As He went along, He 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.” 6 After saying this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 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.
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.” 12“Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.
Big View: Person of Peace
Small View: Perception
Roger Bird
The Bridge – Allegan MI
Observation: The disciples discounted this man because of their preconceived religious ideas about God’s character and where He might choose to work. They missed God’s heart and only saw this man as a theological problem to be discussed, rather than a beloved son who needed to be loved and healed, and ushered into the Kingdom of God.
Action: Am I missing God’s heart? What beloved son or daughter am I bypassing today because something in me has already decided that God couldn’t possibly be working there? Starting today I will walk with my spiritual eyes open, prayerfully perceiving where God might be at work, and then joyfully, courageously, and intentionally joining Him there.
observation: so often like the disciples and the neighbors of the blind man I avoid being a means of being or bringing light or life, or even acknowledging the light and life that is present, choosing rather to debate the blindness and doubt the goodness. I love Jesus gives no satisfaction to the minds that will only accept what they can quantify. There is explanation other than watch where God’s glory is flowing. With a very dissatisfying response to those to must understand to believe, Jesus muddles mud, rubs the man’s eyes and says go wash it off! The man doesn’t care how it happened but embraces what God has done!
action: today I will refrain from requiring understanding before bringing life and light to a POP in my path. I will just walk in the promise of life and light with a receptive faith that I don’t fully understand and offer what I have praying they see the glory of God come in their lives.