As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
Personal Reflection and Discussion
Of the five senses, which is most important to you? According to preventblindness.org, the United States has over 1.1 million people who are legally blind and 50,000 people lose their sight each year. Today we read of a man whose life is dramatically changed by sight: physical and spiritual sight.
- This is the 6th of seven miracles Jesus performs in John’s Gospel. List the miracles
found in John’s Gospel.
John 2:1-10
John 4:46-54
John 5:3-15
John 6:5-13
John 6:15-21
John 11:1-44
- Often the question is asked, “Why do people suffer?” What changes in you if, when faced with suffering, you ask yourself this question: “Will I be true to God when I do not understand the reason for my suffering?”
- In John 8:12, Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He says it again in v 5. In today’s passage, we see Jesus backing up his claim by literally bringing light to the physical and spiritual darkness of the blind man. What blessings are found in Jesus’ words “I am the light of the world?”
- The man was told by Jesus to go and do. What will you go and do in Jesus’ name to share His light?
Prayer
Jesus, you are the light of the world, casting out darkness and bringing light and life to us. We pray that you shine brightly in the lives of people we know and love who are in darkness right now (name those silently). Lord, use us as your instruments to shine your light into the lives of others. Amen.
Greek Word of the Day
English Word: displayed | Transliterated Word: phaneroo (fan-er-o-o)
To render apparent (literal or figurative): appear, make clear, clearly see, disclose, display, be known, become plain, reveal.
Of things, in the past.
Family Engagement Activity
Add one family service event to your calendar and set a date to go together and serve a group of people that you don’t often serve. As a family, make it a yearly tradition to do this and keep the same date. Consider calling a family or two from your kids’ school and ask if they would like to join you on this date.
AND
Take a cup, something you can poke holes through is best. If you don’t have a cup that you can poke holes through, use a cup that you can mark with a marker. On the side of the cup, write in small letters from the bottom to the top, “never”, “rarely”, “sometimes”, “usually”, and “always”. Ask each family member to take the cup. Have them mark on the cup how often they show love. Then, have them either poke a hole in (or make a mark on the side of the cup) to indicate how much they are willing to give the following people what they need: 1) Parent(s) 2) Grandparent(s) 3) Each neighbor 4)A Friend in class/work 5) Someone You Don’t Care For at class/work. Explain that where the water hits a hole or a marking, that is the extent of their love. Fill the cup with water slowly. Ask them what they think this says about their love. Ask how Christ’s cup would look. Talk about what things might get in the way of you giving certain people what they need, and why Jesus didn’t seem to concentrate on those things that hinder his desire to give.
AND/OR
Consider doing a steady drip from your faucet into a cup for a certain amount of time during the day to reflect upon Christ being the constant “life-giving” water.
Going Activities To Consider
This week be the light of Christ in the world. Share kindness with the people you meet
at the grocery store, the checkout lanes, the server at a restaurant, etc. Maybe offer to pray for someone else today. If possible take care of a need and let them know who gave you the means and desire to perform said task.