John Chapters 9-10

1) Are there some things you don’t quite understand about your faith?  Are there some issues that you are unsure of?  At the same time, what do you without a doubt know to be true?

2) Sheep and shepherd.  How would you describe their relationship?  How does this describe our relationship with God?  What are the key components of this relationship as found in 10:27?

3) Who’s in charge?  Who’s calling the shots?  At the end of the day, who is in control?

Chapter 9 is the story of one blind man that Jesus healed.  There is some great dialogue between the man and Jesus, and the man and the Pharisees.  As the Pharisees pressed him to tell them about Jesus he replied very simply, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see! (9:25)” While there indeed is much we don’t know, what we do know is what Jesus has done for us.

Much of Chapter 10 is about the relationship between us as sheep and Jesus as our Shepherd.  10:27 provides a great summary of this relationship: know, listen, and follow.

Jesus was operating on God’s time schedule; it was God’s plan that He was following.  Because this was true, man was not able to interrupt this plan.  Though the Jews attempted to stop Him many times, they were unable to do so until God said so (10:18 and 10:39).  God indeed is in control of all things.  I pray this brings you perspective and comfort today.