John Chapter 9 - February 2, 2009

9:3 - When bad things happen in our lives, we have a choice about how to react. We can curse God for putting us through such trials. We can assume that we have some kind of sin in our life that brought on the bad stuff. Or we can trust that God's will is being done in the world and that God will be glorified through our brokenness and weakness. HINT: I would choose the last one if I was you. 

9:25 - This is the ultimate answer to end any theological debate you ever get caught up in. People can go round and round, arguing about who is right and who is wrong and why God is logical or not...but as followers of Christ you have an answer that cannot be contested. "I once was blind, but now I see. I once was lost, but now am found. I once was empty, but now I am filled."

9:34 - Arrogant self righteousness blinds people to the glory of God that is being reflected into the world through the lives of twisted sinners that find the grace of God. If we keep the "sinners" out of the church, we are shutting out the beauty and power present when the broken find hope and forgiveness at the foot of the cross.

9:39 - Jess came to open the eyes of the world - to literally heal the blind and give hope to the sinful. For the people who have it "all figured out" (i.e. the Pharisees, who saved themselves through the law), Jesus brings blindness because they cannot see the truth through their own quest for man-made salvation.