God Our Healer

This morning I felt directed to go back to John 9 and reread the story of the healing of the man born blind.  Here are the verses - John 9:1-7 NIV:

[1] "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

[3] “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

[6] After saying this, he 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."

There are a few things running through my mind this morning as I meditate on this story.  First, the blind man didn't go looking for Jesus, wasn't seeking healing, basically had no real interaction with Jesus before He was healed.  Jesus and disciples were talking about him, and I am sure he was used to that.  I always find it interesting how we will treat those with disabilities as if they are not real, or don't have feelings.  Many people just try to ignore people like this man.  It is so much easier to ignore them, than actually see them as people just like ourselves, with real needs and real feelings.  We don't want to engage them in conversation or interact with them because we don't know what to say, or how to treat them.

Secondly, I was thinking that the man wasn't even thinking about being healed, probably never even entered his mind that it was possible.  In other words he had absolutely no hope or faith, but that wasn't a problem for Jesus.  Jesus apparently doesn't require either of them to heal a person, regardless of what we might have heard.  So here is a man, no hope, no faith, not even asking for healing and Jesus heals him.  I was thinking that this man is probably like many people who have lifelong conditions, terminal illnesses, and the like - no hope of healing, not even a glimmer, just living with the reality of the situation, trying to get through the day the best they can.  There is a darkness that covers such people, a darkness of hopelessness.  Not that they are depressed necessarily, just that there will never be a hope for change.  However, Jesus is the light of the world, and when He shows up, He brings His own light, His own faith, His own hope. Light will always dispel darkness, and in this case He dispels the darkness of an irreversible condition, with a little dirt, spit and water. With Jesus, there is always hope, there is always the possibility of His touch.

Thirdly, the understatement of the final sentence - "so the man went and washed, and came home seeing" is astounding.  Imagining the reaction of the man who can now see, I am sure he didn't just 'come home seeing'.  I am sure it was unbelievable to him, walking back towards home, seeing what had been around him all those years, but that he only knew from touch and hearing.  He had heard of colors, but now He was seeing them.  Everything was new to him, as the Lord opened his eyes and revealed to him the realm of sight.  It must have been glorious.  Recently on the internet there are videos of people who can hear for the first time, thanks to modern developments in technology and understanding the way we hear.  Those videos are so awesome to watch, for joy just erupts.   Those are just a small example of what this must have been like.

Finally, Jesus doesn't wait around for the man to come back after washing. It is only later that Jesus finds him and introduces himself, and the man worships Him (see verses John 9:35-38).  Jesus had complete confidence in the Father, and knew that in the place of  obedience to the Father, that what the Father desired to do, would be accomplished.  Oh, to have His discernment and knowledge of the Father's will. This is what the gift of faith brings, discernment and knowledge of the will of the Father.

Most of the time we are pressing into God, with the general belief that He can heal, but without any specific knowledge of His actual intent.  God is the God who heals (Exodus 15:26) and He is unchanging.  If He is the healer, Yahweh Rapha, then He is always the Healer.  He always wants to heal, always heals.  If He is the healer, than He is not the source of disease, sickness or anything that would contradict who He has revealed himself to be.  God doesn't cause sickness, otherwise He would be the God who makes you sick, not the God who heals you.  We can rely on His character for it is unchanging, and lay hold of His character as if it was a promise.  So it is always right to ask for healing, always right to believe that He will heal.  However His timing and definition of healing are sometimes not understood.   When God speaks, His words are perfect, and our understanding of those words is at best just a glimmer of what they really mean, for His words are perfect in Eternity.  His timing is not based on our understanding but on His perfect understanding.  Jesus walked in this knowledge of the Father's intent and timing.  Lord, help me to better understand both.

So in summary, Jesus is the Light of the World, and in His light is hope for the hopeless, healing for the sick and ill, and unchanging faithfulness.  Let us press into Him to know Him better and understand the timing and intent of the Father.  Let us turn to Jesus, for his invitation is unchanging. He says the following Matthew 11:28-30 NIV:

[28]  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Amen.