day 9: The Pharisee

Day 9: “The Pharisee”

Scripture Reading: John 9:13-34

As we reflect on “The Pharisee,” we must begin with humility. It is easy to read the Gospel stories and place ourselves on the side of Jesus while quietly judging the Pharisees. We must remember that the Pharisees were not careless unbelievers. They were serious, disciplined, devout people who longed to honor God. In many ways, they would look like faithful church members today. Their desire was holiness. Their aim was obedience. They studied Scripture carefully. They prayed. They fasted. They guarded Sabbath observance. Yet somewhere along the way, devotion subtly shifted into self-reliance. Righteousness became something measurable, something defensible, something that could distinguish the “faithful” from the “sinner.”

And then Jesus came. Jesus, the Holy One, did not fit their categories. He forgave sins without consulting their system. He touched the unclean. He ate with tax collectors. He healed on the Sabbath. He declared that mercy outweighs sacrifice. The very One who embodied perfect holiness did not practice separation in the way they expected. Instead, His holiness moved toward the broken. That is what unsettled them. The Pharisee represents a danger that never disappears. We, too, can slowly begin to trust in our discipline, our theology, our ministry involvement, our moral record. We may not say it aloud, but in our heart, we can begin to believe that we stand where we stand because we have done well.

But Jesus remains the Stranger who confronts that illusion. True righteousness is not self-constructed. It is received. It is born of grace. It flows from a heart humbled before God. Holiness is not a wall to keep sinners out; it is a life so transformed by mercy that it moves toward others in compassion. As we examine our own hearts, perhaps the question is not, “Am I like the Pharisee?” but rather, “Where might the Pharisee still live within me?” May the Lord deliver us from subtle spiritual pride. May He give us tender hearts that love mercy. And may our obedience always flow from gratitude for grace, not confidence in ourselves.

Pray:

Jesus, you who mercifully gave us the Sabbath as a time of rest and healing, thank you that your grace extends to every hour of every day. Help us to celebrate truth wherever we find it, promote goodness in every opportunity, and behold beauty as you designed it.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church