Somehow, in the last 2,000 years, the church lost its sense of urgency. Not many of us live like we have the pressing agenda outlined in today’s passage. Jesus’ words seem so strange. Maybe they belong in the past.
Yet, it’s a theme throughout the New Testament that time is short for spreading the gospel. It’s not just in this passage.
Read More gospel, urgency, witness, faithLife is full of unexpected danger and evil. If it’s not your personal experience, a quick skim of the week’s headlines will bear evidence. Ever notice the tendency to blame God?
We don’t know how long the 72 disciples were away, but when they returned they could hardly contain their excitement. Apparently, it had been a quite a journey. It had been successful – surpassing their wildest expectations – but, also fraught with danger.
Read More trust, faith, demonsHave you ever considered how our actions reflect the condition of our hearts?
The story of the Good Samaritan is one that challenges us. Samaritans were cultural outsiders, as far as the Jews were concerned. They did not worship the God of the Old Testament, and indeed a Samaritan village had recently rejected Jesus (Luke 9:51-53)!
Read More neighbour, heart, compassionThere are some Bible stories that really give us trouble. Different stories for different people for different reasons.
Take this Mary and Martha story, for example. It’s a short one, but that little paragraph won’t leave me alone.
Scripture doesn’t tell us how they came to know of Jesus, but the sisters are honoured to accept him into Martha’s home (v 38). Mary sits at his feet, like the male disciples soaking up anything Jesus says (v 39).
Read More listening, discipleship, work, busynessFor anyone who has suffered, or for anyone whose loved one has suffered, this passage has implications.
The disciples make an assumption (v 2) based on scripture. They know God is sovereign. They have been taught he punishes sin into the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5; 34:7, Deuteronomy 5:9).
Read More sin, miracle, blindness, sufferingPeople sometimes wonder why God doesn’t perform miracles anymore (he does from time to time, by the way). They think if only he did miracles, then non-believers would be convinced of his existence or the faith of marginal believers would be strengthened. But is that really so?
Here, neighbours and people who had seen this blind man can’t make sense of his restored sight.
Read More fear, spiritual blindnessHave you ever felt trapped by someone who was picking a fight with you about God, or maybe felt tongue-tied to explain your faith?
Put yourself in the blind man’s shoes: he does not yet fully understand what’s happened to him or who Jesus is, yet he’s summoned to a second meeting with powerful religious leaders.
Read More witness, humility, testimony, gentlenessWe never get to know the blind man’s name, but we do learn some revealing things about his character.
Just as Jesus is seeking him out, the blind man is seeking greater knowledge of God. When the Lord asks him whether he believes in the “Son of Man,” he is eager to know who that is, not just out of curiosity, but out of a genuine desire to worship the Son of Man.
Read More seeking, sightSometimes, the Christian life can be challenging. Increasingly, we are mocked for our beliefs. Sometimes we must choose a more difficult path, because the easy path is just wrong. Sometimes, going back to our old lives is tempting.
Recall John 9 for a moment: the blind man miraculously healed by Jesus.
Read More life, gateHave you ever felt disappointed by another Christian? Let down? Sometimes it can shake a person’s faith. After all, Christians are supposed to do what’s right all the time, because they have Christ in them. So what does it say about our faith if someone does something really wrong?
Not so fast.
Read More trust, faith, shepherd