The Gospel of John: John 9.1-12

Read and meditate on John 9.6, 7.
Among Jesus’ many miracles, the healing of the man born blind has some unique and important features, and these combine to instruct us in doing the work of God.

                                                                          ⁶And when
He said these things, He spat upon the ground,
and made some clay, which He then spread around
and on his eyes ⁷And then He said to him,
“Go to the pool called Sent (Siloam). In
it, wash your eyes.” And so the blind man went
and washed, and came back seeing.

- John 9.6, 7

Reflect
1.  The first unique feature of this healing is that the blind man apparently indicated no awareness of Jesus’ presence and, hence, no desire to be healed. Jesus simply came to him in his blindness to work the work of God. Here is a witness to the workings of grace. Explain. What does this suggest to us about doing the works of God? Complete this prayer: Lord, thank You, that when I was blind, You…

2.  A second unique feature of this healing is that Jesus employed a healing agent – the mud which He made from His own spittle. Compare this with the miracles we have previously seen (cf. Jn. 2.1-9; 4.46-53; 5.1-9; 6.1-14; 6.15-21). Since Jesus did not hesitate to use a material agent in the work of God, neither should we. What possibilities for doing the work of God does this open to us? What resources has He entrusted to you for doing good? Lord, You have entrusted many material blessings into my care. Help me to use them all to…

3.  A third unique feature of this healing is that the blind man had to carry out an act of obedience before his healing was accomplished. How does this instruct us about participating in works that reveal God? Help me always to obey You, Lord, so that…

4.  Finally, the blind man seems to have felt a sense of responsibility in returning to Jesus – not unlike the Samaritan leper whom Jesus healed in Luke 17.11-16. Why do you think this man, now healed of his blindness, “came back” to Jesus? How does this instruct us, who daily benefit from the Lord’s work in our lives? Help me to be more aware of the many ways You do good to me, Lord, and…

5.  Jesus said, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day…” The healing of the man born blind gives us many helpful insights into how we may do just what Jesus said we must. Grace, agency, responsibility, accountability: Put these together into a single sentence explaining how you might be more consistent in working the works of God. Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“He healed others by a word.… But the Lord bestowed sight on the one who was blind from birth—not by a word, but by an outward action. He did this neither casually nor simply because this was how it happened. He did it this way in order to show it was the same hand of God here that had also formed man at the beginning. And therefore when his disciples asked him why he had been born blind, whether by his own fault or his parents’, Jesus said, ‘Neither this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God might be manifested in him.’ The work of God is, after all, the forming of man. He did this by an outward action, as Scripture says, ‘And the Lord took clay from earth, and formed man.’ Notice here too how the Lord spit on the earth, and made clay and smeared it on his eyes, showing how the ancient creation was made. He was making clear to those who can understand, that this was the [same] hand of God through which man was formed from clay.” Irenaeus of Lyons (135-202 AD)

As Irenaeus pointed out, Jesus used this healing to back up His claim of being I AM. He did the works of God because He is God. And yet He said, “We must do the works” of God, presumably, with Him. When we do the works of God, are we recreating the world, as Jesus did with the man born blind? Explain.

Closing Prayer
Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens that cry.
He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!

Psalm 147.1-12

Psalm 147.1-13 (St. Ann: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
Praise God, for it is good to sing loud praises to the Lord!
With joy our songs of praise we bring to God and to His Word.

The Lord builds up His Church and He His people gathers in.
The broken hearts He tenderly repairs and heals their sin.

The stars He counts, He knows the name of every chosen soul;
His pow’r is great, and great His fame Who understands us whole.

The humble God exalts above; the wicked He casts down.
Sing thanks to this great God of love; let songs of praise abound.

He brings refreshing rain to earth and feeds the beasts so dear.
He puts in man’s strength naught of worth, but loves those who God fear.

O praise your God, Jerusalem, O Zion, praise the Lord!
He strengthens those who trust in Him with blessings from His Word.
           
T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.