Am I Blinded And Stubborn?
LENT 2025 DEVOTIONAL:
John 11:45-57 (NIV)
(Alex Seow, Secretary, Local Church Executive Committee)
Reflecting on the passage, verses 45-46 spoke to me: ”Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.”
“What Jesus had done” … Prior to this, Jesus had raised the dead Lazarus still wrapped with strips of linen like a mummy (v44) – an amazing miracle! Yet we see the Pharisees and priests scheming to kill Jesus.
What Jesus had done since His birth was saving, healing, loving and caring for the least, the last and the lost. His ministry was selfless yet costly. His opponents would have known and even witnessed firsthand the many good deeds and miracles that He had performed. Jesus was IN their midst. He was present and actively doing these works. Yet there were those who remained ardent sceptics and “went to the Pharisees.”
I reflected honestly on my life and thought about the instances when I have acted like the Pharisees.
1. Am I Blinded?
God showed me warning signs and sent people my way to highlight the things in my life that were not right; yet I ignored these to my detriment. I was unable to think clearly and act reasonably due to being blinded by my biases, deep-rooted beliefs and self-deception.
2. Am I Stubborn?
Stubbornness is a conscious refusal to change despite knowing what God desires of me. This is an issue I grapple with. Like Paul wrote in Romans 7:19, I too know the good I ought to do and yet I choose to do evil things. This equates to disobedience to God. I have learnt to seek reconciliation and to say “sorry” in my relationships. Stubbornness is often the by-product of pride and so I need to remain watchful in the following ways:
• I will reflect on the “blind spots” I hold onto.
• I will ask someone to point out to me areas of stubbornness in my life.
• I will seek God daily and put on the mind of Christ.
• I will ask God to help me surrender my stubborn and wilful human nature, and to hear and obey what He wants to do in my life.
Reflection Questions:
1. Could there have been other reasons why the Pharisees and Priests were “blind” to what Jesus was doing?
2. Reflect on your life over the past year. How have you been “blinded” and “stubborn” in your actions?
3. What actions will you take to address them?
