Shadowing Jesus, Part IV

Spit in the Eyes
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Woodstream Church
John 9:1-11

Whether you drive, play sports or clean house, your eyesight is critical and often taken for granted.  But for those with impairment or blindness, simple tasks become a challenge.  Jesus took compassion upon a man who had been blind from birth, healing him on the Sabbath by spitting on the ground to make mud, placing the mud on the man’s eyes, and having the man wash in the river.

For Jesus, Opening Of Eyes Is Child’s Play. Ancient Rabbinic tradition holds that when God formed man from the dust, it first had to be moistened into clay.  In other words, they believed God spat upon the dust to form the clay that made man.  Jesus was mimicking Creation when He spat to make the mud for the blind man, letting the Jews know He was about to perform a divine act.

Christ’s Commitment To The Rites Of Purification. Jesus had done His part with the mud, but the blind man had to do his part by washing in the river Siloam, a rite of purification.  It was only after washing was the man’s sight returned.  Throughout His ministry of healing miracles, Christ directed those healed to perform the rites of purification. In this Lenten season, we should follow by purifying our hearts and hands through prayer, fasting and giving generously to the poor.

Darkness Attempts To Discredit The Light.  The blind man’s eyes were opened, but the Pharisees repeatedly interrogated him about the healing.  A division of opinion resulted, with some offended by Christ’s healing on the Sabbath.  But the Pharisees did not rejoice with the blind man, but instead excommunicated him from synagogue worship as part of their rejection of Christ.