When Jesus met a man who was blind from birth, he awakened hope in him by proclaiming that he was the light of the world. Jesus then did something quite remarkable, both to identify with this man's misery and to draw faith and confidence in him as well.  He touched the man's eyes with his own spittle mixed with dirt and bid him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. This pool was one of the landmarks of Jerusalem.  Hezekiah had a secret tunnel bored through 583 yards of solid rock in the hillside in order to bring water from the Gihon Spring, which was outside the city walls, into the city proper (2Chr.32:2-8,30; Isa.22:9-11; 2Kgs.20:20). At the Feast of Sukkoth (also known as the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths) water from this pool was brought by one of the priests to the temple with great trumpet blasts while the people recited the words of Isaiah 12:3: "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."  It was poured together with wine beside the altar and ultimately flowed into the Kidron Valley. This was both a thanksgiving offering for the summer harvest and a petition that God would continue to provide water and growth for the newly planted seeds for the next harvest. It was during the Feast of Sukkoth that Jesus identified himself as the source of this life-giving water (John 7:37).

Jesus not only gave physical sight to the blind man, but spiritual vision as well.  That is why Jesus proclaimed himself the "light of the world" (John 9:4). What is the significance of this miracle at the Pool of Siloam?  It is certainly more than just a miraculous event.  It is a "sign" that points to the source of the miraculous life-giving water and light which Jesus offers through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38).  Do you want the Holy Spirit to give you vision and faith to walk in the light of God's love and truth?

The Pharisees were upset with Jesus' miracle on two counts.  First, he healed the blind man on the Sabbath, which they considered a serious violation of the command to rest on the Sabbath. Second, how could a sinner and a sabbath-breaker do such a marvelous work of God!  The cured man must not have really been blind at all!  This blind man was well known to many people and his parents testified under oath that he had indeed been blind since birth. Their prejudice made them blind to God's intention for the Sabbath and to Jesus' claim to be the One sent from the Father in heaven to bring freedom and light to his people.  They tried to intimidate both this cured man and his parents by threatening to exclude them from membership in the synagogue. This man was shunned by the religious authorities because he believed that Jesus was the Messiah.  John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, remarked: "The Jews (the Pharisees) cast him out of the Temple; the Lord of the Temple found him." If our witness of Jesus and his redeeming power in our lives separates us from our fellow neighbors, it nonetheless draws us nearer to Jesus himself.  Paul the Apostles warns us to avoid the darkness of sin that we might walk more clearly in the light of Christ (Ephes. 5:8-12). Do you allow any blindspots to blur your vision of what God is offering you and asking of you?

Jesus is ever ready to heal us and to free us from the darkness of sin and deception. There is no sickness, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual that the Lord Jesus does not identify with. Isaiah prophesied that the "Suffering Servant" would be bruised for our iniquities and by his stripes we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5). The Lord offers us freedom from spiritual blindness due to sin and he restores us to wholeness of body, mind, soul, and heart.  Augustine of Hippo, in his commentary on this gospel passage, remarks: "If we reflect on the meaning of this miracle, we will see that the blind man is the human race ...You already know, of course, who the "One Sent" is.  Unless he had been sent, none of us would have been freed from sin."

"Jesus, in your name the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead are raised to life.  Come into our lives and heal the wounds of our broken hearts.  Give us eyes of faith to see your glory and hearts of courage to bring you glory in all we say and do."