Jesus’ healing of the man born blind began serious controversy, the nature of which is exemplary of the responses unbelievers have to the gospel. We see examples of skepticism, hostility, and division, revealing just how deep our sinful nature runs.

In John’s gospel, Jesus time and again reveals the ugly reality of the Pharisees’ false religion. His response is always to plainly tell the truth, as well as offer hope. And no matter how much people may reject or revile us, we must do the same.

Every Christian struggles at times with assurance; in John 8, Jesus teaches us that we can be certain of our salvation. We are called to abide in Christ, to be absolutely anchored in him alone. When we do this, we are freed from the enslavement and guilt of sin. So we must examine ourselves; do we manifest the obedience, repentance, and freedom that accompany abiding in Christ.

At the end of Jesus’ time at the Feast of Booths in John 7, he makes it clear that the feast, and everything it pointed to, were fulfilled in him. He shows himself to be the only source of true life, deliverance, and salvation, and the call to all people is to trust in him alone.

As we continue our series through John, we see Jesus again and again establishing his authority, not by man or by other teachers, but by who he is - the Son of God. His teachings are perfect, originating from Heaven itself. And he doesn’t stop with simply establishing his authority, but he exposes the sinful hearts of the false teachers. We are called to discern every teaching according to its consistency with God’s Word.