October 22, 2026

Scriptures: John 7–9 |

Scriptures: John 7–9

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem during the Festival of Shelters, and everyone seems to have an opinion about Him. Some believe He is the Messiah, others think He is deceiving people, and the religious leaders want Him arrested! In the middle of all the debate, Jesus stands and cries out, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” While people argue about Jesus, He continues inviting thirsty people to actually come and know Him.

That becomes even more powerful when Jesus declares that He is the Light of the world. In chapter 9, He gives sight to a man who was born blind and the miracle becomes a living picture of what Jesus has been saying. The man begins the day unable to see, but by the end he sees more clearly than the religious leaders questioning him. Physical eyesight and spiritual sight are not the same thing.

The religious leaders investigate the miracle repeatedly because the healing happened on the Sabbath. Instead of allowing the evidence to challenge their assumptions, they become increasingly determined to explain Jesus away. Meanwhile, the healed man's understanding grows and he moves from calling Him “the man they call Jesus,” to recognizing Him as a prophet, and finally worshiping Him as Lord!

John leaves us with an uncomfortable possibility: we can be surrounded by truth and still refuse to see it. Jesus brings light, but light also reveals what we would rather keep hidden. Following Him requires enough humility to admit that some of our blindness may exist precisely where we are most convinced we can already see.

Challenge Questions:

Where is certainty about what you already believe be preventing Jesus from showing you something you have missed?

If Jesus is the light of the world, what part of your life are you most tempted to keep away from His light?