2026 Lent Devotions
Friday, March 13
John 9:13-34
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 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
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 we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. 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 Then 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, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
“… 18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight …”
Why is it so hard to believe that God does miraculous things? It was true of the Pharisees then and is often true of us today. After all, as enlightened individuals, brought up on the scientific method, miracles are inconceivable. There must be a logical explanation.
For the Pharisees, it seemed obvious that the story was a hoax. After all, people born blind cannot be given sight. Yet, as they question the parents who confirm their child’s blindness, the concept of fraud is disproven. So, what other explanation can it be? Certainly not a miraculous one.
Faith in God comes with the notion that God can and does do the miraculous. We who believe the witness of the resurrection cannot deny something astounding happened. Jesus, who was dead, is alive. He is risen! Miracles happen, and we who walk the way with Jesus understand that. Rational explanations aside, God does marvelous things that are inexplicable. That is the nature of God, and the miraculous is part of it.
Prayer: God of Mystery, you show forth Your love and power in miraculous ways. Open the eyes of my spirit that I may see and believe all that You do. Amen.