Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Saturday after Cantate

Posted on May 5, 2018 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. John 9:35-41 (NKJV)

9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”

36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”

38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”

Devotion

The text before us today is abundant with grace and judgment, Law and Gospel. Jesus seeks those who are the outcast, He offers grace to those who turn to Him in their need. Jesus does not force Himself on anyone. Those who do reject Him are met with the only thing such rejection leaves available: the Law.

The Law always judges, always condemns, because no one but Jesus perfectly fulfills the Law. These simple Scriptural truths are on display in all their clarity in the seven verses that conclude the ninth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel. The Pharisees and the man who had miraculously received his sight both heard the same proclamation of Christ, but had very different reactions to the message. The man heard Gospel, the Pharisees heard Law. Jesus simply stated His divine truth, and God’s grace produced sight and hearing. Those who would not receive His invitation to partake of His merciful grace were left with righteous judgment.

We pray: Lord Jesus, through Your Means of Grace keep us always focused on You as our Teacher and Redeemer. For our redemption You gave Yourself to the death of the cross and by Your glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in the righteousness and purity of Your grace; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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