Kara Hackert, Director of Children & Family Ministries
Kara Hackert 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the word of God. It's Monday, March 13. This week as we journey with Jesus toward the cross, we are stumbling along with the blind man from John chapter 9. I'm Kara Hackert and today I'm going to read to you from John 9, verses 1 through 12.
Kara Hackert 0:27
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. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”After saying 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” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
Kara Hackert 2:01
What a picture of all of us. This man who had been blind since birth, living in darkness his entire life, in need of Jesus to open his eyes - Isn't it the same for us? We too are stumbling in the darkness, in need of Jesus to open our eyes so that we can truly see; In need of the light of the world to direct our paths. A chapter earlier in John 8, Jesus says, "I in the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, they'll have the light of life." He wants us to follow him, to know him and to have his light.
Kara Hackert 2:44
As I was driving home yesterday, the song on the radio had these lyrics: "I was a blind man wandering until I saw the light. I've got a story that I can't deny. I'm a living, breathing miracle and I just got to testify." You are living breathing miracle; your life, your story, whatever you're going through. If it feels like you're in the darkness, look for the light of Jesus - he loves you so much. It's easy to be blind and not see the work that he is doing in our lives. Be open to his Spirit. Let him open the eyes of your heart so that you can see the works he is doing in your life and what he's doing around you.
Kara Hackert 3:31
Let's pray together. Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you in need of you, in need of your love, the work of your spirit and the touch of Jesus. Open our eyes that we can see your love in the work that you are doing. Open our eyes so that we can see the work that you want us to do. Thank you for the amazing things that you do and that you love us so much. We love you. Amen.