What Jesus Did! 'Beyond Appearances' — John 9:8-12

Friday, July 1, 2022

A Year with Jesus - Holy Week

Spend some time with Jesus this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday.

Read More
His neighbors and others who knew [the man whose sight was restored by Jesus] as a blind beggar asked each other, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said he was, and others said, "No, he just looks like him!"

But the beggar kept saying, "Yes, I am the same one!"

They asked, "Who healed you? What happened?"

He told them, "The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.' So I went and washed, and now I can see!"

"Where is he now?" they asked.

"I don't know," he replied.

— John 9:8-12 NLT

Key Thought

How often have you judged someone simply based on his or her appearance? The folks who were supposed to be the neighbors of this man Jesus healed knew him only as a label. That label was based on his physical blindness and his need to beg. They never spent enough time to move beyond the label to the man. They didn't know him, only his label. They didn't bother to befriend him because he was a blind beggar. Before we become self-righteous, let's ask how different we are! We all need to ask ourselves: Do I make unfair assumptions about people based on external appearances? Do I use labels to push people away so that I do not have to deal with them in everyday life? As Jesus' disciples, we need to overcome any of these tendencies we might have and show Jesus' love to everyone.

Today's Prayer

Father, please forgive me. I confess that many times I do not view people as you do. I find myself dismissing them based on external appearances, so I don't have to involve myself in their lives. Father, I don't want to use my time with folks who won't change. However, dear Father, I also don't want to neglect to bless anyone that you send my way, including anyone that has not yet experienced your grace. Please give me the wisdom to know how to respond appropriately so that I do what you would have me do in the life of anyone I meet. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 John 3:16-17
  • James 2:12-13
  • Luke 10:29-37

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, July 1, 2022

A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"By the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in..."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to..."
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, Thank you, Father, for giving your holy law to Moses and for the role it played in bringing people to Christ. Thank you even more that....."
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Child of God, As I have shared with you before, I want all people saved and brought into My family of grace. I don't want any distinctions to..."

Illustration

Illustration of John 9:8-12 NLT — "I don't know,"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.