Where Do You Wash?

In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man by making mud and telling him to go and wash at a particular place (the Pool of Siloam). The man is obedient to these instructions and receives sight. Earlier in this story, the disciples asked why this man was blind (personal sin? sin of his parents?) and Jesus clearly states that it is to bring glory to the Father. I can only assume that this monumental miracle of giving him sight was the beginning of fulfillment of this plan.

Consider that the man washed exactly where Jesus told him to find relief. I don't think he had to convince him that he needed some cleansing here. Have you ever had dust in your eye? Imagine mud caked on your face. So the point being that instead of just grabbing from any source of comfort nearby (perhaps a jug of water at his feet, a cup of water held by a bystander, or even a bucket at a nearby well) this man went to a very specific place for help. So with us, Jesus sends us to a specific place for help in our suffering. He declares that he is the living water. Let's go to him and let God have the glory for cleaning out the grit in our lives.

Isaiah 58....

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Stick Around

Final thought on the story of the adulterous woman brought before Jesus in John 8 (see previous post)...
This woman remained before the only one who could truly judge her while her accusers fled the scene one by one, oldest to youngest. I think she could have left with the rest of the crowd but she lingered in Jesus' presence.

Why? When we are ready, the Lord's promptings for us to let him do surgery on our hearts is a welcome thing. It has been said that before we're saved we're found in the fire of judgement but after we know Christ as our personal saviour, we are in the fire of refinement. Discomfort is almost guaranteed when the Lord brings an area to light that He wants to work on in our lives. Feelings of exposure might stir up guilt or shame within us. But the final result of forgiveness and restoration before our loving and righteous mediator is worth the temporary pain. Praise God that he gives us time to choose.

To get close enough to him and stay in his company long enough to allow His cleansing touch is ALWAYS a good thing. Of that we can be sure. Easiest, no. Best, yes!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28-30

What Goes Around

The beginning of John 8 gives a brief account of yet another attempt of man to bring judgement upon another. This is so like us. Our human propensity is to point out all the faults in those around us and even go so far as demand judgement and due consequence.

Here, they brought an adulterous woman before Jesus trying to trick him. They asked what should be done to her. As they had been taught through the law, death was her penalty. But Jesus wrote in the sand beneath their feet. He spoke to them, "Whoever is without sin, cast the first stone," then began to write again. After they left Jesus in the company of this sinner, he extended the opposite of what they had expected - grace. Giving the one "caught" the freedom to leave "freed". She was forgiven and free to have a fresh start. But what of the accusers? They left bound. Bound up in their legalism, darkness, and pride. The very thing they intended in their humanity to dish out came back upon them in full force - works.

"Then they asked him, what must we do to do the works that God requires. Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent." John 6:28-28