Eye Black

Ready:

“They asked, ‘Who healed you? What happened?’ He told them, ‘The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself. So I went and washed, and now I can see!’’” John 9:10-11 NLT

Set:

In Scripture, the word anointed means “smeared.” In this story, Jesus literally smears mud on a man's eyes and the man is immediately healed. Jesus was also smearing an anointing on this man that would do miraculous things. 

As a high school athlete, I remember smearing on some eye black before big games. There was no feeling like putting it on. I felt invincible--like I could do anything on the field. All my nerves, problems and distractions went away. I got in my zone. As athletes, when we are in our “zone,” everything comes to us naturally. We go with the flow and step up and shine. But what about when we step off the field? Are we really “in the zone” when it comes to the rest of our lives?

As we see in the story, God’s anointing has the power to do many things. It had the power to make a blind man see. In Luke 4:18, Jesus says that God has anointed Him to do many miraculous things, like proclaiming good news to the poor, proclaiming liberty to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.

Because we have Jesus in us, our anointing is powerful to do these things too! Even off the field, God has given us our own “eye black.” The Bible says that we are “anointed.” 

When God would anoint someone in the Bible, leaders would smear oil all over their faces. This oil represented the Holy Spirit-- the power of God to loosen things and bring health and healing. The Bible reminds us that we have the same Holy Spirit in us that was in Jesus to enable us to live our entire life “in the zone.”

Let’s make sure we remember to stay in the zone on and off the field and allow Jesus to use us for the big moments He has for us!

Go:

• What are some big moments or situations God has called you to?
• How does knowing you are anointed by God help you face those moments?

Weekly Challenges:

• Write down what it would mean for you to face your big moments knowing you are anointed by God.
• Write out the story of you facing those moments and watching God come through for you.

Reading Plan: 

Day 71 - John 1-2

Day 72 - John 3-4

Day 73 - John 5-6

Day 74 - John 7-8

Day 75 - John 9-10

Day 76 - John 11-12

Day 77 - John 13-14