LENT ONE2026 - He has the Final Say

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus sees and acts with purpose, not by chance.

Jesus’s encounters are never accidental. He moves with divine intention, seeing those who are often overlooked and meeting them exactly where they are. His actions are deliberate, aimed at revealing God’s glory and transforming lives. Even when others see only a theological problem or a hopeless case, Jesus sees a person in need of his touch. He is always at work, orchestrating moments of divine appointment for his good purpose. [49:19]

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. (John 9:1 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life have you perhaps viewed a difficult situation or person as a problem to be solved, rather than an opportunity for God’s work to be displayed? How might you ask God to help you see others with His eyes of compassion today?

Day 2: Simple, immediate obedience leads to life-changing transformation.

Obedience to Christ’s command, even when it seems unusual or uncomfortable, is the pathway to experiencing His power. The miracle often follows the act of faith, not the other way around. Trusting and acting on His word, without full understanding, positions us to receive His healing and grace. It is in the going and the washing, in the simple steps of faith, that our lives are profoundly changed. [52:26]

So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:7 ESV)

Reflection: Is there a clear instruction from God in His Word that you have been hesitating to obey because it doesn't make complete sense to you? What is one practical step you can take this week to move forward in simple obedience?

Day 3: A changed life is an undeniable testimony to Jesus’s power.

Our personal experience with Christ is a powerful witness that cannot be refuted. We may not have all the answers to every theological question, but we can confidently point to what Jesus has done in our lives. This testimony of transformation stands firm against doubt, skepticism, and opposition. It is a story of grace that is uniquely ours to tell for God’s glory. [01:00:19]

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25 ESV)

Reflection: What is the “one thing you know” about what Jesus has done in your life? How could you share that simple testimony of His grace with someone this week?

Day 4: Jesus offers more than physical healing; He offers Himself.

The ultimate purpose of Christ’s work is to bring us into a saving, worshipful relationship with Himself. He meets our immediate needs to reveal His greater power and authority as the Son of God. The greatest miracle is not merely a change in circumstance, but the opening of our spiritual eyes to see, know, and believe in Him. He invites us to move from receiving a blessing to knowing the Blesser. [01:04:00]

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (John 9:37-38 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to seek God’s gifts more than seeking God Himself? How can you cultivate a heart that worships Jesus for who He is, not just for what He does?

Day 5: Christ, the Light of the World, has the final say over all darkness.

Whether it is the darkness of physical blindness, spiritual condition, or religious opposition, Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority. His word brings light, life, and judgment. He confronts our self-sufficient attempts to manage life on our own and invites us to surrender our throne to Him. In every situation, His truth and grace prevail, and He calls us to live in the light of His final authority. [01:10:04]

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your daily life—your decisions, plans, or worries—are you most prone to rely on your own understanding rather than seeking Christ’s wisdom and authority? What would it look like to consciously acknowledge His final say in that area today?

Sermon Summary

The narrative follows John 9, focusing on a man blind from birth who meets Jesus and receives sight. The disciples first treat blindness as a theological puzzle—was it caused by sin?—but Jesus refuses reductive answers and declares a need to do the Father's works. Jesus then performs a startling, hands-on healing: he makes mud with saliva, spreads it on the man’s eyes, and sends him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys without debate and returns seeing, which ignites confusion and argument among neighbors who had known him only as a beggar.

That healing provokes a formal inquiry. The Pharisees dissect the method and time of the miracle, fixating on Sabbath rules and ritual propriety. Their questions expose a pattern: religious certainty often protects systems and interpretations more than it welcomes God’s work. The healed man, untrained and unlettered, gives a simple, unanswerable testimony—“I was blind, now I see”—and stands firm when pressured by authorities. His parents, fearing religious backlash, confirm his identity but refuse to speak for the miracle.

The religious leaders respond by excommunicating the man, yet Jesus meets him afterward and speaks plainly: the one who healed is the Son of Man. The man moves from physical sight to spiritual recognition, answers Jesus’ invitation with belief, and worships. The story draws a sharp contrast between those who see because they let God act and those who remain blind from clinging to rules, reputation, or self-authority.

The account then turns inward, applying the miracle to contemporary forms of blindness. Many forms of blindness appear benign—habitual self-reliance, unexamined assumptions about others, or quiet refusals to seek God’s wisdom—but they still separate people from the source of life. The narrative issues an open invitation: allow the light of Christ to expose hidden blindness, receive his work even when it discomforts, and respond in faith that moves from sight to worship.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus overturns imposed identities A single encounter with Christ can reassign status and purpose. The man known only as a beggar becomes a visible member of the community once Jesus intervenes. Identity rooted in Divine action removes shame and reorients life toward worship and witness. [53:11]
2. Obedience can feel strange and messy True obedience sometimes requires doing awkward, counterintuitive things—like following a command to wash after being anointed with mud. Such simple acts expose dependence, break pride, and position a person to receive God’s work. Faithful obedience focuses on the command more than the optics. [51:57]
3. Religious certainty resists grace Systems that prioritize rules over the living God will scrutinize and reject signs that threaten their authority. The Pharisees’ fixation on Sabbath law shows how religiosity can blind people to mercy and truth. Healthy faith keeps worship of God above preservation of institutions. [55:03]
4. Testify to what you know When confronted with complexity, give witness to the personal reality the Lord has given. The healed man could not answer every theological challenge, but his testimony—“I was blind, now I see”—cut through argument and pointed others to Christ. Honest, experience-based testimony invites others into encounter. [60:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[45:24] - City Serve & One-Led Campaign intro
[46:23] - Opening prayer and purpose
[47:34] - Blackout illustration: darkness described
[48:40] - John 9: introduction to the blind man
[51:36] - Jesus makes mud; gives instructions
[52:42] - Neighbors’ confusion and uproar
[54:32] - Pharisees begin investigation
[55:03] - Sabbath rules and religious conflict
[58:34] - Parents’ fear and cautious answers
[60:01] - Bold confession: “I was blind, now I see”
[62:43] - Jesus reveals himself as Son of Man
[64:00] - Belief, worship, and final judgment
[66:32] - Applications: spiritual blindness today
[74:38] - Benediction and sending blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
John 9:1-41 (ESV)

Observation questions

In John 9:6-7, what unusual method did Jesus use to heal the blind man, and what specific instruction did he give afterward?
How did the neighbors react when they saw the formerly blind man, and how did he respond to their confusion? (John 9:8-9)
What two opposing conclusions did the Pharisees draw about Jesus after hearing about the healing? (John 9:16)
When questioned by the religious leaders, what simple testimony did the healed man repeatedly give? (John 9:25)

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus have chosen to heal the man using mud and saliva rather than simply speaking a word, especially knowing it would violate the Pharisees’ Sabbath rules? [56:05]
The healed man’s parents were afraid to speak about the miracle because they feared being “put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22). What does their fear reveal about the relationship between religious authority and personal faith?
Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). How does this statement contrast the responses of the healed man and the Pharisees?
The man moved from calling Jesus “a prophet” (John 9:17) to worshiping him as “Lord” (John 9:38). What does this progression suggest about how true understanding of Jesus develops?

Application questions

Jesus overturns imposed identities—like the man known only as a beggar who became a witness. What label or identity have others (or you yourself) placed on you that Christ might want to redefine? How could embracing his perspective change how you live? [53:11]
Obedience can feel strange and messy, like washing mud off your eyes. What is one thing God has asked you to do that felt awkward or counterintuitive? What happened when you obeyed—or what holds you back? [51:57]
Religious certainty often resists grace. In what areas of your life (or church) have rules, traditions, or comfort zones made it difficult to recognize God’s unexpected work? [55:03]
The healed man testified simply: “I was blind, now I see.” What is one specific change Jesus has made in your life that you can share with others, even if you can’t answer every theological question? [01:00:01]
Spiritual blindness can be subtle—like self-reliance, judging others, or ignoring God’s guidance in daily decisions. Which of these “benign” blind spots do you most struggle with? What practical step could help you bring it into Christ’s light? [01:08:14]
The man was excommunicated for his faith but found a greater reward: knowing Jesus personally. Has following Christ ever cost you something socially or personally? How did that experience deepen your relationship with him?
Jesus sought out the man after he was rejected by the religious leaders. Who in your life might feel excluded or judged by others? How can you intentionally extend Christ’s welcome to them this week?

Sermon Clips

Now I'm not saying that you can't use these things. It's not a mistake. But all of these are but gifts from the giver of good gifts. And our father is generous with these gifts, but he desires more for you than just taking the gifts, taking it without that relationship that anchors you, that roots you in the source of life. Jesus is the light of the world. We may have once been in the darkness. We may have once been blind. But all by the grace of God. Now indeed we see. [01:09:28] (51 seconds) #RootedNotJustGifts

Now the uneducated beggar, he boldly and bravely declares better theology and greater belief than all of the learned and lettered Pharisees question. Now he he can't but he simply states whether he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know, though I was blind, now I see. What a glorious declaration. One which cannot be refuted or denied, and what an encouragement for each of us who have met Jesus and those whose lives have been changed. [00:59:28] (46 seconds) #IWasBlindNowISee

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LENT ONE2026 - He has the Final Say | March 22, 2026