As we move into week three of our Lenten devotionals we move from the “Well” and the “Bread” to the “Light.” As we dive into John 7-9, the tension rises. People are trying to categorize Jesus, judge him by the rules, and earn their way to God through strict religious “rightness.”
This week, we focus on the “blind spots” created by our own self-righteousness. It’s about realizing that we don’t find our way to God by seeing perfectly; we find it by admitting we are blind and letting Him give us sight.
Introduction
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12
Welcome to the third week of our Lenten journey. We have practiced letting go of control and letting go of the need to earn. This week, we look at our need to be right. We explore how our focus on “rules” can actually blind us to the grace standing right in front of us.
The Word for the Week
Read: John 9:1-7, 35-39 “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…’ Having said 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.’ So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”
The Reflection: Mud, Mercy, and Merit
In John 9, the disciples see a man in need and immediately look for someone to blame. They want to blame his family lineage or a “work” or “sin” to explain his suffering. They want a formula. The Pharisees, later in the chapter, are so focused on the “work” of keeping the Sabbath that they completely miss the miracle of a man receiving his sight.
We do this too. We think that if we follow the rules perfectly, we’ll see God clearly. We think that if someone is struggling, they must have “done something wrong.” We try to use merit as a qualifier for suffering.
But Jesus heals the man with mud and spit – lowly, earthy elements. The man didn’t earn his sight; he simply obeyed the invitation to wash. This week, we move from “Proving” our righteousness to “Perceiving” God’s mercy in the messy places of our lives.
Weekly Prayer Focus: The Covered Eyes
Find a quiet moment. Close your eyes (extra points if you’re able to do it in a dark space) and spend time praying completely in the dark. Depending on how long you can do this, what do you notice about your other senses? When we close our eyes, something miraculous begins to happen. We can get closer to hearing God’s voice. Sometimes, there is clarity and more defined hearing that comes in the darkness.
Perhaps seeing with our own eyes…isn’t the only way to gain God’s vision and clarity.
Pray: “Lord, I surrender my need to be right. I admit that my own ‘wisdom’ often leaves me blind. Wash my eyes. Help me to see You in the people I judge and the places I ignore. Amen.”
Weekly Reading Plan: Light in the Conflict
- Thursday: John 7:1-24 (Jesus at the Festival: Dealing with the world’s opinions)
- Friday: John 7:25-52 (Is He the Christ?: The confusion of those trying to “figure it out”)
- Saturday: John 8:1-11 (The Woman Caught in Adultery: Grace that stares down the rule-followers)
- Sunday: Worship and Rest
- Monday: John 8:12-30 (The Light of the World: Following the One who knows the way)
- Tuesday: John 8:31-59 (The Truth Sets You Free: Moving from being ‘slaves to sin’ to ‘children of the house’)
- Wednesday: John 9:1-23 (A Man Born Blind: Mercy that breaks the rules of “merit”)
- Thursday (Next Week): John 9:24-41 (Spiritual Blindness: Admitting we need help to see)
Family Friendly Conversation Starter
The “Blindfolded Guide” Game: Set up a simple “obstacle course” in your living room (use pillows or chairs). Have one person wear a blindfold. Another person must guide them through the course using only their voice.
- Ask the Blindfolded Person: Was it hard to trust someone else’s eyes instead of your own? Did you feel like you had to “earn” your way across, or did you just have to listen?
- Ask the Guide: Did you want to help them because they were “good,” or just because you didn’t want them to trip?
- The Big Idea: Jesus is the voice that guides us when we don’t know the way. We don’t have to be perfect walkers; we just have to be good listeners!
The Week 3 Lenten Challenge(s)
Pick one a day for the whole week and reflect on your experience.
The “Judgment” Fast To practice “receiving” sight rather than “proving” our rightness, we invite you to fast from Criticism.
- The “Benefit of the Doubt” Rule: Whenever you feel a critical thought about someone this week (a driver, a coworker, a family member), stop. Say to yourself: “I don’t see the whole story. Lord, give me Your eyes for them.”
- The “Not the Expert” Practice: In a meeting or a family discussion, practice being the last person to speak. Instead of trying to prove you have the answer, ask a question to see someone else’s perspective.
- The “Beauty Hunt”: Once a day, find something beautiful in a place you usually find “ugly” or “messy.” Practice seeing God’s “works displayed” (John 9:3) in the unlikely corners of your neighborhood.
The Goal: Every time you feel the urge to judge, let that be a physical reminder to say: “Jesus, help me see as You see.”
Not Signed Up for Weekly Reminders? Once a week on Thursdays when it is posted, we will send a link (by text or email) that will take you to the guide for the week. To sign up to receive these weekly devotionals by text, simply text “lent26” to (571) 487-8557. To sign up to receive them by email, simply send an email with the subject line “Sign me Up for the Lenten Devotional” to info@haymarketchurch.org.