March 1 Made New

John 9:6-10 Having said this, Jesus 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.”
 
THE man “used to beg”. He is changed, new in Jesus’ power! See this communion of Jesus and the healed man as a picture of the Holy Spirit healing our sin. Salvation is a Spirit-led cooperation between God and man.
   Most often Jesus simply spoke healing. Here, he uses word and actions to restore God’s creative design. This personal, transforming interaction between God and a man reflects the creation: Genesis 2:7 The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Then God spoke his will to Adam to obey his commands and rule the earth. God created. God instructed. God blessed. Adam obeyed. Then sin broke this pure intimacy. Thus, Jesus came to re-birth man to God’s creation purpose.
   In a like manner, Jesus reflects the Father. With dust he formed new eyes. The man then responded to obey Jesus’ will for his life, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam”. Through the Father, the dry dust became life. In Jesus, blind eyes were born again to see. The entire man was made new in God’s merciful power.
   Yes, God’s kingdom is a cooperation between God and his creation. We have been reading of so many who viciously denied Jesus’ sovereign power. What made this man different? In his grace and mercy, the Spirit of God had given to this man a faith to believe Jesus. The God-given faith prepared him for the Light to open his eyes. Spirit led, he stood before Jesus that day. He heard from God in God’s time. God acted. Then the man acted. In faith, he went to the pool. He went home seeing. This is the way of salvation. We are born blind to God’s life-giving power. Yet, God prepares his own for recovery of sight for the blind, (Luke 4:18c), so you will believe and see the Light.
   Are you saved in Christ? This is God’s gift! Rejoice in God’s grace to personally come and heal your blindness. Ephesians 2:3b-5 Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.  
   By grace, Jesus touched the man’s eyes. By faith, the blind man faithfully responded to Jesus. By grace, the blind man saw. How joyous to know God’s gracious love.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Spirit, for empowering me with the faith to receive and believe in Jesus. Open my eyes further each day to see more of the Light. Amen.