Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after Cantate

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. John 9:1-13 (NKJV)

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the 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 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” 10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” 12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees.

Devotion

With the words, “I am the light of the world,” Jesus repeats what He said in John 8:12. By his truth-filled teaching concerning Himself and His rescuing from sin and death in chapter 8, Jesus has been shining out to the world. By this account in which He heals a man born blind, Jesus continues to shine out by doing “the works of Him who sent” Him. In John 8:12 Jesus said, “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Here, Jesus, our Light, shows His power over blindness and gives to the blind man, new light of life for his eyes.

This sickness was not the punishment for anyone’s sin, but according to the Father’s plan was “so that the works of God should be revealed in him.” The one and only Son of God is revealed to be the sole Light of the world in a unique never-been-done-before healing (John 9:32). Furthermore, Jesus sends the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam. The Hebrew name for this pool is “Sent” (v.7). Six times in chapters 8-9, Jesus has described Himself as One Who was sent by the Father. This man is not to go to just any pool, but to the one “Sent.”

We are saved only by Jesus Christ, the One sent by the Father for that very purpose. John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You sent Your beloved Jesus into the world, wash away our sins in His blood that we may behold His glory. Amen.

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