Jesus encounters a man born blind (v1). The disciples’ question to Jesus ‘who sinned, this man or his parents?’ reveals an innate desire to have someone to blame for everything. We find it hard to accept that some things just are.

The need to blame often prevents us from accepting the situations we find ourselves in, and discovering God’s amazing creative ability to bring good out of everything, for those who love Him (Rom 8:28).

Jesus’ unconventional healing methods would cause some eyebrows to raise in our churches today (v6). The subsequent argument that broke out between the Pharisees and the man and his parents, was designed to discredit Jesus and the miracle that had taken place. I love what the man finally says in his frustration and desperation: ‘one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see!’ (v25).

This serves well to illustrate the truth that a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument!

There is a hidden little key to answered prayer tucked into the subsequent dialogue. In a great put-down of the Pharisees, the man says ‘if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him’ (v31).

So… worship and obedience may just open the door for more answered prayer in our lives.

What do you think?

Ch 10 is set in the Jewish winter festival of Hanukkah. It was a celebration of the rededication of the temple which took place in 164 BC after it had been liberated by Judas Maccabeus. During this festival, the Levites were expected to examine themselves to see it they had been serving God faithfully with full commitment. They did this by referring to Ezekiel 34, a description of the good and bad shepherds. So when Jesus starts talking about the good shepherd (v11) and contrasting him with the thief, who comes only to steal, kill and destroy (v10); this would have been in their minds.