The Unexpected Means of God’s Grace and Mercy

 

Do you remember the story where Jesus heals the man born blind (John 9:1-41)? Jesus mixes saliva and dirt from the ground to make some mud and clay. He then anoints the man’s eyes with this mixture. The man is instructed to go and wash in a pool. He does, and he is healed.

 

The more I reflected upon this story, the more I realized that, if it were me, I would have bristled and cringed at having another person’s saliva mixed with dirt and mud spread upon my eyes. And remember, back in those days, beasts of burden and other animals, like camels, sheep, oxen, goats, etc. would have wandered those dusty roads. From this ground, Jesus gathers dirt and makes a paste for the blind man’s eyes. This was not a mud bath from a luxurious spa. Yet, the man receives Christ’s healing touch and is made whole.

 

This story challenges us in three ways:

 

  1. Do we really want Jesus to meet our needs? Oftentimes, we can become complacent to our lack of spiritual gifts, be it patience, kindness, love, faith, etc. We can become accustomed and comfortable to the absence of God’s grace and not be prepared to fully receive all that He desires to offer us. Does our complacency constrain us from fully receiving God’s grace and gifts daily?
  2. Do we want to receive God’s answers to our prayers even if it comes to us in unexpected ways that we don’t like? Many times, God answers our prayers in ways that we don’t like. I’m sure the blind man was not expecting saliva and mud smeared on his eyes. Likewise, praying for patience may result in the Lord placing us amongst people and places that continually try our patience. Praying for freedom from a vice or addiction may result in the Lord training us to exercise self-control in those moments when we are weak. Praying to love our enemies may result in the Lord partnering us with neighbors and coworkers with whom we vehemently disagree.
  3. Do we trust that God’s plans for us are infinitely good? After spreading the paste on the man’s eyes, Jesus sends him, while he is still blind, to wash his eyes. After he washes his eyes, he can see for the first time in his life. Likewise, following Jesus’ instructions, though baffling, will result in our own lives being made wholly holy. This kind of faith is only possible when we trust that Jesus is infinitely good and only desires good for us.

 

Even today, the Lord desires to make us wholly holy. Do we want Him to meet our needs? Do we want to receive His grace even if it comes to us in unexpected ways that we don’t like? Do we trust that His plans for us are infinitely good? May we learn to trust in Him with all our hearts.

The Rev. John D. Sundara
Vicar for Worship and Evangelism
If you would like to reply to this devotional, please email
the Rev. John Sundara at jsundara@smec.org.