And his disciples asked, saying Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
John 9:2
Wow! What a question the disciples asked Jesus. Who did sin? It is so easy to point the finger, but Jesus said, “neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him,” [see John 9:3]. It is the works of God made manifest in the blind man and not sin. How amazing is that? This blind man was told by Jesus to go and wash in the pool of Siloam after Jesus anointed the eyes with clay. The blind man did as Jesus said and he went to the pool washed and received his sight. Earlier this year the Antiquities Authority has been working on the completion of the excavation of the Pool of Siloam. The Pool of Siloam will be soon open to the public to visit exclaimed the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA). Just look at the picture below of the Pool of Siloam in November 2020.
The significance of the Pool of Siloam in Hebrew is the word “Shiloah” which means to be send forth. Also, it is said that the Pool of Siloam was used by the temple priest to perform a cleansing ceremony as seen in Numbers chapter 19. A red Heifer without spot or blemish was used for the cleansing of the believer from the contamination of the world. Thus, we have the example of Jesus himself later through his own blood having obtained our redemption. Sanctifying to the purifying of the flesh [see Hebrews 9:13].
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Hebrews 9:14
This blind man did not ask to be healed, yet through the compassion of Jesus he was healed. The blind man now could see, and many asked him how this happened. The Pharisees wanted to go after the man Jesus for healing on the sabbath day. The Jews would not believe that he was blind and asked his parents if this was true. The parents told the Jews that the blind man who could now see was their son, but they know not who opened his eyes to see. The parents feared the Jews for the Jews had already agreed that if any man confess Christ, they would be put out of the synagogue [see John 9:21-22]. Put out of the synagogue would mean they would be shunned or banished by everyone. Banishment from a group is a painful experience and carries the pain of suffering, yet Jesus is the true Shepherd and cares for those who belong to him.
What was the real truth why Jesus healed the blind man? Let’s look to verse 39 of John chapter nine.
For judgement I am come into this world, that they who see not, might see; and that they who see, might be made blind.”
John 9:39
Jesus came into this world for judgement in regard to who would believe in him. It is those who believe not that are condemned already, [see John 3:18]. Thus, if you are blind, you have no sin because you do not see the physical evidence within in your own environment. To see is to know the difference between right and wrong. Once you see lawlessness, your self-will enters into the picture of the act of violation against yourself and others. This is because of the original sin with Satan that entered the world through Adam. The apostle Paul stated, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,” [Romans 5:12]. I call this the “catch-22” because it seems that it is a paradoxical statement. The truth about how sin entered the world can be still debated today. Yet, God provided a way out of the dilemma of sin for man through his son Jesus. Jesus is the word that was made flesh and that dwelt among those who saw and witnessed him. It was Jesus who stated that “he that hath seen him hath seen the Father God,” [see John 14:9].
Even today, some do not believe that Jesus and the Father God are one. Look at verse 10 of John chapter 14, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself; but the father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” But the Father that dwells within Jesus is doing the work. It is the work of God to heal and cleanse us from all sin. It is the work of God made manifest in the blind man. This is the glory of God through the son of God that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, [see John 11:25]. Do you believe this?
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:17
Those who believe are sanctified by the truth in the word of God. In first John chapter two, verse 5, states, “whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; by this know we that we are in him.” Is the love of God perfected in you? That is a question we each should ask ourselves. Is the light of God shining in our own heart? Can we testify how we were healed by God like the blind man? The blind man did what Jesus told him and he went to the pool of Siloam to wash, and he was healed by the words of Jesus. Healed by Jesus and sent forth to testify was the blind man. All for the glory of God. Oh! If only we would believe and see God manifest himself in our own life. Read the whole chapter nine of the Gospel of John. How many times did the blind man testify about the healing of his sight that he exclaimed, “why here is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from where he is, and yet he hath open mine eyes,” [see John 9:30].
The blind man spoke the truth about his healing from God, and he did not know whether he was a sinner or not. The Jews cast him out of the synagogue saying that he was born in sin and mocked him about teaching them about God. Oh, looked what happened next. Jesus found out that the blind man who now sees was cast out and found him and asked him “do you believe on the Son of God?” The blind man that now sees asked, “who is he.” Jesus told him he hath seen him and it was he that spoke with him. The blind man that now sees said, “I believe.” Let us believe in the Son of God like the blind man who now sees. Pray that you do not become blind like the scribes and pharisees who remained in their sin, rather than believing in the Son of God. We must believe in order to see the miracle of God in our own life. It is never too late to ask God to manifest himself in our own life. Ask, believe, and receive a miracle today.
