FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - HYATTSVILLE, MD

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    • About Us >
      • Our History
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    • Our Staff
    • Gallery
  • Worship
    • Schedule >
      • The Season of Lent
    • Prayer >
      • The Lord's Prayer & the Apostles' Creed
      • Cindy's Prayers
    • Sunday School
  • Get Involved
    • Ministries >
      • Feeding Ministry
      • 2023 CPR Certification
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    • ABOUT THE CEC
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  • Lenten Devotions

 Lenten Devotions

Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 19, 2023

3/19/2023

 
Read: John 9:24-41
 
In these verses, there is conversation between the Pharisees, the man that was healed of congenital blindness and Jesus.  The Pharisees were unhappy with Jesus because that spectacular healing increased Jesus popularity and it was done on the Sabbath.  They criticized Jesus and called him a sinner because, according to their beliefs, he was not of God.  They even expelled the man from the synagogue because he supported Jesus.  The Pharisees questioned all the details of the healing in their search to find a reason to condemn Jesus.  However, the man was happy to be healed and was very grateful to Jesus.  He believed that Jesus’ power to heal him demonstrated that Jesus came from God.  When Jesus heard that the man had been dismissed from the synagogue, Jesus revealed himself as the Son of Man and asked whether the man believed him.  The man accepted Jesus and worshiped him.  Jesus explained that he would separate believers from unbelievers.  Again the Pharisees questioned Jesus whether he would categorize them as blind.  Jesus answered that because they claim to have spiritual knowledge and did not accept him, they were spiritually blind, but those who did not have such knowledge could not be blamed for their unbelief. 
Jesus still asks us to accept him.  We see miracles every day. Do we see them as the work of Jesus in our lives and in the world?  Are we thankful?  Do these miracles strengthen our faith?  Please bear in mind brothers and sisters what Jesus said to the Pharisees who claim to have spiritual knowledge, we will be judged based on our knowledge or lack thereof.  Are we different from the Pharisees, or are some of us who know about Jesus, allowing skepticism to invade our hearts?
 
Father we thank you for the lessons of the gospels and for the gift of your son who taught us about your love for us.  Help us to accept your miracles in the world and in others around us and keep us from following after unbelievers and blind leaders.  Cure our spiritual blindness that we may say like the blind man who was healed “Lord I believe in you and your word,” and mean it. Amen
 
Lystra Alleyne

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First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville
6201 Belcrest Road
Hyattsville, MD 20782
301-927-6133
church@fumchy.org​
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Sunday Schedule
10:00AM - Worship Celebration
1st Sunday - Worship Celebration with Holy Communion
Sunday School 'All Ages are Welcome' (times vary by class)