Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁸  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?”

 ⁹  Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.”  He kept saying, “I am the one.”

 ¹⁰  So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?”

 ¹¹  He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’;  so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”

 ¹²  They said to him, “Where is He?”  He said, “I do not know.”  John 9:6-12.

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Why didn’t Jesus just heal this blind man without making and applying a spit clay paddy?  This does seem a little gross.  Jesus did not even need to touch the blind man.  But, if Jesus did want to touch him for some reason, Jesus could have healed him by just touching his eyes.

We are reminded of a similar healing by Jesus in Mark 7:33-35.  “Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting,  He touched his tongue with the saliva;  and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”  And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.”  Why didn’t Jesus heal this mute man without spitting and without touching the blind man’s tongue with the saliva? 

The Scripture for today also reminds of the healing of Naaman, the Syrian captain of the army. 

“Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”  But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’  “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and went away in a rage.

Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”  2 Kings 5:10-14.

And, how about Passover?  Was it really necessary for the LORD to require the people of Israel to apply blood to the lintel and doorposts in order to save them?  But, here  was the LORD’s provision.  “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians;  and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.”  Exodus 12:23.

Here is what Scripture states about the necessity of blood.  “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  Hebrews 9:22  “…the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

The Scripture for today, and these other similar Scriptures, teach us at least three lessons. 

First, God’s grace is particular.  God does not show grace to everyone.  In a sense, God treats objects of His grace as, well, objects, particular objects.

Although Jesus did heal many, He did not heal everyone.  In fact, Scripture emphasized the very particular nature of healing.  “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet;  and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”  Luke 4:27

Although the LORD saved the people of Israel, He did not save everyone.  Only those had the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts were saved.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14

Second, God gives grace to the humble.  By doing these miracles in this way, using spit and blood (and the unclean waters of the Jordan), Jesus built up humility in these people.  “But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ” GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  James 4:6 

Third, God intimately and fully handles those whom He saves.  “You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.”  Psalm 139:3

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28-32.