Judgment, spit, mud, and vision
“As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither…’ Jesus answered. ‘This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.’… After he said these things he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. ‘Go,’ he told him, ‘wash…’” – John 9:1-3,6-7, CSB
The Problem:
The question itself betrays their judgment: ‘Your problem is the consequence of sin.’ That’s what Jesus’ disciples believed. In their minds, this much was a given truth. If this was the prevailing thought of their culture, how difficult it would be for the blind man to live every moment, not only with his inability to see, but also carrying around such an inescapable sign of God’s judgment. He was, in their opinion, a walking billboard of the result of sin.
The Explanation:
Jesus has a very different, hope-inspiring perspective! I can imagine this blind man hearing – and his hearing is likely excellently developed –, maybe for the first time in his life, ‘This is not because of sin, generational or otherwise. This happened so “God’s works might be displayed in him.”’ How life-changing! The healing? Yes, of course, but even before that… the lifting of judgment as shame and prejudice are being dismissed and expelled.
The Process:
Here’s mud in your eye. Words of life mixed with… mud. Why does He do this? Jesus doesn’t tell him the ‘why’. He just does it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see well with mud in my eye. The saying, “It’s always darkest just before the dawn,” could apply here, and in his muddy darkness… the healing is already on the way. It’s in perfectly-planned process. Still, this blind man can’t see. His obedience to what he hears – “Go… wash…” – rather than the possible confusion in what he feels and doesn’t see is vital. This is just as true for us. The ongoing healing and breakthrough we experience in our lives will often be found as we respond in faith to Jesus’ word over the process He’s using to accomplish it.
Think:
In your culture, what physical, situational, or mental problems might people point to as a result of sin? Is there biblical truth to any of them? What judgments could also be present?
Do you have any areas in your own life where you’ve felt judgment from others, or that you could be tempted to think, “Well, that’s just the way it is because of sin”?
If you know you need to repent for sin, then by all means, do that, of course.
Now, ask Jesus to shift your perspective toward this: “How are you going to display Your mighty works in me?”
Have you experienced a breakthrough that at first seemed like getting mud in your eye? If so, write it down, or tell someone the story of how it happened! That story might just set someone free to trust God in a fresh way.
Is there a ‘go and wash’ instruction from Jesus that you know you need to follow, and you know He has instructed you to do? Does it line up with biblical truth, and do you have faith for it? If so, then go for it! (As you do this, it’s wise to check in with trusted leaders who are also people of faith.)
Prayer:
“Jesus, thank You for Your word over my life! By Your grace, may I listen well, hearing Your blessing ringing more clearly in my ears than any judgment around me. When your process feels like adding mud to blindness, may I be well-prepared to trust and obey Your word, and to trust that I will see Your works displayed in my life. And, I do want to see Your works on display! Bring the breakthrough, according to Your word!”