Jesus, Light of the World

Jesus returns to Galilee and continues training his apostles while preparing the next group of disciples for their first mission trip. But once again, it's time for a feast—this time, the Feast of Dedication, also known as the Feast of Lights. This was not an Old Testament festival, but a newer one, established several years before Jesus’ arrival. It commemorated the miracle that occurred during the Maccabean revolt, when the temple was reclaimed under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus and the lamps miraculously stayed lit despite limited oil.

What will happen on this next trip to Jerusalem? Who will Jesus encounter? And what trap will the religious leaders set for him this time? Read on.

Questions from your reading

• What would it be like to be blind from birth? As someone blind, how might it feel to overhear the conversation in this story?
• Trace the blind man’s journey to sight using verses 1, 11, 17, 27, 33, and 38. Then trace the Pharisees’ descent into blindness using verses 15, 16, 24, 28–29, 34, and 39. What pattern emerges?
• What lessons can be drawn from this story?
• What other questions has this passage raised for you?

Reflecting on your reading

As Jesus walks with a multitude of disciples on the way to the Feast of Lights, they pass a man who has been blind from birth. At the time, it was commonly believed that suffering was directly tied to sin—either personal or generational. Versions of this thinking still persist, even within the church. Many people today still assume that poverty or suffering is always the result of poor choices or personal failure.

That assumption is deeply ingrained in many cultures. But Jesus challenges it. When his disciples ask who sinned—this man or his parents—Jesus replies,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned… but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3).

This is a radical statement. It means that sometimes suffering is not a punishment or a consequence—it’s a platform for God’s glory. This man had lived his whole life in blindness so that on this day, Jesus could reveal himself as the Light of the World by opening his eyes.

It’s a hard truth to wrestle with—that suffering may be permitted not because of wrongdoing, but to display God’s greatness. Many of us instinctively want to believe that life revolves around us—our desires, our fairness, our understanding of justice. But Scripture reminds us that everything revolves around him. We exist for his glory, not the other way around.

Jesus teaches that the poor are blessed (Luke 6:20), and Paul writes that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Hardship is not always a curse—it can be the very tool the Father uses to shape us into the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29).

Another key lesson in leadership and discipleship is this: avoid assuming someone’s suffering is due to their failure. It may be that their suffering exists so that, in time, God will be glorified through their deliverance.

Applying what you’ve read

These truths can be difficult to accept. It’s not easy to let go of the idea that the world should work in our favour, or that we can eliminate all suffering if we just try hard enough. But Scripture reminds us that suffering has a purpose—and it’s not always ours to understand.

Today, make time for a conversation about suffering and poverty. Ask God to open your eyes to his purpose in hardship. And take care not to judge others—only God sees fully and judges justly.