Knowing Jesus: John 9 (Daily Devo)
Jesus came to do the works of God. As long as Jesus was in the world, he was focused on glorifying his Father and accomplishing the work that he gave him to do (John 17:4).
“Who sinned,” his disciples asked in this story we’re about to read, "this man or his parents?”
He wasn’t born blind because of his or his parents’ sin, Jesus gently corrected them. He was born blind so that God may show how powerful he is (through me).
When we set out on our journey through John, we started with the end in mind of knowing Jesus, who manifests (displays) the Father. This Scripture helps us know Jesus. Knowing Jesus helps us know the Father.
Almost half way through this gospel, let’s remember why we are doing this, why we are reading the gospel of John in our homes and among our families.
The harvest we hope to reap from our labor as parents is that our children may know the Father, through the Son, by the working of the Spirit and may own a righteousness that comes through such faith.
John Rogers (@johnrogers) attends Connection Community Church (C3) in Rowlett. John serves as the Children's and Family Pastor and as an elder. John and his wife Chassidy are passionate about teaching good doctrine and stumbling along side parents to make disciples of children. They have two children: Sophia and Josiah.
Day 1: John 9:1-7
Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechism)
- Q15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?
- A: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. (Bolded words for younger children)
READ:
[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3] Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; 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] 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 [7] and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. -John 9:1-7 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Why did Jesus’ disciples think this man was born blind? What was the real reason he was born blind?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, thank you for displaying your might through Jesus.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: John 9:8-17
Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechism)
- Q15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?
- A: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. (Bolded words for younger children)
READ:
[8] 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?” [9] Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” [10] So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” [11] 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.” [12] They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
[13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. [14] Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. [15] 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.” [16] 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. [17] 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.” -John 9:8-17 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Was this the first time Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath? Where else did we see this recorded in John’s gospel?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, thank you for displaying your mercy through Jesus.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: John 9:18-23
Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechism)
- Q15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?
- A: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. (Bolded words for younger children)
READ:
[18] 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 [19] and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” [20] His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. [21] 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.” [22] (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.) [23] Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” -John 9:18-23 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Why did the man’s parents tell the Pharisees to ask their son who was old enough to answer? What does this say about believing in Jesus?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, thank you for displaying your compassion through Jesus.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: John 9:24-34
Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechism)
- Q15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?
- A: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. (Bolded words for younger children)
READ:
[24] 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.” [25] He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” [26] They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” [27] 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?” [28] And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. [29] We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” [30] The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. [31] 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. [32] Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” [34] They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. - John 9:24-34 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What made the Pharisees believe this man was a sinner, but they weren’t?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, thank you for displaying your love for sinners through Jesus.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: John 9:35-41
Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechism)
- Q15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?
- A: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. (Bolded words for younger children)
READ:
[35] Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” [37] Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” [38] He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. [39] Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” [40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” [41] Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. - John 9:35-41 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Is being blind in this story just about not being able to physically see with your eyes?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing to us who you are through Jesus.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
