Mud Pies

 There are multiple ways to make a mud pie. You can use water from a puddle to mix with dirt to make them. You can also use a water hose to get water into the dirt. You can even haul water from a faucet to get the ground wet to make mud pies. Out of all the ways you might choose would you choose to use spit? Probably not I am guessing. Spit or saliva as it's properly named is gross. Who would want to handle dirt and spit? Hmmm... Jesus. 

In John 9 Jesus encountered a man who was blind from the day of his birth. Jesus noticed him and then acted. Jesus spit on the ground. I guess it was holy spit. He then worked the spit into some dirt making mud pie paste which He then plastered on the blind man. Some of your stomachs are turning just thinking about this. That certainly was not orthodox. 

What Jesus said next was even more unorthodox. He told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. Some scholars estimate the distance about half a mile from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam. Remember the man could not see. If the distance was not enough of a challenge, it was also a steep descent to the pool. To further complicate matters, the streets were congested with travelers to celebrate a festival. 

The blind man must have stumbled, tripped, and bumped into numerous people on his way. Why did He do it? Each step the blind man took was a step of faith. Each challenge was overcome in the hope that once he washed in the pool he would be healed. People will endure a great deal if they have hoped their endurance will bring about a desired result. 

He must have looked ridiculous staggering along groping for anything to help him keep his balance and find the way. It did not matter that he walked down to that pool with saliva special mud pies caked on his eyes. It did not matter if people stared or whispered. He had one mission to get to the Pool of Siloam and wash. 

Jesus could have healed him instantly. Instead, He chose to heal through a process. He had to work and wait for his healing. I wonder how many reading this can identify. Many are waiting on your healing or your miracle. You are taking steps of faith. You are walking in the belief that Jesus will help you. You are waiting for the miracle to come to fruition. 

Maybe there are some days when doubts eclipse hope like the clouds can eclipse the sun. Maybe you grow weary and lose heart. Keep pressing on. Your miracle could be just around the next bend in the road. Just like the miracle for the blind man was waiting in the water at the Pool of Siloam, your miracle might be waiting at the end of the next prayer, step of faith, or act of obedience. 

Mud pies became miracles in the making. It could be something else for you. Your mud pie could be a Bible promise. A song of hope. A seemingly foolish step of faith in obedience to His instruction. Maybe your miracle will not occur instantly but be more of a process of several steps of faith. It will not matter in the end if God comes through in a powerful way. Will it matter how He does it in the end? Won't we still rejoice in either case? Press on. Keep stepping in faith and trusting our God for the right outcome.