Daily Reading Week 28
Sunday
John 9 (focus v.1–41)
Discover:
There are none so blind as those who will not see. The story of the man born blind in John 9 is a great illustration of this truth.
The Pharisees resisted the obvious miracle because it challenged their theology and traditions. They pressured the man and his parents to deny that he had been born blind and healed by Jesus. Yet the man stood firm, boldly testifying to the change Jesus had brought to his life (vv. 1–33). He is a powerful example for us: when pressured to deny Christ, we should simply affirm that He is the Truth and our Savior.
Frustrated by his honesty, the Pharisees finally cast him out of the synagogue. But this was no real loss. The man came to see Jesus for who He truly is and was saved (vv. 35–38).
This creates a striking contrast. Some know they are blind and gladly receive sight from Jesus, both physically and spiritually. The man born blind represents them. Others think they see clearly, yet remain blind to God. The Pharisees illustrate this group.
Jesus came for judgment: to open the eyes of the blind and to expose the deeper blindness of those who trust in themselves. This is not opposed to His saving purpose (John 3:17), but a necessary result of it.
Respond:
• Where do you need to remember that Jesus sees you personally?
• Have you ever been tempted to turn someone’s pain into a problem instead of responding with compassion?
• What kind of healing do you need most right now — physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual?
• Ask Jesus to open your eyes to who He is and what He is doing.
Monday
Isaiah 35 (focus v.3–6)
Discover:
God in His grace never leaves His people without hope, even when He warns of affliction and discipline for sin. We can see this clearly in Isaiah. The prophet alternates between judgment on the faithless and promises of life and peace for those who trust the Lord. This hope is for the remnant from every nation (Isa. 24–25; 30:1–20; 32:9–20).
Chapter 35 brings this promise to a climax. After judgment on Edom and the faithless (ch. 34), Isaiah offers a glorious vision of restoration. The desert will blossom abundantly (35:1–2a), echoing and surpassing Moses’ promises in Deuteronomy 30.
This encouraged the faithful few in Judah who felt weak and discouraged (v. 3). God’s message was clear: “I have not abandoned you. I will come to redeem you.”
In that day, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, and the mute will sing. This speaks first of spiritual renewal—a new heart (Jer. 31:31–34). Yet these promises also point to Jesus’ healing ministry (Mark 7:31–37; Luke 5:17–26; John 9:1–7), showing He is the Messiah who has begun the renewal of creation and will complete it at His return (1 Cor. 15:20–28).
Respond:
• Where do you feel weak, weary, or afraid?
• How does God’s promise of restoration strengthen your faith?
• Why is it important to remember that Jesus moves toward brokenness, not away from it?
• Ask God to strengthen what feels weak in you today.
Tuesday
Job 42 (focus v.1–6)
Discover:
Though Job was not perfect and at times impatiently demanded answers from God (Job 13), he persevered in faith. Even while knowing he was innocent of any specific sin deserving such suffering, he never wavered in his belief that God is righteous. He trusted that the Lord would ultimately vindicate him and prove Himself just (19:25–27; 31).
Job’s main error was believing God owed him a full explanation for his suffering. When the Lord finally spoke, revealing the limits of human understanding before divine wisdom (chs. 38–41), Job humbly repented. Overwhelmed by God’s majesty, he sat in ashes—a sign of complete agreement that God was right and that he deserved nothing but judgment (42:1–6; cf. Jonah 3:6).
After Job’s repentance, God expressed anger toward his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for not speaking rightly of Him. Job, however, had spoken what was right about the Lord (42:7–9). Though his friends often stated general truths (e.g., 5:17), they wrongly assumed they had God fully figured out. They applied the principle that God punishes evil and rewards good to every situation, leaving no room for divine sovereignty or mystery. In doing so, they robbed God of His freedom and spoke wrongly of Him. Job never did this, even in his deepest despair.
In the end, God restored Job (42:10–17). We too can expect restoration if we hold fast to faith and refuse to speak ill of our sovereign Lord.
Respond:
• Are there places where you want answers more than you want God’s presence?
• How can suffering reveal what you truly believe about God?
• What would it look like to trust God even without understanding everything?
• Ask God to help you see Him clearly in places you cannot fully explain.
Wednesday
Joel 2 (focus v.12–27)
Discover:
Joel begins his book by describing a devastating plague of locusts in Judah, which served as a warning of the coming day of the Lord and God’s judgment on Jerusalem for its sin (Joel 1:1–2:11). These opening chapters offer little hope, until 2:12.
There, the Lord graciously calls His people to repent rather than passively await His wrath. This is no superficial tearing of clothes, but a true turning of the heart, the circumcision of the heart that God has always required (Deut. 10:12–22). Such heart change is ultimately His gracious gift to His people (Ezek. 36:22–38; John 3:1–8).
Those whose hearts God has renewed respond to His call through the prophets and apostles. Joel therefore urges deep, sincere repentance (2:13–17), grounding it in God’s merciful character and willingness to relent from judgment (Ex. 34:6–7; Jer. 18:5–8). At the same time, Joel avoids any presumption. While God reliably forgives those who turn to Him with sincere hearts (2 Chron. 7:14; Luke 15:11–32), forgiveness does not always remove the earthly consequences of our sin. The prophet leaves open whether God will also restore other blessings (2:14).
Joel’s call to repentance was urgent and inclusive. Even newlyweds and nursing mothers, normally exempted from certain duties, were to join the entire nation in turning to God if they hoped to avert disaster (2:15–17; cf. Deut. 20:1–7; 1 Sam. 1:21–24). In response to this heartfelt repentance, God promises lavish blessing on His people (Joel 2:18–27).
Respond:
• Are there places in your life that feel damaged or beyond restoration?
• Why is it difficult to trust God after seasons of disappointment or pain?
• How does this passage encourage you to believe that God can still rewrite your story?
• Ask God to restore hope in the places where you have felt discouraged or defeated.
Thursday
Mark 7 (focus v.31–37)
Discover:
Mogilalos, the Greek word describing the deaf man’s condition, appears only one other time in Scripture: Isaiah 35:5–6.
Isaiah 35 comes after a series of oracles of judgment against nations and cities, including Tyre, Jerusalem, and Edom (chs. 23, 28, 34). The prophet then paints a beautiful picture of restoration, marked by everlasting joy and holiness. In that day, the deaf will hear and the mute will speak, those suffering from mogilalos will be healed (vv. 5–6).
By healing this deaf and mute man, Jesus declared that the promised era of restoration had arrived. Salvation was at hand, and God was beginning to renew all things through His Son.
Jesus healed the man by putting His fingers in his ears and applying saliva to his tongue (Mark 7:33–35). We cannot be certain why He chose this method. Some suggest it helped build the Gentile man’s confidence, since such actions were used in Gentile healing practices. Others see it as a picture of Christ’s blood bringing full restoration to both soul and body in the new creation.
Whatever the reason, John Calvin in his commentary offers wise counsel: “Readers of sobriety and judgment will be satisfied with this single instruction, that we obtain from Christ, in answer to our prayers, both speech and hearing; for he pours his energy into our tongues, and pierces our ears with his fingers.”
The Gospels do not always explain Jesus’ actions in full detail, but we do not need every answer in order to trust Him. It is enough to know that He is the incarnate Son of God, whose perfect wisdom governs all things. We can rest confidently in Him, even when His ways are beyond our understanding.
Respond:
• What does this passage show you about the compassion of Jesus?
• Why does it matter that Jesus heals people personally, not generically?
• Are there parts of your life where you need to let Jesus come close?
• Ask Jesus to meet you with His compassion and restore what is broken.
Friday
1 Thessalonians 1 (focus v.2–10)
Discover:
We like to think we are completely unique, and we are. Yet we are always imitating someone. That is why surrounding ourselves with the right people matters so much. After coming to faith, godly role models become especially important. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul teaches new believers who they should imitate as they grow in Christ.
• Imitate God
o We are called first to imitate God (1 Thess. 1:6). Before Christ, we followed idols and wrong patterns of life. But God created us to reflect Him. Through Jesus, we turn from idols back to our Creator and learn to live with God as our true model.
• Imitate Godly Believers
o We are also called to imitate mature believers (v. 6). Paul openly offered himself and Silvanus as examples. We learn from their prayers, trials, witness, and family life. Godly people who imitate God become living patterns of discipleship for us.
• Imitate Healthy Churches
o Churches should imitate healthy churches as well. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they had become imitators of the faithful churches in Judea (2:14). Today, younger churches can look with gratitude to more mature ones that spread the gospel faithfully. No church or person is perfect, but let us imitate what is good—so we may become more like Christ.
Respond:
• What change has Jesus made in your life that others can see?
• Why is a transformed life such a powerful testimony?
• Are there old patterns or idols Jesus is still calling you to leave behind?
• Ask God to make your life a clear witness to His transforming power.
Saturday
Acts 16 (focus v.25–34)
Discover:
No song had likely ever echoed through the walls of that Philippian prison. The usual sounds were moaning, cursing, and shouting. Especially at midnight—the darkest hour with no hint of dawn. Yet there, beaten and bloodied, their feet in stocks, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners listened in amazement (Acts 16:25).
That day had been chaotic. A mob attacked them after Paul cast out a demon. They were stripped, beaten, and thrown into the inner prison without a trial (Acts 16:16–24). Still, they sang. They joined a long line of God’s people who lift songs in the night: Jehoshaphat marching into battle with praise (2 Chron. 20), Jeremiah lamenting in song, and the psalmists crying out, “I will sing in the night” (Ps. 77:6).
Paul and Silas trusted that God still reigned. He had led them to Philippi through a vision and used them to reach Lydia’s household. Prison could not thwart His purposes. Later, Paul would write that even his chains advanced the gospel (Phil. 1:12–13).
They also trusted that God would deliver them. Not necessarily from every hardship, but from dishonoring Christ in their hardship. Their deepest joy was that “Christ will be honored” in them, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:18–20). And they knew someone was listening. The prisoners heard them. Soon the jailer and his whole household would believe and rejoice (Acts 16:26–34).
Singing in suffering defies despair. It declares that our God reigns, that He will deliver, and that someone needs to hear of His worth. Even Jesus sang on the night He was betrayed (Mark 14:26) and quoted psalms from the cross. As we suffer with Him in song, we are being conformed to His image. One day we will sing to Jesus, freed from every sorrow. Today, we can sound His worth, even in our chains.
Respond:
• How might God use your current season to point someone else toward Him?
• What does it look like to worship before everything is fixed?
• Where do you need Jesus to rewrite fear into faith?
• Ask God to use your story as a witness to His healing and saving power.