John 9:1-10:21

We start chapter 9 seeing Jesus on mission as a servant of His father. He said: As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (NIV) He taught us that God allowed the man's sickness so that the work of God might be displayed in His life. This happened in my life. I was born with three spleens. The doctors worked for six years with no clue as to what was going on. I was able to see God answer prayer and like He moved Abraham through prayer, He moved us to a complete different part of the country in order to have the needed surgery. Without it I would not have survived past the teen years. When that happens it bolsters our faith as it did the blind man. The Lord tells us to to whom much is given, much is required. The Lord blesses so we can have that close loving relationship with Him and that the work of God may be displayed in our life (vs 3). He wants us to share that life He gave us with others.

Spiritual blindness is why Jesus came - He has seen the consequences of judgment. 37Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."
38Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. 39Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." 40Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?" 41Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."

Yesterday we saw Jesus work in a mighty way as we prayer drove through neighborhoods and prayed with those the Lord brought into our path. I would encourage you to join us on Saturday at 10:00 for another time of spiritual enrichment. It is very encouraging to see the Lord at work among us. Please pray and ask the Lord what He would have you do.

In chapter 10 we see Jesus as our Shepherd. He describes Himself as the gate for the sheep. We must enter through the gate to be a sheep as well as an under shepherd. Christ is that gate. Any one who enters by any other means is not a sheep. The sheep will follow the voice of the shepherd. "The shepherd must be willing to lay down his life for his sheep" (NIV) Part of being the good shepherd comes with love for the flock that does not have life as a limit. Christ demonstrated that for us. The true shepherd willingly lays down his life for his sheep. That's how we can tell the real from the imitation: when the consequences of the assignment comes willingly with costing the the ultimate price. Jesus said in 9:4 "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world... 10:9b I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Now that we can see, let's spread the good news.