They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been born blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know that he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the Synagogue. That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God but telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciple too?”

Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as far as this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where He comes from, yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does His will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

*******

I once was blind but now I see! This is the same proclamation by all who experience His grace. I once was blind…walking aimlessly in sin with no hope and no abundant life. But the Jesus came and brought sight to the blind…and now we see hope and experience a full life! Jesus said I am the life. No more darkness…now we can live on the light. Do you live in the light?

As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

“Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

*******

The disciples thought this man was blind because of his sin or his parents’ sin. Jesus said it was so that the works of God could be on display. We often question in the middle of a difficulty why this is happening. Wouldn’t it be nice to have enough faith, that instead of asking why it’s happening, we are instead asking how we can use this experience/difficulty for God? I’m not making light of anyone’s struggles. But the goal for us should be to not allow our struggles to determine our relationship with God and others, but allow God to determine how we approach and handle our struggles. We can bring God glory through our difficulties. We just have to have some faith. Jesus applies the mud…Jesus died for you and me. The man, however, had to go wash…and you and I have to respond accordingly to the cross.

The Jews answered Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and He is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know Him, I know Him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and obey His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to Him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

*******

Jesus says whoever obeys my word will not taste death. Jesus obviously was not speaking of a physical death…but a spiritual one. With Him, we are alive and full of life! With Jesus we have a life of hope and purpose. With Jesus everything makes sense. Without Jesus…we just walk around with no purpose and no lasting hope. We are dead to our sin and shame. When we choose Jesus we choose life. This doesn’t mean life will always be easy…but with Jesus the end result of our life will be eternal perfection with Him. I’d say that’s worth it…don’t you?

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we will be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So is the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

*******

Jesus says everyone who sins is a slave to sin. What this means is that we don’t make decisions on our own…we don’t act on our own…we don’t speak on our own. We can’t because we are not free, but enslaved to sin. So every decision we make…action we take…word we say is based on that sin. I don’t want to live that way. I know you don’t either. I want to belong to God…I want Him to determine my steps. Don’t you? For some of us, we need to put that into motion and allow God to break those chains that bind us. Run to God today…be honest about your sins…and let God set you free.

Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

This made the Jews ask, “Will He kill himself? Is that why He says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come?’”

But He continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins.”

“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just What I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. I have much to say in judgment of you. But He who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.”

They did not understand that He was telling them about His Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” Even as He spoke, many believed in Him.

*******

Jesus tells them that unless they believe in Him and what He says they will die in their sins. I don’t know about you, but I am very thankful that I don’t have to live under the weight of my sin. The fact that through Jesus’ sacrifice, I am no longer chained by sin, is an overwhelming thought at times. Consider today what your life would be like without Jesus…then praise Him today that it is not. He deserves our praise…let’s honor Him with our lives that are free in Him.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Pharisees challenged Him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. I. Your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

Then they asked Him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

*******

Jesus says He is the light of the world…if you have His light you will never walk in darkness. Have you ever felt like you’re just walking around aimlessly? No clear vision…not clear direction…no idea what you should/shouldn’t be doing. Have you ever felt stuck in your past mistakes and regret? Do you ever feel blinded by your sin to where you can’t see hope or a future without it? This is the darkness…and Jesus says how we get out of this dark and scary place is to have Him…who is light that shines in the darkness. I don’t know about you but I’m way more comfortable in the light compared to the dark. Why wouldn’t we want a light to drive out the darkness? Seek Jesus today…let Him shine in your life.

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?”

“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.

“You mean He has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. Have any of the rulers of the Pharisees believed in Him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law-there is a curse on them.”

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing Him to find out what He has been doing?”

They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

*******

Even the guards were impressed by Jesus’ teaching. For them to go back to the leaders empty-handed meant that Jesus had really done a number on them. We may think of individuals who we would consider it impossible for them to change. We would consider them stubborn and unwilling to listen to anything we had to say about Jesus. But if this passage proves anything, it’s that the message of the Gospel can penetrate any heart. These guards could lose their jobs for not following through with their orders. What Jesus wants from us is to plant the seed…and He will do the rest. Have enough faith in the Gospel message to put in the work of planting the seed. You never know what might end up growing from it.

At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they’re trying to kill? Here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to Him. Have the authorities really concluded that He is the Messiah? But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where He is from.”

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but He who sent me is true. You do not know Him, but I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me.”

At this they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd believed in Him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, Will He perform more signs than this man?”

The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about Him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Him.

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come,”

The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find Him? Will He go where our people love scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What did He mean when He said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come?’”

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

On hearing His words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”

Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him.

*******

The people were all divided because of Jesus. Some things never change. We have many divisions in the church. Some believe one way, and others another way. Some say this, others say that. Some do this, others do that. We become divided on so many points that it becomes difficult for the world to see Jesus because of all the division and arguing. Think of the impact the church could make if it would just come together, speaking and acting in the name of Jesus and not just a name on the door. Think of the difference…it’s what Jesus prayed for. Let’s pursue that kind of unity today and every day.

Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

“You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. Now if a boy can me circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

*******

Jesus says to stop judging on appearance and judge correctly. What is correct? To seek God’s glory. What does that mean? It means, whatever we do, we look at it through God’s lenses and not our own. We allow God to be the judge and we follow accordingly. We allow God to bring approval or condemnation and we respond accordingly. Before we make decisions we seek God. Before we make changes we seek God. Before we speak or act we seek God. Wouldn’t it make life a lot easier knowing we have God’s approval to do or say the things we choose? Stop being the judge…let God be the only judge…because He is.

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders were there looking for a way to kill Him. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that it’s works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After He had said this, He stayed in Galilee.

However, after His brothers had left for the festival, He went also, not publicly, but in secret. Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is He?”

Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, He deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about Him for fear of the leaders.

*******

Jesus told His brothers it wasn’t His time yet. God’s timing is often difficult for us. We live in a time when everything can be given instantly…internet, fast food drive-thru, overnight shipping, etc. God’s timing often doesn’t align with what we think. Sometimes we do have to wait…other times we wished we could’ve waited. But every single time it’s the perfect time if it’s God’s timing. We just need to stop trying to rush God…or stop trying to pause God. Gods timing is perfect…believe it, trust it, live according to it.