Clay - Page 2, conclusion.
Jesus had taken the dry ground and wet it with spit, daubed the man’s eyes with the clay that He made and the man was healed, given his sight.
Next we look at a word not often understood in spiritual meaning, “sincere.” It is found only two times in the Bible, Philippians 1:10 and 2nd Peter 2:2.
With regards to ancient “clay” pottery, Isaiah 64:8, and Greek and Roman especially, the word “sincere,” from the Latin, “sin cera,” was used to identify pottery that was pure, perfect. “Sin cera” means without wax. Wax was used to fix cracks and other imperfections in pottery. Of course when it got hot or hot liquid was added, the imperfections quickly showed. That was improperly repaired “clay” pottery. It was imperfect and not properly repaired, insincere.
There is a proper way to repair pottery, though it is usually done in the “formative” processes. Repair is done with the use of a “slip” or “slurry,” both are a form of hand mixed water and clay, earth as it were, or as scripture calls it “dust.” The mixture is applied to the imperfection in a certain manner and the repair is completed making the item ready for the rest of the process and, eventually, for everyday use.
This is the process Jesus used on an “imperfect” vessel using the same products as God used in the Genesis. We note the man went on to be a proper witness for others. But let’s look at Jesus words prior to the repair, the healing.
“John 9:3; Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
The man, by Hebrew law and tradition was at least 13, though he was probably older, and was blind since birth. The people knew him. And even the Hebrew leadership knew him and his state, though they tried to skirt the issue. He was a chosen vessel since the time of his birth. Think of all that knew him and the effects he had on people now that he was repaired and complete.
The man was repaired by Jesus in the same manner and using the same products that God used to form the first man back in Genesis 2:7, the dust of the earth and a bit of water to make clay. He became a useful “vessel.”
When Jesus repairs the imperfect vessel, it is complete and useful. It’s what He does:
“Acts 9:15; But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”
“Jeremiah 18:1-6; (1) The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, (2) Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. (3) Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. (4) And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (5) Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, (6) O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Jesus repaired the blind man in John 9:11, who was “prepared” from the time of his birth. He repaired Paul, Acts 9:15, who was prepared from the time of his birth. And God has prepared me from the time of my birth. I was repaired on November 6, 1973 by the works of Jesus Christ.
We are all of dust, clay, made and fashioned by the potter from the time of our birth, ready to be repaired for the work of God.