“…So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” John 9:7b
Jesus employees an interesting method for healing the blind-since-birth man in John 9:
- Dirt + Jesus spit = mud
- Apply mud to eyes
- Find Siloam Pool
- Wash away mud
Why did Jesus use mud of all things? And then why did He send a blind man to find his way in the dark to wash in a specific pool?
- He could have healed him by touching his eyes.
- Or – he could have just healed him by speaking.
- Or – he could have just looked at him or nodded at him or just thought it and the man would have been healed.
We can’t know for sure, but I think Jesus was giving some time for FAITH to sprout in the man’s heart. One thing I’m picking up by following Jesus through John — He never gets in a hurry. (And I feel like I’m ALWAYS in a hurry!)
The man was given an opportunity to cooperate with Jesus. He had to choose to stand still while the mud was applied. That could have been embarrassing or humiliating. Like the bully in the locker room picking on the weak kid by smearing something on his face.
That, of course, wasn’t the case here. And no one was holding the blind man there by force. He chose to stand patiently in front of Jesus and allow mud to be put on his eyes. He couldn’t know for sure if this experience was going to turn out positive or not. Would he be the brunt of the joke? Would they all laugh and poke fun at him…or might he/could he/would he be healed.
It was a risk he was willing to take. He wanted to see. So if there was any chance at all that could happen, he was willing to take that chance. He cooperated with Jesus.
Isn’t that really the essence of real faith? Not really knowing, but believing Jesus?
This blind mind believed Jesus. He cooperated with Jesus. He stood there while the mud was applied. And then he obediently made his way to Siloam to wash.
His obedience demonstrated that a spark of faith had been ignited.
Faith says, I believe. It’s not necessarily I know ….or I understand. I believe. That blind man believed he could be healed. And his belief prompted action and cooperation and obedience.
As followers of Jesus, are we willing to obey even when the instructions might seem embarrassing, absurd, awkward, or humiliating to the watching world?
John 9:7 records the blind-since-birth man’s obedience. After getting mud-in-the-eye treatment, he “…went and washed, and came home seeing.”
Obedience brings blessing. Every. Single. Time.
Have you tested this? Do you want to? Would you ask God for an obedience assignment for this week? If you pray this gutsy prayer, be ready to see how He provides and what doors He opens. And then ask Him for the courage to walk on through. Are you ready to be blessed?
But please remember – blessing in God’s economy looks very different from the way the world would describe it! This-blind-since birth man received sight. As followers of Christ, our reward might be spiritual sight or the removal of a spiritual blind spot.
The child of God knows obedience brings blessing!
Here’s the link to the complete teaching from last week on John 9:
http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-9lesson-9/
[Photo attribution: http://fralfonse.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html]
