I'm convinced that God is well acquainted with the sorrow and struggles that I experience. Yet, at the same time, he loves me enough—and this is why I'm so loyal to him—to let me encounter sorrow, taste bitter emotions, and feel loss. He trusts me to be a good steward of that sorrow. He loves me enough to let me experience that pain so that he can accomplish something he loves—which for me has been a deeper character and a more eternal perspective.

John 9:1-12 His Glorious Power!

John 7:2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Leviticus 23:39-43 'On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. 40 'Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 'You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

42 'You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'" John 7:10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. John 7:14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. Flavius Josephus, 1 st century Jewish historian The most attended festival of the three required festivals

The festival featured two main elements: Carrying of water in a golden container from the pool of Siloam to the sacrificial alter John 7:37-38 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

The festival featured two main elements: Four large torches were lit each night that illuminated the entire court of women

The festival featured two main elements: Four large torches were lit each night that illuminated the entire court of women John 8:2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 20:30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

John 8:59- out of the temple V.1- He saw a blind man from birth V.8- Is this not the one who used to sit and beg Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. V.2- Who sinned? V.3- But it was so that the works of God might be displayed V.5- I am the Light of the world

John 1:4-9 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. The blind man’s testimony V.11- The [man] who is called Jesus V.17- And he said, “He is a [prophet].” V.25- Whether He is a [sinner], I do not know V.32- “A miracle of this magnitude is unheard of in history” V.33- If this man were not [from God] V.36- “Who is He, [Lord (Sir)] V.38- [Lord], I believe. And he worshipped Him

John 1:9-12 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, V.39- For judgment I came into this world So that V.39 those who do not see may see V.39 those who see may become blind

It is not our littleness that hinders Christ; but our bigness. It is not our weakness that hinders Christ; it is our strength. It is not our darkness that hinders Christ; it is our supposed light that holds back his hand. The way of seeing is essentially a willingness to admit we are blind and naked and hungry. The blind beggar of John 9 is our example. He did not argue with Christ. He acknowledged his blind condition and need. He submitted himself to the hand of Christ and was obedient—and then came the miracle so that he saw with his eyes and with his heart. Remember, great partakers are great beggars. Those who are empty will be filled. The blind will see. Charles H. Spurgeon

John 9:1-12 His Glorious Power!