What Jesus Did! 'A Heavier Judgment on Teachers and Leaders!' — John 9:34

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

"You were born a total sinner!" [the Jewish leaders answered to the man who had been healed of his blindness and who said Jesus had to be from God]. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue.
— John 9:34 NLT

Key Thought

God despises the abuse of power. He repeatedly warned against it in Old Testament times, [1] and he warns those who teach and lead in his Kingdom that they had better do so honorably or they will stand under harsher judgment. When these religious authorities cannot discount the truth of the healed man's statements and they cannot discredit Jesus, they resort to shaming the man and expelling him from their society. In other words, they want to get rid of the witness and the evidence. Such behavior is damnable. If we are leaders - and we are all influencing someone, let's be warned of how awful such behavior is and how God abhors it.

[1] For example, Isaiah 10:1-2.

Today's Prayer

Almighty and holy Father, please give me the courage to always look for truth. Help me never be so self-deceived that I resort to such deplorable actions as these religious leaders in today's verse. Give me a teachable heart that yearns for your truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of John 9:34 NLT — "You were born a total sinner!" —— "Are you trying to teach us?"

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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.

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