Subtitle: Let the scurrying and the activity remind you of the One for whom it all exists.

Excerpt: The Christmas season, often filled with chaos and busyness, should remind us of the true meaning of the holiday: the birth of Jesus. Just as the blind man in John 9 focused on his newfound sight, we should focus on the bigger picture of Jesus’ message, rather than getting caught up in details and distractions.

Author: Jeff Hilles

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 9:25, “He answered and said, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.'”

Background

It’s probably safe to say that no other season can take our time and attention off of the bigger moment and place it with laser-like focus on the details and minutiae that go into the making of the holiday like Christmas. So much takes place in so many different spheres of life regarding the preparation and celebration that Christmas has become synonymous with chaos, constant bustle, and a hectic pace. Yet, practically every single one of us would say it just wouldn’t be Christmas without all the doing that we’re doing. Nevertheless, it is the meaning and the message of the birth of Jesus that remains the singular point of this beloved holiday.

Similarly, in the ninth chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus is interacting with the blind man He healed, along with all the other characters that have an interest in what has happened. Back and forth it goes, from Jesus and the blind man to the Pharisees to the man’s parents, back to the man, again with Jesus, and then a final word from Him to the Pharisees. Round and round they go, each with their own take on what has really happened and who is truly responsible. The entire chapter is devoted to this event. Nowhere else in John is this much space allotted for one event. Not the feeding of the 5,000, not Christ walking on water, not His encounter with the woman at the well, not the wedding at Cana, not even the raising of Lazarus. And since nearly the entire second half of the gospel is focused on Christ’s journey to the cross, and His death, burial, and resurrection, that makes this lengthy passage all the more noteworthy.

Application

But is the message being heard? Is man’s blindness apart from Christ’s touch being proclaimed? Or are we debating over this detail or that factoid? Are we crossing all of our own “t’s” while we stumble around oblivious to the blindness that couldn’t care less about our “t’s?” Christmas opens doors for Jesus to enter through like no other holiday. Will you allow the big picture to be seen by those around you who are blind?

Charge

As we seek Him today, let the scurrying and the activity remind you of the One for whom it all exists.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words