City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 ‘Rabbi,’ his disciples asked him, ‘why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?’ 3 ‘It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’ Jesus answered. ‘This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.’ 6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, ‘Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam’ (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!”

John 9:1-7 NLT

Reflection

In first-century Palestine, the Jews believed blindness was punishment from God (Deuteronomy 28:28). The disciple who asked the question wasn’t trying to be mean, but he probably didn’t realize the blind man could hear him. Jesus responded that his blindness isn’t from sin (the blind man likely perked up his ears at Jesus’ voice when he heard this), but so God’s works can be displayed through him. Jesus had come to dismantle the “law” of legalism and fulfill the Law of Love.  

But why did Jesus make a saliva-mud eye mask for the blind man? Why didn’t He just say the Word to the blind man like He did to the paralyzed man and the lepers (Luke 5:17-25, 17:11-14)? Maybe the reason is in the blind man’s response to Jesus’ presence. Or lack thereof. It’s really telling the blind man is completely silent, he doesn’t cry out to Jesus for a miracle like his counterparts. The paralyzed man’s friends punched a hole in the roof of another person’s house for the chance to walk (Luke 5:17-25). The lepers yelled at Jesus from a distance, begging for healing (Luke 17:11-14). The blind man hears Jesus, but doesn’t ask for healing, his hope is so far gone he doesn’t even try. Maybe after years of being told he and his parents sinned and living his whole life as a social outcast, he believes the lie that he’s not worthy of a miracle and has lost hope.    

All his life, the blind man has been ostracized, spat upon, maybe even had mud thrown at him by the neighborhood kids. Jesus making mud with saliva would have been too close to home, the blind man was probably thinking, “just another Tuesday.” But Jesus was changing this man’s perspective, turning his negative memories into a positive testimony. Jesus was changing the blind man’s mindset and his story. 

It’s not coincidence that Jesus told the blind man to go to a pool meaning “sent.” As Pastor Ji said on Sunday, the journey from the Temple to the pool of Siloam was a long way over rocky and unstable roads. The blind man had to walk over unfamiliar terrain, and even ask others for help. But along the way, he would do what the paralyzed man and the lepers did, demonstrate his faith in Jesus. Like the song by Paul Baloche*, he had to open the eyes of his heart first.   

Jesus then sent the formerly blind man to tell of His Word, he witnesses of Jesus’ miracle to all who knew him (John 9:8-11). The man was born blind not because of sin, but so the power of Jesus Christ can be seen in him (v. 3) and others could see the miracle of God. 

Application

Healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, can hurt. A lot. But don’t give up hope for a miracle, and don’t think you’re not worthy of one. Jesus might say the Word, or He might put you through a less-than-ideal experience first. 

At what place is your hope? Instead of thinking, “why bother?”, think, “why not?” Jesus has the power to change your story. Just open the eyes of your heart.

*Here’s the song:

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for being the Great Healer. Open the eyes of my heart to see You. Please heal me of my hurts: physical, emotional, and spiritual, comfort me through the healing, and guide me afterwards in Your Ways. In Your Name I pray, amen.