“Fix these words of mine in your hearts . . . tie them as symbols on your hands” Deuteronomy 11:18
Monday, August 17

Spit, Sin, and Sight

Today's Verse

As he passed 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?” Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who saw that he was blind before said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?” Others were saying, “It is he.” Still others were saying, “He looks like him.” He said, “I am he.” They therefore were asking him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered, “A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight.”
John 9:1-11 · WEB

The Devotion

My grandmother, who walked with God from an early age, had cancer nine different times. I was blessed to have her in my life until I was 30 years old. She had lymphoma, breast cancer, and many other health issues. Yet, she was faithful - supporting my grandfather in his ministry and teaching young couples every week in Sunday School.

Some people, misunderstanding the Bible, told her that she was sick because she didn't have enough faith to be healed. Other people associate sickness with personal sin. Yes, we should pray for healing (James 5 teaches this truth). Yes, we should realize that some sins do lead to sickness, like the alcoholic who eventually has liver failure and drinks himself to death.

However, Jesus saw a blind man in John 9 and said, "This man didn't sin, nor did his parents." Instead, Jesus said his sickness was for the glory of God! Then, Jesus used spit and mud to make a salve. He put it on the man's eyes, and the man was healed!

Could Jesus have just said a word for him to open his eyes? Absolutely. If the man lived in our world, could Jesus have sent him to the eye doctor for treatment? Certainly! So, why did Jesus use spit and mud?

It's possible that Jesus used mud to spiritually signify and point back to God's creation of man. Genesis 2:7 says, "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground."

Jesus, the Creator (John 1), used dirt to create new sight in this man!

This miracle also shows Jesus' power to give us spiritual sight. We are all born in darkness and sin. Jesus is the light of the world who opens our eyes to the Truth!

A Prayer for Today

Lord, we pray 2 Corinthians 4:4 over lost people today. Your Word says "In their case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (ESV). Open their eyes to salvation. And open our eyes to the needs of others around us, so we can be Your hands and feet. Thank you that You've promised a day coming soon where there will be no more sickness or sin, disease or darkness. Let me live in that promise today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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