Mud, Mercy, and the Miracle (Friday)
Week 3 - Friday
John 9:1-12
As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spit on the ground, and made mud from the saliva, and applied the mud to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he left and washed, and came back seeing. 8 So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” The man himself kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The Man who is called Jesus made mud, and spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 And they said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.”
As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spit on the ground, and made mud from the saliva, and applied the mud to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he left and washed, and came back seeing. 8 So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” The man himself kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The Man who is called Jesus made mud, and spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 And they said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.”
Today, we get to see yet another miracle of Jesus as he heals this man who was born blind, so let’s take a moment to think about just a few of the powerful lessons in this account.
Both physical blindness and spiritual blindness cause desperation, and Jesus saw the depths of this blind man’s desperation. Jesus wants his disciples to know His primary concern is not what they can see outwardly in this man, but the spiritual need that lies within. He would heal the darkness that covered his fleshly eyes, but with even greater power and mercy, He would heal him of the spiritual darkness that covered his soul.
The disciples assume that the man’s blindness is because of sin, but Jesus tells them that the man was born blind so “that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John Piper says about this statement, “Jesus turns the question around and says, in effect, human causes are not decisive in explaining things. What is absolutely decisive is God’s purpose." What a great truth this is! Our suffering, disabilities, and weakness can serve a divine purpose. This was an opportunity to see God’s glory on full display.
Just a few verses earlier in chapter 8, Jesus stood in the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles – surrounded by giant lampstands used in that celebration – and declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Now Jesus reminds them of this same truth in a new setting when He says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (v.5). He alone is the Light, the exact representation of God’s glory, and the source of true healing. Yes, Jesus heals the man physically, but His greater purpose is to heal him spiritually and allow him to see the true Light. Physical healing only lasts for a time before death, but spiritual healing changes eternity.
If you can, take some time today and read the remainder of John chapter 9. As the man born blind is fully healed, he tells others of what Jesus has done for him, he exposes the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees, and then the entire account culminates with the man confessing his belief in Jesus and worshipping Him. He had seen the Light.
The great Isaac Watts hymn says it so beautifully.
“At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith, I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day.”
Both physical blindness and spiritual blindness cause desperation, and Jesus saw the depths of this blind man’s desperation. Jesus wants his disciples to know His primary concern is not what they can see outwardly in this man, but the spiritual need that lies within. He would heal the darkness that covered his fleshly eyes, but with even greater power and mercy, He would heal him of the spiritual darkness that covered his soul.
The disciples assume that the man’s blindness is because of sin, but Jesus tells them that the man was born blind so “that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John Piper says about this statement, “Jesus turns the question around and says, in effect, human causes are not decisive in explaining things. What is absolutely decisive is God’s purpose." What a great truth this is! Our suffering, disabilities, and weakness can serve a divine purpose. This was an opportunity to see God’s glory on full display.
Just a few verses earlier in chapter 8, Jesus stood in the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles – surrounded by giant lampstands used in that celebration – and declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Now Jesus reminds them of this same truth in a new setting when He says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (v.5). He alone is the Light, the exact representation of God’s glory, and the source of true healing. Yes, Jesus heals the man physically, but His greater purpose is to heal him spiritually and allow him to see the true Light. Physical healing only lasts for a time before death, but spiritual healing changes eternity.
If you can, take some time today and read the remainder of John chapter 9. As the man born blind is fully healed, he tells others of what Jesus has done for him, he exposes the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees, and then the entire account culminates with the man confessing his belief in Jesus and worshipping Him. He had seen the Light.
The great Isaac Watts hymn says it so beautifully.
“At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith, I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day.”
Reflection and Prayer
What suffering, disability or weakness are you dealing with that represents an opportunity to see God’s glory? Do you need to recognize that human circumstances are not decisive, but that God’s purpose is?
Have you seen that Jesus is the true Light of the world and confessed your belief in Him? If not, come to Him for eternal healing. If so, tell someone about Him and worship Him for all He’s done for you.
Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for healing me of my spiritual blindness and allowing me to see that You are the Light of the world. I pray that You would give me an opportunity today to tell someone of what you’ve done for me, and that I can point them to You, the source of all healing. I pray that when I’m tempted to focus on my weakness or temporary suffering, You would give me eyes to see those difficulties as opportunities to see and show Your eternal glory. Amen.
Have you seen that Jesus is the true Light of the world and confessed your belief in Him? If not, come to Him for eternal healing. If so, tell someone about Him and worship Him for all He’s done for you.
Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for healing me of my spiritual blindness and allowing me to see that You are the Light of the world. I pray that You would give me an opportunity today to tell someone of what you’ve done for me, and that I can point them to You, the source of all healing. I pray that when I’m tempted to focus on my weakness or temporary suffering, You would give me eyes to see those difficulties as opportunities to see and show Your eternal glory. Amen.
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