John 9
Devotional by Tony Gonzalez
Read John 9
John 9
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 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 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
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?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 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.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Devotional
The Pharisees’ pride blinded them to Jesus, while the healed man saw Him clearly (John 9:39-41). Spiritual blindness can block even obvious evidence of God’s work. Yet, Jesus shows that suffering, like the man’s blindness, can reveal God’s glory (John 9:3). In our weakness, His strength shines brightest (2 Corinthians 12:9). This passage challenges us to consider how Jesus transforms our own lives.
Just as Jesus used the blind man’s limitations to show His power, He can use yours too. You might feel inadequate or think your story isn’t impactful, but God’s strength is often revealed through our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Sharing your story doesn’t have to be complicated—just be faithful.
Has God carried you through a trial, eased your anxiety, or provided for your needs? Share it! Others will be encouraged, and God will be glorified.
Are there areas in your life where you’ve been blind to God’s work? Jesus invites you to believe, trust, and follow, just as the healed man did, worshiping Him with a grateful heart (John 9:38).
I am a retired school principal. I loved my job and how blessed God had afforded my profession in life. It was a chance for me to be a light for children and their parents using my Christian values and beliefs. Yet there came a time that a group of vicious parents plotted daily to make life hard for me and our school community. Examples: They would make false calls to the fire marshal about fire code violations, call politicians and complain that the school was dirty, call the media and complain. Lie, lie, lie—-You name it, they did it. One night as I attended Wednesday night church service, I encountered a group of believers fellowshipping together before service. I walked up and said I need help. Do any of y’all know an important politician or person that could help me with situation? Everyone listened intently and everyone said they did not know anyone. Finally, one spoke up and said, “I do!” We all said in unison, “Who?” He pointed up and looked upward. We all gave a big sigh and a smile. We all began to pray together for God to break this bondage of hatred with these nonbelievers. I share this because as believers it is easy to get caught up in the storm of negativity and “not see” what is right in front of us. We must see clearly at all times. The one, the exalted one, is the only option to follow. He will get us through any storm. We don’t need to know important politicians or people, we already know the most important being in our life! Don’t be blinded by the storm, keep your “sight” on him. This helps us grow deeper in faith and in our relationship with Him! He is always working behind the scenes to help us in any storm! Praise be to Him!
Amen! Thanks for sharing.
Amen and amen.
“He is always working behind the scenes to help us in any storm! Praise be to Him!” Yes! Thank you for encouraging and challenging us with this story.
Praise the Lord and Amen!! Thank you for sharing.📖🕊✝🙏
Good word!
Father, hear the cries of your saints. Dry their tears. Hold them close and whisper: everything will be O.K.
Lord Jesus, touch each.
Holy Spirit, fill and guide.
Now, let’s be going and doing and sharing the Good News.
We have a living Savior, the Son of Creator God. He knows all, sees all, can do all things. Even more, He wants to be the center of my life and guide me every day. How awesome is that?!
Thankful this morning for clearer vision and the opportunity to share my story of how He changed my entire life!
Before knowing Christ, I didn’t consider myself in any kind of religion and it took me many years to really find God and believe in what’s he’s done for me all of these years. There were many times where I was prayed over because I just needed more time to find him. In December of 2023, that’s when I went to the Christmas eve service which I’ve went to for many years but I really took in who God is instead of just saying I attended. Now, I can truly say that I believe in God and all that he’s done for me and for others and I’m able to give grace and forgive others and he’s constantly doing the same for us. I’ve even gotten to a point where I can say ‘bless your heart or I’ll be praying for you” as a way to genuinely say that I forgive and give grace to you and that’s when I realized that finding God was the best decision I’ve ever made my entire life and I’m so happy to continue to live that way for the rest of my life until I live with him again! Thank you Jesus we love you! Amen!
I love verse 3 when Jesus says, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” In high school, my mental health hit an ultimate low point. I had to hit rock bottom in order to look up and turn to God. He used these struggles to grab my attention and reprioritize my life. I became more involved at church, even serving as a student leader, and built deeper Christian community around me. Although I went through painful moments and often wondered “Why?” to God, the trials ultimately brought me closer to Him and spiritually matured me to be the believer I am today.
“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
Praise Jesus.
I know the Lord will make a way and that He can do anything and he does answer prayer. Bless it be the name of the Lord.
My guilt and bitterness towards God and existence kept me from seeing him. I wandered bitter and angry most of my adult life. God healed me and now I see God’s Glory . It is never too late for anyone to see. Just turn around repent and see that God has been at your back all this time
“I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire In darkest nights
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God” –Bethel Music
Lord Jesus light of the world thank you for the testimonies today. I once was blind but now I see because of You. Keep showing us the way the truth and life. There is none like You. Praise be to God. From who all blessing come. Amen.
I know He is there when I am struggling and hurting
Lord, heal me, open my eyes to see you at work so I can join you and be a part of your kingdom here, today, in Jesus’ name.
Jesus is our everything. He fills up all the empty spaces left from loss or hurt. We are so blessed to have such a loving Savior. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Father let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
I could spend so much time in this response to the thoughts for today’s devo, but will say it plainly and keep it short. There’s just not enough time in the day to tell or the proper language to use to find in this time to explain what God has done in my life. The trials that he brought me through the provisions that he’s provided. God has done miraculous things in my life trials and tribulations have, seemingly, through my choices, bad choices, willful sin, disobedience, blindness to his work, even willful blindness to his work in my life, they have plagued my years and my family‘s years but God… He has done a miraculous he has brought me through. He is taking me out of the pit, pulled me up out of my request set my foot upon a rock he has given me a new path thank you, Jesus. I was once blind, but now I see. And believe who the son sets free is free indeed.
Thank you for sharing!
Today author Tony statement “Pharisees’ pride blinded them” and Elizabeth in her testimony give an example in her life about pride to find a solution to her problem. Author Bill Elliff in his book ‘Prayer With No Intermission’ states the number one thing that keeps us from praying is our pride. As a Christian I am guilty of that.
God has definitely brought me through many trials. Each time my faith has been strengthened. When I begin to doubt, I can reflect on those times and be assured that he is still at work in my life.
Thanks be to God that we can trust Him in all matters. We can truly trust Him with everything because He know all and sees all. I take everything to Him in prayer!
I love this story! It’s so true to my personal day to day. Whether it’s Spiritual, work related or even personal issues that rise up. Knowing that God can use anything and anyone is an amazing thing. He is in control!! It reminds me of the quote “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is”
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved you and your household. Acts 16:31
Jesus saved me at the age of 8 years old in Sunday School. He knocked at my heart and I let him in. I have a big family with 24 grandkids. 5 are great grandkids. I have a big job praying for them all.
Lord walk with me in all that I do. I love you Lord. In the name of Jesus Amen.
So encouraged that in my weakness, God’s power and work is maximized!! A helpful reminder to be more intentional on looking to how Christ can be glorified in my circumstances🙌
What a beautiful message. We see because the Lord has removed the vail from our eyes. Lord examine us and mold us, so we can see you and your wonders. Examine my heart and remove those things that can loose my focus from you.
Has God carried you through a trial, eased your anxiety, or provided for your needs? He has became active when I ask for him because it is me asking him for direction.
Are there areas in your life where you’ve been blind to God’s work? No because I am writing a movie and when making a movie in a Christian form it shows that you are appreciative of his work.