The account of the miracle of vision in the previous post brought us to the point where the man, following Jesus's instructions went to the Pool of Siloam, washed, and came seeing. (John 9:7) A few words here about the magnitude of the miracle.
Many of us learned this story in Sunday school and have taken it in a matter-of-fact way, perhaps thinking, "Wow! Jesus can do anything." I dare say, though, that seldom have we considered the miracle in its entirety. Think of this. A person born blind has no experience of sight and his brain mapping would have relied entirely on non-visual sensory perceptions. Sudden ability to "see" in and of itself is insufficient to be of any use to the subject. In fact he would doubtless be totally confused and perhaps even terrified because he has no experience in processing visual stimuli.
How great is God? We cannot imagine the answer to that question. But in this instance Jesus not only gave the man the ability to sense visual stimuli, He gave him sight, which is to say the brain would have been totally remapped to allow the subject to process those stimuli! One might go so far as to say the miracle was tantamount to slaying the man and resurrecting him in a more perfect body.
Created man from mud, re-created this man using mud.
Indeed God is Great! TBC
Monday, October 17, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Mud in Your Eye
I have been spending considerable time mulling over the ninth chapter of John's Gospel. What a fascinating account of a miracle! There are so many things to mine from this passage that it may take more than one post to get through it.
And while passing on, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying “Rabbi, who sinned— this one or his parents, that he should be born blind?” (Disciples Literal New Testament)
It is interesting that the chapter starts with a conjunction in this and other translations including the KJV. Looking back at chapter eight we find Jesus disappears from the Pharisees who are picking up stones in threat. Is chapter nine a continuation following His escape, or does the "and" reference some other occasion of which we are unaware?
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this one sinned nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be made-visible in him. 4 We must be working the works of the One having sent Me while it is day. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 When I am in the world, I am the light of the world”. (DLNT)
The disciples in asking their question were displaying a commonly accepted belief in that day and even to this day that one who is afflicted must be so afflicted because he or his parents sinned.
Jesus seizes the teachable moment to enlighten His followers regarding His mission and theirs, for note the pronoun in which Jesus includes His followers in that mission: "We must be working the works of the One having sent Me."*
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (KJV)
The blind man humbled himself in allowing the smearing of spittle mixed with dust to be applied to his face. Could Jesus have performed the miracle without the use of this amalgam? Certainly. Why did He not?
There are differences of opinion regarding salvation, God's role and man's role. There are those who hold that salvation, a free gift of God, is granted by God to whom He will. There is nothing one can do to effect his own salvation. Moreover some go so far as to teach that there is nothing required of the recipient for action on his part would indicate a limitation on God's omnipotence.
God alone can save; yet I believe that one is required to do something, namely, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and confess Him with your mouth. (Romans 10:9) This will be followed by obedience to the will and Word of God.
And (note the conjunction) this man was given an explicit instruction. God will give him sight, but he must act according to the will of the Savior. Jesus sent him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Could he have washed at any convenient basin? Certainly, but that is not what the Son of Man asked of him. I think it significant that Jesus told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam and that the writer of the account tells us the interpretation of the name: Sent.
Judaic oral tradition suggests that the pool mentioned was considered to be Messiah's pool, hence "Sent" for the Messiah is the One sent by God. Jesus knew this and in effect was asserting His Messianic claim by utilizing that particular body of water to complete the miracle.
Thus begins the account of Jesus granting sight to the man born blind. TBC
Σιλωαμ
*Some texts translate the statement in the first-person singular rather than in the plural.
And while passing on, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying “Rabbi, who sinned— this one or his parents, that he should be born blind?” (Disciples Literal New Testament)
It is interesting that the chapter starts with a conjunction in this and other translations including the KJV. Looking back at chapter eight we find Jesus disappears from the Pharisees who are picking up stones in threat. Is chapter nine a continuation following His escape, or does the "and" reference some other occasion of which we are unaware?
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this one sinned nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be made-visible in him. 4 We must be working the works of the One having sent Me while it is day. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 When I am in the world, I am the light of the world”. (DLNT)
The disciples in asking their question were displaying a commonly accepted belief in that day and even to this day that one who is afflicted must be so afflicted because he or his parents sinned.
Jesus seizes the teachable moment to enlighten His followers regarding His mission and theirs, for note the pronoun in which Jesus includes His followers in that mission: "We must be working the works of the One having sent Me."*
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (KJV)
The blind man humbled himself in allowing the smearing of spittle mixed with dust to be applied to his face. Could Jesus have performed the miracle without the use of this amalgam? Certainly. Why did He not?
There are differences of opinion regarding salvation, God's role and man's role. There are those who hold that salvation, a free gift of God, is granted by God to whom He will. There is nothing one can do to effect his own salvation. Moreover some go so far as to teach that there is nothing required of the recipient for action on his part would indicate a limitation on God's omnipotence.
God alone can save; yet I believe that one is required to do something, namely, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and confess Him with your mouth. (Romans 10:9) This will be followed by obedience to the will and Word of God.
And (note the conjunction) this man was given an explicit instruction. God will give him sight, but he must act according to the will of the Savior. Jesus sent him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Could he have washed at any convenient basin? Certainly, but that is not what the Son of Man asked of him. I think it significant that Jesus told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam and that the writer of the account tells us the interpretation of the name: Sent.
Judaic oral tradition suggests that the pool mentioned was considered to be Messiah's pool, hence "Sent" for the Messiah is the One sent by God. Jesus knew this and in effect was asserting His Messianic claim by utilizing that particular body of water to complete the miracle.
Thus begins the account of Jesus granting sight to the man born blind. TBC
Σιλωαμ
*Some texts translate the statement in the first-person singular rather than in the plural.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Insomnia and Applesauce #T
Finally after lying wide awake much too long I got out of bed. Almost five o'clock but I got dressed anyway, went to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Sitting on the counter was the batch of crab apples I had picked a couple of days ago. Use them or lose them, said the little voice in my head.*
I put the apples in a colander, washed them. I got a saucepan and paring knife. I halved the apples, checking for bad places or unwelcome critters, dropped the pieces into the pan. Apples covered with water, the pan was placed on the kitchen range.
While waiting for the produce to cook I opened the laptop and somehow got absorbed in something, actually in writing a possible blog post. Presently my olfactory sense detected something weird and unwelcome. Dawn slowly crept into my awareness, I set the computer down and raced for the kitchen.
The next several minutes were spent trying to salvage some of the apples without digging too deeply into the blackened mess in the bottom of the vessel. What I saved were wrung through the colander to make applesauce. I added a bit of water and some sugar then placed this new saucepan on the fire to boil down the stuff.
Results
1. About three tablespoons of applesauce, strangely char-flavored.
2. A seriously blackened saucepan which any amount of scouring and product may never redeem.
3. The mess in the kitchen that is likely to be created when a man is left unsupervised in that venue.
4. About an hour of scrubbing and redding up that tired the old man sufficiently that he crawled back into bed at 6:35. Slept, too.
5. Odor awakened BBBH who later told me that searching for "What's burning?" cost her a good bit of effort and loss of sleep. This, of course, while I slept.
Cost
1. The crabapples
2. About half-cup of sugar.
3. Sufficient gas to effect the above tale.
4. And electricity to provide lighting at the ungodly hour of day, an hour I have seldom seen since I retired twenty-six years ago.
Benefits
1. The whole thing put me into a physical and mental state which demanded sleep.
2. The crab apples are no longer a concern.
3. Three or four tablespoons of maybe edible sauce.
4. Perhaps a parable or lesson in there, but not one I am likely to grasp anytime soon.
Good day!
*Drat that voice!
I put the apples in a colander, washed them. I got a saucepan and paring knife. I halved the apples, checking for bad places or unwelcome critters, dropped the pieces into the pan. Apples covered with water, the pan was placed on the kitchen range.
While waiting for the produce to cook I opened the laptop and somehow got absorbed in something, actually in writing a possible blog post. Presently my olfactory sense detected something weird and unwelcome. Dawn slowly crept into my awareness, I set the computer down and raced for the kitchen.
The next several minutes were spent trying to salvage some of the apples without digging too deeply into the blackened mess in the bottom of the vessel. What I saved were wrung through the colander to make applesauce. I added a bit of water and some sugar then placed this new saucepan on the fire to boil down the stuff.
Results
1. About three tablespoons of applesauce, strangely char-flavored.
2. A seriously blackened saucepan which any amount of scouring and product may never redeem.
3. The mess in the kitchen that is likely to be created when a man is left unsupervised in that venue.
4. About an hour of scrubbing and redding up that tired the old man sufficiently that he crawled back into bed at 6:35. Slept, too.
5. Odor awakened BBBH who later told me that searching for "What's burning?" cost her a good bit of effort and loss of sleep. This, of course, while I slept.
Cost
1. The crabapples
2. About half-cup of sugar.
3. Sufficient gas to effect the above tale.
4. And electricity to provide lighting at the ungodly hour of day, an hour I have seldom seen since I retired twenty-six years ago.
Benefits
1. The whole thing put me into a physical and mental state which demanded sleep.
2. The crab apples are no longer a concern.
3. Three or four tablespoons of maybe edible sauce.
4. Perhaps a parable or lesson in there, but not one I am likely to grasp anytime soon.
Good day!
*Drat that voice!
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Friday Night Lights
Sunset over Tipton County
Homecoming activities
Evening prayer
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Bicentennial Celebration
In 1816 Indiana was admitted to the Union of the United States. In celebration of the state's bicentennial a torch is being carried across all 92 counties. Our grandson, David K. Lacy, is honored to be one of the torchbearers in Tipton County. He is making this run today, October 6 on the 106th anniversary of his great grandfather Lacy's birthday and just one day before his own 31st birthday.
Five days ago David was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Tipton Police force.
Five days ago David was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Tipton Police force.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Rehash and Rehabilitation
The pillow was my best friend from the latter part of January through most of March. It was given me by the caring staff members at IU Methodist Hospital following the open-heart surgery.
Why then am I dragging this forward into an October post? Simply this: memories and gratitude. 2016 has been the year that we hope to look back on through the mists of memory and say "It was all good."
From the January experience through August I went through four "surgical procedures." Misty memories? I don't think about the pain anymore, nor do I feel it. Gratitude? I thank the Lord for his tender mercies, for healing, and for providing capable and talented medical professionals of the caliber I dealt with so frequently this year.
I was not much more than back on my feet until it started with JoAnn who was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. She has had surgery for removal of the offending lump and today will have her eighteenth radiation treatment. Projection: two more after today followed by cancer-free health and wellness.
Again, thank you, Heavenly Father, for your tender mercies, for healing, and for providing capable and talented medical professionals.
We are blessed.
My Beloved Beautiful Better Half has a birthday tomorrow, 10/5.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Be of Good Courage
Whither
shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The
people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up
to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Deuteronomy 1:28 (KJV)
After forty years in the wilderness the people arrive at the edge of the Promised Land. They send a committee over to assess the situation. The report: It is a good and fruitful place, but the people are huge; we are as grasshoppers in their sight. So they are moaning as we read in this verse.
Our brethren have discouraged our heart.
How much does this sound like Christians today, Christians who have been commissioned to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ? Oh, Dear (hand wringing) the sky is falling!
The Lord commanded His People to take the land and promised to go with them.
Today, the Lord commands our service in the proclamation of the gospel, and He promised to go with us.
Yes, the obstacles are huge but they are as nothing in the sight of our God.
As Moses said to Joshua, and as Joshua said to The People, "Be of good courage."
After forty years in the wilderness the people arrive at the edge of the Promised Land. They send a committee over to assess the situation. The report: It is a good and fruitful place, but the people are huge; we are as grasshoppers in their sight. So they are moaning as we read in this verse.
Our brethren have discouraged our heart.
How much does this sound like Christians today, Christians who have been commissioned to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ? Oh, Dear (hand wringing) the sky is falling!
The Lord commanded His People to take the land and promised to go with them.
Today, the Lord commands our service in the proclamation of the gospel, and He promised to go with us.
Yes, the obstacles are huge but they are as nothing in the sight of our God.
As Moses said to Joshua, and as Joshua said to The People, "Be of good courage."
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