Sep 3
Submitted by on as 2023


John 9:1-7

(1) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. (2) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? (3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (6) When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, (7) and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.


 This is a great story that can be used to help with all the bad things that we see around us. If you read this with out understanding who God is, you will not understand why Jesus says the things He says. Let’s start with when the disciples ask Jesus about the blind man who sinned, The blind man or his parents. Jesus answers neither, but the blind man is for God’s work to be manifest in him. See to understand Who God is, we must know that everything in this world we see, good or bad, is for God to be able to manifest Himself in our lives. As cruel as it may seem sometimes, especially when we see those with afflictions, we have to make sure we keep our eyes focused.  Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes. In this story we are dealing with a blind man, but this very much relates to us today. When learn more and grow closer to God when we are afflicted or around those who are. That is when we find our self usually in a desperation and earnestly seek after God. I can honestly say since Emma has been born with all the issues she had, I can definitely say I have relied upon God more the past few years than I ever have. I have prayed for her, cried for her, literally changed my whole life, and able to see how God has manifest Himself in her and more in my life.


 Jesus once again does something different for this miracle, He spits on the ground to make clay, and tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Interesting here that the man now has a part to do for this miracle. You would figure that after Jesus anointed his eyes with the clay, "BOOM” healing done. But not so, Jesus gave specific instructions to the man to wash in a certain place. This goes against what many people think, "God’s going to do what God wants to do not matter what I do.” That is such an unfaithful statement. God has set a path for us. If we do not obey and adhere to it, God will have very little effect on our lives. I firmly believe if the man would not have done what Jesus told him to do, his sight would not have been restored.  


Proverbs 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; Teach me thy paths.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

 

 This is one of those stories that helps explain why we do see people born a certain way with many deformities, deaf, down syndrome, not fully developed. When we know the possibilities of the greatness of God, it is easier to understand these things. Often times God might be using such instances to reach more people than just the afflicted but those around them. Often you will see the people around them searching for answers, many grow closer to God by this, and possibly would never know God without being affected by these things. More often than not the ones who are born in these states have more of God I them than we do.  We have to put our trust in God in these situations. When you read further in the passages past verse 7, He does explain to those around him what happened.

 

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all thy works.


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COMMENTS


[ posted by Cindy, 09/06/2023 12:23 PM ]

We are seeing the different techniques Jesus is using on healing people. Interesting this one he tells the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam after spitting on the clay and placing it on his eyes.

There is always some type of significance in what Jesus does. Siloam means "sent" in Greek. During the Feasts of the Tabernacles the priest would get water from the pool of Siloam to pour at the alter to comemorate the rock in the wilderness that provided water for the Israelites with Moses. A story behind everything and I am sure Jesus knew those customs and practices. Jesus was also "sent" by God to earth to be human and to die for us and save us. Perhaps it only solidified that He use that pool of water to reinforce their beliefs.
Mike you mention that " God has set a path for us, if we do not obey and adhere to it, God will have very little affect on our lives." It kinda goes back to when we have said before we also have to have a vested interest (and effort) in God and what He wants us to do. If this man had not done what Jesus asked him to do, go wash in the pool of Siloam... I agree that he would not have been healed of his blindness. He has to also take those steps of trusting what Jesus asked him to do. Just like if we don't follow thru with what Jesus calls for us to do. It's not a one way street. 
I love the part where Jesus says his parents or the man did not sin to cause it, but was done to be able to show later as the works of God. (I have mentioned before that the thinking back then about a person with disabilities, sickness, etc was the thinking that they or their family had sinned against the Laws of Moses) Thats pretty powerful. The timing is all Gods and always for Gods purpose, just like Jesus said. It shows His power. If Jesus had not had Gods power to do these healings, it would not have convinced anyone He was sent by God to do Gods work. No one in that time, or the past, was able to make the blind see again... Which was one of the predictions of the coming Messiah for the Jewish people.
Its also worth noting that verse 9 Jesus says I "must" work the works of Him....
Jesus knows He has to show this is the work of a higher power given To Him and He is on limited time. Everything Jesus is doing is a display of Gods power thru Himself. He is doing the foretold miracles of healings that would be performed by the Messiah. 
So if we use the past: God is letting us know He has used deformities, deafness, blindness, etc in the past for later on... when His timing calls for it... to display His Glory thru whatever He deems necessary... then we have to know it is all for Gods purpose. Mike you tell us how Emma has changed you, your life, your thinking about God thru her.
That is what God is all about!!!! God has drawn you in closer thru her. She is perfect in His (and yours) eyes, just like when I look at her, perfection! I will never be that perfect! Humans put the stigmas on disabilities and what society thinks perfection is. Sometimes people miss the boat when they say "Gods gonna do what He wants to do... No matter what I do... " Well, perhaps they werent listening to God trying to tell them something. Perhaps you didnt make that left or right He was trying to show you. They didn't take the time to ask God for His guidance, missed the message God was trying to get across to them, or take it to prayer.
God makes us all perfect, sin has foiled that for us and we are the ones who break that mold. God tries to make us whole again. Some of us need more work and a little more super glue than others... LoL But God's sole purpose was sending Jesus to restore us to a glory like His. 
Jesus heals us and restores us sinners to what Gods creation was meant to be. Our rightful, perfect
and holy state He created us in. The one we spend eternity in, with Him.   
 

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