Week 1 - No Longer Just Dust

In the book of John 9:1-7 we read the story of Jesus healing a blind man with some clay and spittle. You might think that to be a rather odd combination. Why didn't Jesus just touch the man or simply speak healing to the blind eyes? After all, He was Jesus, the Great Physician who could do anything. So why did he use the clay and spittle? First let me say, that Jesus never did anything on a whim. Every move He made was so that we could learn more about Him and His mercy and love for mankind.

In the book of Genesis we are told that God made man from the dust (or dirt/clay) of the ground. So when Christ used the dirt in the case of the blind man, it was a representation of mankind. Alone, the dirt was of no value, just as we are without the Holy Spirit living inside of us. However, Christ didn't perform the miracle with just dirt, He put some of Himself (the spittle) into that dirt. Now the dirt had healing power. But, the story doesn't end there. The man had to by faith let Christ apply the mixture to his eyes. The man believed that when Christ applied the mixture and told him to go wash his eyes, that he would be healed and as the story goes, he was.

Christ was not only performing a miracle on that day in history, He was also teaching an object lesson. Through the example of the dirt and spittle, Christ was showing us how we can experience that same healing power when we accept Him into our lives. By ourselves, we are nothing. Christ is waiting to apply Himself to our lives; but, He will not force Himself upon us. We have to accept Him through faith...faith that says for an unbeliever, "I know alone I am a wretched sinner, but because Christ died for my sins on an old rugged cross. I can have His Spirit living and abiding powerfully in me and for those reasons, I accept Him into my life." For the Christian, it is a faith that says, "Despite my circumstances, I choose to believe that Christ is all powerful and with His help I can live an abundant, victorious life. For those reasons I plead the blood of Christ." At those very moments of faith, Christ is free to pour out Himself upon us and provide the healing that we need for our lives. Dear friend, at those moments, we are no longer just worthless dust, but an exemplary mixture of what happens when the "spittle" hits the "dust." We are redeemed, restored, and without a doubt...made whole.



Monday: Read and meditate on Genesis 2:7.

Tuesday: Read and meditate on John 9:1-7.

Wednesday: How does Genesis 2:7 compare with Jesus' actions in John 9:1-7?

Thursday: What has this scripture meant to your life?

Friday & Saturday: Memorize John 9:6 and thank God for applying Himself in your life.