Friday after Cantate
Scripture: St. John 9:14-34 (NKJV)
14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
Devotion
Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” I guess it shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus—the Word of God become flesh—would cause “a division among them” by healing a blind man. Some acknowledged that Jesus must be of God, while others falsely accused him of sinfully breaking the Sabbath law. The healed blind man’s parents tried not to take a side as they feared man more than God. Though they avoided getting kicked out of the synagogue, we know the truth—he that is not with Jesus is against Him (Matt. 12:30).
The miracle denying Pharisees call back the healed blind man to try to get him to recant. When it comes to credentials, the healed man has none. Yet, wielding the Word of God, he takes them to theology school. Unlike the Pharisees, we need to check our pride and let the Lord take us to school. He will teach us to confess our spiritually-blind condition. He will teach us to receive His healing of forgiveness through the Word and Sacraments. Jesus’ disciples desire to hear again and again the Lord’s marvelous works.
Prayer: Oh Lord, teach us Your ways. Where we have sinned, show us so that we confess it. Where we have sinned, show us Your Son, our Savior that trusting in Him we may have forgiveness. Amen.
