How does Jesus' use of mud in John 9:6 demonstrate His divine authority? Verse for Focus “ When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.” – John 9:6 Created with Dust: Echoes of Genesis • Genesis 2:7 reminds us: “Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground…” • By mixing earth and saliva, Jesus echoes the original act of creation, signaling that the same hands that once shaped Adam now reshape sight. • John 1:3 affirms, “Through Him all things were made,” underscoring that the Creator has stepped into His creation and is free to employ its elements however He wills. The Potter and the Clay: Control over Creation • Jeremiah 18:6 pictures God as the Potter, people as clay. Jesus literally molds clay and reshapes a man’s future, proving He holds the Potter’s prerogatives. • Colossians 1:16 states that “all things were created through Him and for Him.” When Jesus uses mud to heal, He shows that material reality exists both through and for Him. Authority Displayed Through Ordinary Means • No elaborate ritual, just spit and soil—familiar, humble materials become carriers of divine power. • This counters any thought that power is tied to objects or formulas; authority resides in the Person of Christ alone (cf. Luke 7:7–10, where a word heals at a distance). • By functioning on the Sabbath (John 9:14), He asserts lordship over sacred time (cf. Mark 2:28). Messianic Sign Fulfilled • Isaiah 35:5 foretells, “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened.” The mud-miracle matches the prophetic checklist, identifying Jesus as the promised Messiah. • Exodus 4:11 reminds us that the LORD makes the blind and the seeing; Jesus acts in that same sovereign capacity. Grace That Stoops Low • Saliva in the ancient world was often viewed as unclean. Jesus willingly associates with what people consider lowly, highlighting that divine grace meets us in earthy places (Philippians 2:6-8). • The method underscores personal touch—He does not heal from a distance this time but kneels, mixes, applies, demonstrating intimate concern. Call to Recognize Divine Authority • The remedy is impossibly simple; the result is undeniably divine. Mud becomes a canvas displaying Christ’s supremacy. • The miracle invites every observer—and every reader—to acknowledge that the One who formed humanity from dust still commands creation and can recreate any life today. |
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