How does John 9:35 challenge us to recognize Jesus' authority in our lives? Setting the Scene John 9 recounts Jesus healing a man born blind. After religious leaders expel the healed man from the synagogue, “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’” (John 9:35). This simple question confronts both the man and every reader with the necessity of recognizing Jesus’ divine authority. What Jesus’ Question Reveals • It presumes authority: only One sent from God can rightfully ask for personal faith (John 3:18). • It seeks a verdict: belief is not optional or secondary; it determines eternity (John 8:24). • It invites relationship: Jesus “found him,” pursuing the outcast just as He still pursues sinners (Luke 19:10). • It calls for public allegiance: the man’s prior expulsion shows that confessing Christ often costs earthly approval (Matthew 10:32-33). Recognizing Jesus’ Authority in Daily Life 1. Accept His Word as final. – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). – Scripture carries that same authority; obedience is the only fitting response (James 1:22). 2. Submit every area—work, family, ambitions—to His lordship. – “In Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). – Where His commands touch our routines, preferences yield to His will. 3. Worship Him without reservation. – The healed man responded by worshiping (John 9:38). – True worship acknowledges Jesus as God, not merely teacher or healer (Philippians 2:9-11). 4. Stand firm when confessing Christ costs you. – Like the expelled man, believers may face rejection, yet Jesus’ approval outweighs human opinion (Galatians 1:10). Practical Steps Toward Greater Submission • Begin each day with Scripture, letting His words shape priorities. • When decisions arise, ask, “What has the Lord already said about this in His Word?”—then act accordingly. • Cultivate fellowship with believers who honor Christ’s authority, fostering mutual encouragement and accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Regularly recount how Jesus has “found” and changed you, strengthening resolve to follow Him. Supporting Passages That Reinforce His Authority • Isaiah 42:8 – God shares His glory with no other. • John 5:22-23 – The Father entrusts all judgment to the Son. • Hebrews 1:2-3 – The Son sustains all things by His powerful word. • Revelation 1:17-18 – Jesus holds “the keys of Death and of Hades.” Key Takeaway John 9:35 presses every heart to acknowledge Jesus as the sovereign Son of Man. Recognizing His authority means trusting His Word, obeying His commands, worshiping Him wholeheartedly, and standing unashamed of His Name—confident that the One who sought a once-blind outcast still seeks and secures all who believe. |
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