D. D. Lewis

Prayer based on John 9:8-23

A poor blind beggar obeys the command of Jesus to wash in the pool of Siloam and returns seeing. He faces disbelief from his neighbors and later opposition from the Pharisees.

Father, we praise You for giving sight to a poor blind beggar who did not know You, and then You drew him to Yourself through much opposition.

When the blind beggar received his sight, he returned to his neighborhood. Some of his neighbors believed in his healing, but others could not. They asked him how he came to receive his sight. This poor beggar does not have much to say at this time. At the command of Jesus (a man he has never seen and knows nothing about), he went and washed and received his sight. This miracle is hard to believe, along with this man's obedience. His neighbors brought the man to the Pharisees to give his testimony to them. The Pharisees have divided opinions. Some say Jesus cannot be a man of God because he broke the Sabbath, and others accept the miracle and wonder how a sinner could do such a thing. When the Pharisees ask the blind man what he had to say about Jesus, he now gives Jesus the title of Prophet. After the blind man's testimony, they called in his parents, for they did not believe this man could have been born blind. His parents identified the blind man as their son and told the Pharisees their son was born blind. His parents would not testify about the work of Jesus because they were afraid. They told the Pharisees to ask their son, for he was of the age of accountability.

Father, make us as obedient to Your Word as this blind beggar was and cause us to grow in faith as he did through opposition. May we learn that quick, joyful obedience leads to a joy-filled life in You for Your glory and our good. Amen. (Psalm 16:2, 11)

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. What caused the blind beggar to obey Jesus?
2. Why did his neighbors not believe his testimony?
3. Why did the Pharisees reject the testimonies of the blind man and his parents?
4. What could cause the blind man's parents not to testify about the work of Jesus?
5. What kept the Pharisees from pursuing the truth? The next step would be to solicit the testimony of Jesus.

Prayer based on John 9:1-7

Our trials and tribulations are not only the results of our sins. As long as Jesus is in the world, Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus warns us that darkness is coming and shows Himself to be the light in a dark world.

Father, we praise You for sending Your Son into the world to be its light so Your children may know Your love and worship You and Your Son as they should.

Once again, John records a miracle that lays a foundation for Jesus's teaching. The healing of a blind man was unheard of before Jesus came, and Jesus chose to heal a man who was blind from birth. This miracle is something Israel had never seen. The Old Testament contains no record of any blind man receiving sight. There is a future promise that the Servant of the Lord will come and open the eyes of the blind. (Isaiah 42:1-7) All four Gospel writers recorded the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Likewise, they recorded more accounts of healing those who were blind than any other type of healing, for these healings are new and astonishing. (John 9:32) The disciples of Jesus ask Him who sinned the blind man or his parents, for they were steeped in Old Testament legalism and could only consider these two possibilities. (Deuteronomy 5:9) Jesus tells His disciples this man is not blind because of sins but to display the works of God. Jesus gives them a new category for suffering. God will allow suffering to bring His children to Himself, causing them to learn to trust Him, resulting in a powerful ministry that will bear much good fruit and bring Him glory. (1 Corinthians 8-9) The ways of God are not our ways! (Isaiah 55:8-9) God works all things for His good purpose. (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20) Jesus tells His disciples that He must do the works His Father sent Him to do while there is still light. He warns them that darkness will come when He is gone, for He is the light, and without Him, there will be darkness. (Verse 4) Jesus spat on the ground to make clay and then anointed the blind man's eyes. He told Him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam, and the blind man obeyed and came back seeing.

Father, give us a Biblical view of suffering so we may rejoice in and benefit from all Your works. May we shun darkness and obediently abide in Your light, now and forever. Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. Why did John tell us this man was born blind?
2. Why did the healing of a blind man cause so much astonishment?
3. What was the cause of suffering according to the Jewish view?
4. What is Jesus referring to when He says darkness is coming?
5. How can a Biblical view of suffering be beneficial?
6. What suffering in Your life do you thank God for and why?

Prayer based on John 8:21-30

Jesus continued to patiently and persistently teach the blind, hardhearted Pharisees despite their lack of understanding and opposition, and His tenacity paid off in the end.

Father, we praise You for You pursued us despite our lack of understanding and opposition.

Jesus tells the Jews, once again, that He is going away, and they cannot go where He is going. Again, they are incapable of understanding, for they ask themselves if Jesus will commit su***de. Jesus does not give up on them and speaks to them in simple language. Jesus tells them plainly that they are from below and belong to this world, and He is from above, sent from heaven. Jesus warns them again that if they do not believe I am He, they will die in their sin of unbelief. Even though His Words could not be any plainer, they still did not get it, for they responded by asking Jesus Who are You? Jesus patiently replies from the beginning, I have precisely proclaimed who I am. Although they do not understand, Jesus continues to speak of His crucifixion and resurrection. (Verse 28) After they lift up the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14), they will know that I am He, the One sent by God. Jesus continues to reinforce three more things: God has not left me alone, I speak and act in harmony with God, and I please Him in all things. Jesus did not give up on the hardhearted Jews but continued to teach them, and the result was that many came to believe in Him. (Verse 30)

Father, show us how to be effective ministers of Your Gospel. Give us more desire to walk in harmony with You and more compassion for You and Your Gospel. When we encounter opposition, may we quickly turn to You and receive the mercy and grace we need to stand steadfast for Your Gospel! Make us willing to make the sacrifices that effective ministry requires and fill us with joy. (2 Corinthians 9:8) May our lives be a powerful testimony of Your grace. Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. What lessons can we learn about effective ministry from this passage?
2. What does effective Gospel-centered ministry require?
3. Why will effective ministering always be filled with joy?

Prayer based on John 7:37-52

The Feast of the Tabernacles was also known as the Feast of the Booths. It celebrated the harvest in the fall and the much-needed refreshing, life-giving water that God provided from the rock in the wilderness. (Exodus 17:1-7) Jesus promises to give living water to all who come to Him. Some accept Jesus as a prophet, and others reject Him. The officers sent to arrest Jesus return empty-handed.

Father, we praise You for Your life-giving Spirit, which You freely give to all of Your children. Every day, You give us so many reasons to celebrate. Your grace is new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Jesus stood on the last day of the Feast and invited the thirsty to come to Him and drink. This cry was scandalous, for Jesus claimed to be the source of living water. He would send the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all believers after Pentecost. (Verse 39) Many believed, but others would not. Again, they wanted to take Him captive, but no one would lay a hand on Him. When the temple police returned empty-handed, the Pharisees asked why they did not arrest Jesus. They said no one ever spoke like this man! The Pharisees asked them how they became deceived. The Pharisees could not believe in Jesus because they had a highly inflated view of themselves and a low opinion of the crowd. (Verses 48-49) Nicodemus, who had believed in Jesus (John 3:2) but not openly, asked the Pharisees if their law judges a man before giving him a hearing. The Pharisee's response to Nicodemus is pitiful. (Verse 52)

Father, In the light of Your mercy and grace, may we rejoice in Your life-giving Spirit. Fill us daily with Your Spirit so we may be a spring overflowing with living water, blessing You and everyone You bring into our lives. May all our days be spent living in joyful obedience under the authority of Your Word. (Psalm 16:2, 11) Amen.

Questions for reflection and meditation:
1. When do rivers of living water flow out of our hearts?
2. What had to happen before the Holy Spirit could live in a believer? (Verse 39)
3. What kept the temple police from being offended by Jesus's teaching and doing what the Pharisees sent them to do?
4. Why did the Pharisees respond so harshly to Nicodemus's question?
5. How will an inflated view of self and a low view of others affect our understanding of Scripture and limit our ability to minister to others?