To the disciples, the blind man who begged on the side of the road was simply a topic for theological discussion. But Jesus saw in him an image-bearer, desperately in need of divine mercy. Even after the man was given sight, the Pharisees still only saw him as a topic of theological discussion. And again, Jesus saw him as a beloved child who needed even deeper mercy than simply sight for his physical eyes. When we see people the way Jesus does, they move beyond being topics for our discussions and become recipients of the love and hope that God has called us to be generous givers of.
Application Questions
1. Who are the topics of your theological discussions? What are the situations/types of people you tend to talk or ask questions about?
2. How might life look different if you were to talk about those people less and be an instrument of God's mercy to them more?
3. Who in your life could use God's love and mercy?
07. The Blind Shall See
“The Light of the World, the light that overcomes the darkness, is now the light that shines in you.
August 11, 2019
01. Signs and Wonders
June 23, 2019
The miracles performed by Jesus are signs that teach us about God, ourselves, and the world around us. But today, many people struggle to believe that they happened in the first place. In a time when we assume there is always a natural explanation for everything, can we still believe in miracles? And even if we believe in them, how are we supposed to respond to them? The signs and wonders of Jesus are more believable than many assume, and they show us more than we realize. Application Questions 1. Do you struggle with the idea of miracles? Why or why not? 2. How do Jesus' miracles teach you about who he is? 3. How do Jesus' miracles lead you to trust in him more?
02. Water and Wine
June 30, 2019
Too often, we read our Bibles thinking,“If only I could have been there and seen these things, it wouldn't be so hard for me to believe.” But Scripture gives us a different picture. Jesus revealed His glory through the miracles that He performed, and in our Bibles we have all of the signs that we need to believe. Application Questions 1. Think about this miracle in comparison to Jesus' other miracles. What is different about this one? How do those differences impact the way you understand and relate to Jesus? 2. Think about Jesus' interactions with the different individuals in this story. How do His words and actions towards them shape the way you understand His words and actions towards you? 3. In light of the glory of Jesus revealed in this passage, what are some steps that you can take in response to deepen your trust in Jesus?
03. The Official’s Son
July 7, 2019
In the healing of the official's son, we see Jesus perform a miracle from a distance, and he performs a miracle that could have possibly been interpreted as having a different cause. Because Jesus wasn't there and because the timing of the healing was conveyed secondhand, the official could have chosen to believe that it was all some crazy coincidence. But, because of his softened heart, the official (and his whole family) saw this sign for what it truly was: a demonstration of God's glorious power to stoke the fires of their genuine faith. Application Questions 1. When you think of miracles, do you usually think of how limited they are in scope and impact? If not, why not? 2. How does the recording of Jesus'signs in the gospels stoke the fires of your genuine faith? 3. What keeps you from recognizing the“less common kinds of God's action” in your life as God's“signs” (miracles), designed to display his glory and stoke the fires of your genuine faith? 4. How do the“signs” (miracles) you have seen in your own life stoke the fires of your genuine faith?