The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 27 December 2014 “How well can you see 'the light of the world'?”Daily Scripture: John 9:18-19 The Jews didn’t believe it, didn’t believe the man was blind to begin with. So they called the parents of the man now bright-eyed with sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he now sees?”
20-23 His parents said, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he came to see—haven’t a clue about who opened his eyes. Why don’t you ask him? He’s a grown man and can speak for himself.” (His parents were talking like this because they were intimidated by the Jewish leaders, who had already decided that anyone who took a stand that this was the Messiah would be kicked out of the meeting place. That’s why his parents said, “Ask him. He’s a grown man.”)
24 They called the man back a second time—the man who had been blind—and told him, “Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor.”
25 He replied, “I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see.”
26 They said, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 “I’ve told you over and over and you haven’t listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become his disciples?”
28-29 With that they jumped all over him. “You might be a disciple of that man, but we’re disciples of Moses. We know for sure that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from.”
30-33 The man replied, “This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It’s well known that God isn’t at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of—ever. If this man didn’t come from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”
34 They said, “You’re nothing but dirt! How dare you take that tone with us!” Then they threw him out in the street.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him. He asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 The man said, “Point him out to me, sir, so that I can believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You’re looking right at him. Don’t you recognize my voice?”
38 “Master, I believe,” the man said, and worshiped him.
39 Jesus then said, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.”
40 Some Pharisees overheard him and said, “Does that mean you’re calling us blind?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.”
Reflection Questions:
In his prologue, John said we must choose to see the light Jesus brought (cf. John 1:10-11). John graphically portrayed the terrible results of spiritual blindness—the blind man’s talk with the Pharisees would be comical if it weren’t so tragic. Rather than admit anything good about Jesus, the religious leaders grasped at straws to deny the plain fact that a man born blind could now see! In his beautiful confession of faith in verse 25, the man showed that he could “see” more clearly than the religious leaders.
• In verse 25, you may recognize the words John Newton used when he wrote “Amazing Grace” centuries later. Newton used the words to confess his sorrow at having once sailed a slave ship that carried holds jammed with captive Africans across the ocean to a life of slavery. In what parts of your spiritual life is this your testimony—what do you now see to which you were once blind? How will you apply what you have “seen” about Jesus this Advent to living your life differently in 2015?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please continue your “eye surgery” in my life, clearing my vision and moving my heart to follow you more completely. Amen.
Family Activity: Gather your family into the darkest space of your home. A closet or a dark bathroom would be good options. Bring a Bible and a very small reading light with you. When you are all together, ask someone to read John 1:1-5[John1: The Life-Light
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.]. Describe how just as life can be dark at times, so are our hearts, lives and the world without the light of Jesus. Discuss how as followers of Jesus, his light lives within us and he wants us to share it with the world with our words and actions. Open the door of the room and celebrate the light of Jesus together! Give thanks to God for Jesus and for the light he brings to our lives at Christmas and always! Commit to sharing the light of Jesus with all people.
Prayer Requests
Prayers for Health and Healing for: Patricia Ballenger, Evelyn Bergman, Tina ClarkStanley, LaShawn Daniels, Peggy Emerson, Gloria Link, Joe Ludwikowski, Stephanie Rodriguez, Brooke Wiegers, Perry Fischer, Gwen Koppen, Teresa Shockley, Ann Tortorici Praise for the Births of: Declan Wiley Haertling, 11/11; Mia Annelise Schmidt, 11/3; Oliver O’Brien Smalley, 11/22
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Mike Dietrich and Rev. Lisa Holliday and families following the death of Mike’s mother and Lisa’s grandmother, Joan Gerhold Dietrich, 12/8
• Clark Johnson and family following the death of his grandmother, Andie Korver, 12/8
• Ken Kollar and family following the death of his mother, Mildred Kollar, 11/30
• Linda McDowell and Kent Holt and family following the death of Linda’s husband and Kent’s father, Neal Holt, 12/13
• Kathleen Sadowsky and family following the death of her father, Cornelius Murphy, 12/13
• Rusty Smith and family following the death of his father, George D. Smith, 12/11
• John Sooley and family following the death of his father, Richard Sooley, 12/14
Insight from Brent Messick
Brent Messick is Resurrection’s Managing Executive Director of Operations.
When I read this Scripture passage, I think of my grandchildren. Most grandparents that I know love to talk about their grandchildren. When Adam talks about Stella, you can feel how much love he has for little Stella. If you’re not a grandparent yet, just wait. It is pretty cool.
We have a grandson, who is four years, a granddaughter, who is one year old, and a third one on the way in March. When our grandchildren were born, and I held these new little babies in my arms, they reminded me of the births of my son and daughter. The feelings of love and adoration just washed over me and consumed me again.
The love that we have for our children and grandchildren when they are born is instantaneous. It is amazing and it is humbling.
And this is what I think about when I read this Scripture passage. The beggar was born blind, Jesus heals him, and now he can see. Jesus’ love for the blind man is like our love for our children and grandchildren when they are born.
These babies are born where they have no sense of world around them. They are blind. But then their parents, and grandparents, get to hold them and love them. And they feel this love and start to settle down. They can “see”.
This how I think about Jesus’ love for the blind man and for us. Jesus loves us so much that he wants us to see. He doesn’t want us to be blind spiritually. And when we are blessed with this sight, we can use it to be a blessing to others. Just like our grandchildren are to us.
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