John 9 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“As He was passing by He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples questioned Him: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ Yeshua answered. ‘This came about so that G_d’s works might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3

Imagine Yeshua, if you will, as a Master artist. It’s not much of a stretch…He authored Creation, after all! So, this Master artist and His protégés are strolling through His studio one day, and they pass by a sculpture that doesn’t look quite right. One of the Master’s students asks what was wrong with the clay, that the sculpture would appear so odd.

The Master replies, “Nothing is wrong with the clay. I left this piece unfinished, so you can observe the Master’s work.” That’s pretty much the scenario of today’s passage.

“We must do the works of Him Who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

By choosing the word, “WE”, Yeshua intimated that His disciples would have an active Spirit-directed role in completing the Father’s “works”, as well. That same “limited participation”, in the salvation/discipleship of men, is a role extended to us, even today.

It helps to remember that Yeshua created mankind by breathing the life of His Ruach (Spirit) into the “dust of the earth”. (Notice the contrast to His writing names of unbelievers in the dirt: CH 8) Here, in Chapter 9, Yeshua demonstrates that “water/saliva” flowing from His mouth transforms dirt into an agent of healing!

Ponder that idea for a moment: From the mouth of the L_rd comes the Spirit-filled Word of the L_rd. When G_d’s Word and His Spirit are applied to a person’s unbelief, healing takes place! That healing brings “sight”, i.e., understanding of the things of G_d.

“After He said these things, He spat on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. ‘Go,’ He told him, ‘Wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means ‘Sent’). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.” John 9:6-7

Before healing was established, Yeshua SENT the man on a mission. Healing was dependant on the man’s response to G_d’s call. People are not saved by hearing the Gospel only, but by faithfully responding to it.

The word “Siloam” means “sent”. The word “apostle” also means “to be sent on a mission”. We are healed so that we may do Kingdom work. Once he received healing from his blindness, this man began the work of restoring sight to others...exposing their spiritual and scriptural “blindness”, and testifying of Yeshua’s power to heal all who would receive Him.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Assistant Rabbi
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Friday, July 5, 2013