews again by saying their father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day. The Jews exclaimed; you are not even fifty years old, and you say you have seen Abraham! Jesus replies, before Abraham was born, I Am! They immediately recognized the reference to the Great I Am who spoke to Moses. (Exodus 3:14) They pick up stones to stone Him for His supposed blasphemy, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple.

Father, may we be amazed at the sinless ways of Your Son and honor Him as we should. Apart from You, we will deceive ourselves. Keep us from doing what we think is right in our own eyes. Give us eyes to see our foolish fleshly ways and fill us with more desire for You so we will turn from sin and live for You. Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. What amazes you, troubles you, or confuses you about Jesus's response to the Jews in this passage?
2. What provoked the Jews to display such intense anger toward Jesus?
3. Why did the Jews want to stone Jesus?

Prayer based on John 8:31-45

The Truth of the Gospel sets us free from a false faith in inadequate and attractive objects. Believing in the Gospel sets us free from the bo***ge of sin. This Scripture teaches us the difference between being a child of God and a child of the devil.

Father, we praise You for Your blessings and Your warnings.

Jesus makes it clear who are His true disciples. They abide in Him, for they love His Word. Out of their love for Him flows obedience and freedom from the bo***ge of sin. (Verses 31-32) The Pharisees challenge Jesus, claiming they have never been in bo***ge to anyone. They conveniently forget Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Jesus focuses His attention on the Jews who would believe instead of attacking the foolish statement of the Pharisees. Jesus qualifies His claim. (Verses 34-36) Anyone who sins is a slave to sin. A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son does. Therefore, if Jesus sets you free, you shall be free indeed. Jesus continues to speak boldly to the Pharisees regardless of their hostility. He tells the Pharisees they hate Him and desire to kill Him because God's Word has no place in them. (Verse 37) The Pharisees then claim Abraham as their father. Jesus said you are the physical descendants of Abraham, but you are not his true children, for you do not do the works of Abraham. (Verses 37-41) The Pharisees then claim to be the children of God. Jesus challenges their claim by telling them if they were God's children, they would love His Son and listen to His Words, for He came from God and spoke the truth of God. (Verses 42-43) Jesus loves the Pharisees and wants them to be free from their bo***ge to sin. Therefore, He will speak directly to them. He tells them plainly that they are children of the devil, for they have the same evil desires and cannot hear and understand God's Word. (Verses 44-47)

Father, we are so easily deceived. We can claim to be Your children even when we are bearing bad fruit in our lives. We can justify our actions and easily blame others and circumstances for our problems. (Matthew 15:8, 18-19) Our only hope is in Your salvation. You must save us and give us new desires. Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. According to this passage, what is the evidence of salvation? (Verse 39)
2. What are the fruits of true faith in Christ? Galatians 5:22-24)
3. What reasons could Jesus have for provoking those who oppose Him and want to kill Him? Have you ever loved someone enough to respond to them as Jesus did with the Pharisees?
4. Jesus tells the Pharisees they are children of the devil. What proof does He give?
5. How does sin make you a slave to sin?
6. When was the last time you accepted responsibility for your sin and repented?

Prayer based on John 8:12-20

Jesus continues with much patience and repeats what He has already taught. (John 5:18-47). The Pharisees remain blind and unable to understand. They misconstrued everything Jesus said and continued to challenge and oppose the very Words of Jesus. They are clearly of the flesh and can not comprehend the things of the Spirit. Jesus shows great compassion and patience with the Pharisees as He continues to challenge them. Although they wanted to take Him by force, no one would attempt to do it. (Verse 20) Jesus amazingly shows love to those who hate Him and His Father.

Father, we praise You for Your kindness to the wicked and the ungrateful. (Luke 6:35)

Jesus proclaims that He is the light of life, and all who follow Him will not walk in darkness. The Pharisees reject Jesus's self-witness. Jesus reminds them of the Book of the Law, which states that the testimony of two men is true. (Deuteronomy 19:15) Jesus repeats His teaching from (John 5:36-37). My Father, who sent me, and I both bear witness of me. (Verse 18) The blind Pharisees sadly respond with a question, where is your father? They are so blind, and Jesus is so patient and persistent. Jesus lovingly addresses their chief problem: they do not know Him or His Father. (Verse 19) Jesus spoke these words in the temple area, and no one arrested Him, for His time had not come. (Verse 20)

Father, give us a greater love for You and more faith to walk in Your ways uninhibited by the risk and the cost. Conform us to Yourself by giving us the kind of love and faith that will compel us to action and allow us to love and care for the hardest of hearts. Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. What can you learn about Jesus from studying this passage?
2. What made it impossible for the Pharisees to understand and accept the teachings of Jesus?
3. What is the one and only solution for a hard heart?
4. How many people do you know with hard hearts which make it impossible for them to understand the things of God? Have you given up on any of them? Why or why not?

Prayer based on John 7:25-36

Jesus addresses the unbelief of the Jews, and many believe in Him. Although some in the crowd wanted to take Him by force, and Pharisees sent officers to arrest Him, no one laid a hand on Him, for His time had not come.

Father, we praise You for Your sovereignty over all situations.

Jesus again addresses the unbelief of the Jews. He tells them that they do not know Him or His Father. He claims to know His Father and to speak with His Father's authority, for His Father has sent Him. This claim angers some in the crowd, and they want to take Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, for His time had not come. Many in this crowd did believe because of the signs He had done. (Verses 28-31) When the Pharisees heard this teaching and saw the response of many people, they sent officers to arrest Jesus. (Verse 32) Jesus tells them He will be with them a little longer: He will return to His Father and then assures them they cannot come where He is going. (In six months, Pilate will order the crucifixion of Jesus.) The Jews could not understand the work God the Father sent Jesus to do. (Verses 33-36)

Father, we are blind to Your work until You open our eyes. Let us see Your holiness, our sinfulness, and Your ability to make us clean. (Isaiah 6:1-6) Only then will we admit that we cannot go where Your Son has gone. Show us our great need for Your salvation and sustaining grace so we may joyfully live in union with You. Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. According to this passage, why do some believe in Jesus and others do not?
2. What caused some Jews in the crowd to be angry with Jesus?
3. Why did the temple police not arrest Jesus?
4. What does Jesus teach us in (verses 33-34), and why did the Jews not understand?