We are focusing on the miraculous acts of the Lord Jesus during our daily meditations. Today, we will explore the healing of a man who was born blind:
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing (John 9:1-7).
In the previous chapter, Jesus stated that He is the great I AM (John 8:58), the name that God told Moses He would be called by (Exodus 3:14). For the Jewish people, it was unthinkable for Jesus to use that same name and declare that He is the Light of the World! How could He claim to be God? They were so outraged by the Lord's assertion about Himself that they attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59). Jesus also declared in the previous chapter, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He made this statement about Himself while in the temple courts (John 8:2), likely before the four giant candelabra that symbolized God as the One who guided them through darkness during their wilderness wanderings. Notice that Jesus didn't say, "I am a light," but instead, He said, "I am the Light of the World." He exclusively claimed to be Israel's Light. Now, He set out to dispel the darkness of a man born blind to demonstrate that He is the Light of the World.
Imagine being in the shoes of a man born blind. He could hear the conversation between the Lord and His disciples but couldn’t see what was happening. It’s likely he heard Jesus gathering saliva in His mouth and spitting it on the ground. I presume the Lord told him He was about to apply something to his eyes. Did he know about Jesus before mud was placed on his eyes? I don’t think so. He later explained, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see” (v. 11).
Sometimes, the Lord tests our obedience to His voice. He will challenge your mind to reveal your heart. How would you feel about someone rubbing mud in your eyes? Do you think the man felt offended as he stumbled along with dirt covering his eyes, trying to find his way to the Pool of Siloam? I'm sure there were a few along the way who offered him water to wash his face as he went. It's also possible that some laughed at his obedience to the Lord. Was anyone guiding him on his way? We do not know, but regardless of what obstacles were on the path or who was leading him, he was determined to follow Jesus's instructions. He was greatly rewarded when he finally reached the steps to the pool of water (the Pool of Siloam is at the bottom of the hill of Zion). He washed and was instantly healed.
How determined are you to hear God’s Word and do His will? What if the man had washed his eyes before he arrived at Siloam? I don’t think he would have been healed, and we wouldn't be reading about his obedience to the Lord. Can I encourage you today not to compromise your faith in Christ? During times of great spiritual darkness, hold on to Jesus and walk closely with Him as we stumble toward Siloam. We might not see everything we wish to see, but obedience to Christ pays significant dividends! The end of our faith is well worth obeying His Word. Keith Thomas
Taken from the study of John 9:1-41, Jesus and the Man Born Blind, found in the All Studies box under the heading of John's Gospel.
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