As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! John 9:1, 6-7
How many times have you read and heard this account of Jesus healing a blind man? But, have you ever heard or read it and saw beyond the miracle? Beyond the fact that this wasn’t a restoration, because he was blind from birth. This was a creative miracle. Beyond the strangeness of Jesus making mud out of His spit and rubbing it on the man’s eyes. Beyond Jesus telling him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.
Have you ever considered that Jesus asked him to go wash in the pool while he was still blind! Now, it really doesn’t matter how far the pool was from where Jesus applied the mud, because when you’re totally blind, even a short trip is a journey! So what we really need to look at is the blind man went, not seeing, just because Jesus said so. Think about it, his step of faith was no different than Peter getting out of the boat on a stormy sea. Or the man with the withered hand stretching it towards Jesus when He asked him to. All of them and many more, simply did what Jesus asked because they trusted Him.
It wasn’t what Jesus asked any of them to do, it was that they did what He asked without question, hesitation or doubt, they just did it. But why were they so quick to obey when we it seems we so often hesitate? Some would say it’s because it was Jesus asking them in the flesh. But we can’t forget about the accounts of the people who didn’t obey immediately. Like the disciples when Jesus asked them to pray while He was praying in the Garden. Could their obedience have come just because they heard the love, compassion, care and authority in His voice when He asked them to do what seemed to be impossible? How are you hearing the voice of Jesus? Is it one of love, compassion, caring and yes authority, since all authority has been given to Him by Father God? Or do you hear a harsh, demanding voice only looking for your obedience and then He’ll love you? Let’s pray that we would have the ears and heart of those who heard the loving heart of a the Savior who wanted to make them whole. Because He wants the same for each of us.
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