Mud in the Eyes Part III Collaboration with the Almighty

Mark's gospel also records the miracle healing of a blind man.  

Whether it is the same man described in John 9 is unclear, but Jesus used a similar method in both instances.

Mark 8  ²² They  came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

Don’t you love the question Jesus asks? If it were me, I might have protested, “Lord! You just spit in my eyes! How can I see anything?” I wonder how many times I've objected to the process and the methods of God working in my life. 

Now, think about the hopeful simplicity of his question, prompting us to assess the progress. In this case, a man was coming out of a lifetime of sheer darkness into the light of day, and the gradual progression was undoubtedly essential for him. 

When God's working in me, I might not feel ready to perform or answer questions, but in this story we're getting a clear picture (pun intended) of the conversational and listening God who invites our collaboration. I love that. 

God always starts right where we are. “Do you see ANY THING?” 

I wonder if God wants to ask all of us! What do you see in your world? Do you see your spouse, your children, your neighbors? Where is your focus? Are you only concerned about yourself and your 401k? Don’t miss the Christmas story of Scrooge, who squandered his life in pursuit of wealth, and nearly died alone and in misery. 

So the Lord may want us to wake up and think about this. Do you see anything, the way God sees? 

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

How did this man know what a tree looked like? No doubt he had felt, stumbled into, or leaned on a tree at some point in his life. He probably sought the shelter of trees in bad weather. 

He never imagined that people with all our moving limbs, resembled slender trees. He had to align his prior learning and personal experience with what was being illuminated before him. 

How do I view people? Do I see people like wooden objects or obstacles in my path? 

God wants us to see everything clearly!  He wants us to see people as He sees them—not their age, color, class, gender, uniform, or status—but as objects of his love, created in his image, and destined to reflect his glory. 

This may require our honest admission of continued need for  another fresh touch of God in our lives. This is the privilege of sonship He bestows. It is the collaboration with the Almighty in the unfolding miracle of restoration. 

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 

The “once more” touch of Jesus proves that even He doesn't do everything fully or completely the first time! I love this reminder of the patient Master at work, the Potter shaping his clay. We are a work in progress and God doesn’t give up on us.  

²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Notice, his instructions are very specific afterwards.  We can only guess why this was important for this man, at this time, but it would have been wise for him to obey. I have to believe it was for this man’s benefit and protection that Jesus urged him to go straight home. He may have been mobbed, dragged before the court of Pharisees, or worse, and the Lord knew he couldn’t handle it. (I Cor 10:13, Ex.13:17)

Are you listening to the instructions of the Lord in your life? Our tendency may be to feel annoyed by an interruption to our plans, but what foolishness to disregard the loving guidance of the God who made you. 

Learn to trust and collaborate with Him and you won’t be sorry.  He sees you; He loves you; and He never gives up on you! 

Mud in the Eyes Part II What is Blindness?

John 9

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. ¹⁴ Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.¹⁵ Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

Despite the judgment, criticism or rejection of others, we are called to tell our story, His story! It doesn’t change but it COULD change the eternal destiny for any who decide to believe it. Be faithful! Speak up for God in this unbelieving world! 

¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. ¹⁷ Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

This man knew very little about Jesus, probably very little training or theology, but he knew that Jesus was a man of God who did the impossible in his life. 

Notice, the Pharisees were divided. Some were quickly dismissive, but others were leaning toward the possibility that a divine miracle had taken place, like little roots of faith emerging! We speak for those whose ears are open. Many were still not satisfied and demanded more evidence. 

¹⁸ They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ¹⁹ “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

²⁰ “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. ²¹ But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 

Have you ever blown an opportunity to speak for God? It’s easy to think first about protecting ourselves, trying to defuse a hostile situation, and get out of the pressure cooker. Personally, I’m sorry for the times I’ve hesitated. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel message. It is life to those that are perishing! Far better to risk the rejection of others and speak the truth about Jesus, knowing He will reward you in due season. 

²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.²³ That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Sometimes, the things we fear might be a blessing in disguise! It would have been better for these parents to leave the place of unbelief, no matter how comfortable it had become! Do we hang onto a job where immorality rules or a relationship that dishonors the Lord, simply because we can’t trust God to meet our needs? We need to let it go and do what’s right. It takes courage to step away. 

²⁴ A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

²⁵ He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Admittedly, this blind man still didn’t know much, but he could give a clear testimony of a God-sent miracle. When something is real in your life you can’t deny it. This is precisely how you give God glory due His Name, as they demanded! 

²⁶ Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

²⁷ He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

²⁸ Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

Spiritual truth is unattainable to their natural minds, and baffled, they try to figure out the methods of God. But standing before them is living proof that God can do anything, ANYTHING, and they don’t see it! 

³⁰ The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. ³² Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

³⁴ To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

This man born blind is standing right up to these religious leaders with uncommon boldness. What happens next is the icing on the cake of this man’s miraculous day. 

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

Don’t you love this? Jesus found him, not the other way around! 

One day soon, Jesus would stand trial before them himself, and they would hurl their insults (and much worse) against him. But on this day, a blind man was thrust into that limelight, tried and tested by the wolves. It would have been a lot easier to deny Him, and go his own way to begin enjoying life as a seeing man. Instead, he stood strong, more fearless than his parents, and spoke boldly for God. 

The Lord is compassionate to all, but I’m sure this man’s courage in the face of all the abuse he suffered, after a lifetime of humiliation and suffering, touched his heart. So much so, that Jesus wanted to meet him.

True enlightenment of the spirit is a journey, and spiritual growth, just as with our physical bodies, can come in spurts in unseen places. This poor beggar was still in the dark in his understanding in some ways, but God is faithful to reveal more light when we are ready! 

³⁶ “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

³⁷ Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”  ³⁸ Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This man had such a ready heart to receive after a lifetime of begging and stumbling around in the dark! And how fortunate for him, after just an hour of seeing, he saw JESUS face to face! 

³⁹ Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

⁴⁰ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

⁴¹ Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Jesus made it clear that the Pharisees were still in the dark.  Claiming to see and judge truth for everyone, educated and esteemed as they were, they remained spiritually blind.  

What about you? Do you consider yourself wise and educated? Yet, are you still laboring to judge the methods of God and the testimonies of how He operates? Or, have you asked Him to show you truth and open the eyes of your heart?   

Friend, don't remain in spiritual blindness when the Light of the World has already come. Ask Him to show you the truth. 

Jesus said, "I Am the light of the world."

Mud in the Eyes Part I The Things God Uses

I read about Jesus’ miracle healing of a man born blind in a whole new light recently.

John 9

As he went along, he (Jesus) saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The disciples saw a curse, a history of sin, and just wanted to know who to blame!  But Jesus saw a blind man, an opportunity to give God glory, and just wanted to get to work!  

The same is true of you and me. God sees you! As Hagar the runaway slave girl discovered on the side of a lonely desert road, El Roi is the God who sees me! (Gen.16:13) 

⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 

Really God? THIS is how you’re going to help a man see? By picking up the dirtiest mud on the ground and mixing it with spit, then putting it in his eyes? Sure doesn’t seem like a good recipe for giving anyone better sight, does it? 

It’s these, the most unlikely, uncomfortable, and unexpected things God uses to accomplish his purposes that blow my mind! 

God works in such mysterious ways! One would think that to help a man gain vision you should clean the eyes, not fill them with dirt!  We should never allow ourselves to think that He isn’t working for our good, even when we don’t see what He’s doing or understand his methods. 

Sometimes life has to get messier before it can be improved. That’s when we’re tempted to think God isn’t doing anything, but be patient. He knows what He’s doing!

⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

This afternoon I watched video clips of several people who had been born color-blind as they were given a pair of new glasses that allowed them to see the full spectrum of colors for the first time. Their reactions brought tears to my eyes. 

There were children, young women and elderly men. All had the most spectacular experience of seeing color when they put these magical glasses on. They gasped, they shrieked, they took the glasses on and off in amazement, and then they wept with joy. 

These people could see before, but they never saw the colors. Imagine how much more it would shock and move you if you had been fully blind from birth and then suddenly you could see everything! This man must have been dancing down the street, leaping for joy at the sight of the sky, the sun and clouds, the birds, the green grass and flowers! 

Naturally, everyone noticed what happened and the man had an immediate platform to testify to God’s power in his life. 

⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

He speaks up, courageously identifies himself, and then, like a child, he simply tells what he understands. It isn’t complicated. Jesus showed up and did the impossible. 

Pause a moment to think about your own testimony. How did God show up in your life and how did He make a difference? Don’t be afraid to share this. The world is starving for the proof that God hears our prayers and loves us so personally!

So hearing this testimony, his neighbors now wanted to learn more about Jesus!

¹² “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

Naturally, this blind man never saw Jesus. He had only heard his voice and obeyed his words. Similarly, I’ve never seen Jesus. I’ve only heard his voice and followed his words at this point. But I can tell you, He’s done miracles in me! 

What about you? Has God brought some ugly or unwanted circumstances  into your life? Does it seem that things have gotten messier?  Be on the lookout for His directions. Pray and read the Word and search for what He might be saying to you now. 

Perhaps, like with this man born blind, GOD is preparing to give you a whole new way of seeing as you take those baby steps toward obeying Him.