“As Jesus walked along, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then He went and washed and came back able to see’” John 9:1-7.
This is a beautiful story begins with an important detail. Notice that the blind man was “blind from birth.” On a spiritual level this could very well be a description of all humanity. We are all “born blind” in the sense that we are born bearing the sins of Adam and Eve — original sin — and in need of healing — or Baptism. The blind man is you and me! So the obvious question for all of to take to prayer today is this: In what ways are we all blind today? In the time of Jesus there was a commonly held belief that blindness was God’s punishment for the sins of their parents. So if you think about it blind persons spent their lives carrying around their guilt.
But Jesus refutes this right away when He says, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him” John 9:3. Only our own self-inflicted blindness brought on by our choices and desires can we speak of a blindness that presupposes sin.
Jesus addresses the blindness of this man as an occasion to teach his central message that He is the Light of the world! So long as Jesus is alive and teaching He is the Light of the world, and only when He is betrayed and crucified does darkness have its day! When Jesus “spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes” He knew He was in violation of the Jewish Sabbath laws. And yet in keeping with the original blindness of this man suggesting the original spiritual blindness of all of us, spreading wet mud on the man’s eyes could very well speak of the anointing of baptism. But notice that the healing takes place only when the blind man washes in the Pool of water of Siloam
which certainly is suggestive of Baptism. And of significance is the name of the Pool of water — Siloam — which means “sent”, which means that the Pool stands for Jesus who was “sent” by His Father in heaven. This is John’s way of reminding us of who Jesus is — the Son of god who was “sent” to wash us clean of our sins by His blood on the Cross! All Christian churches have viewed Baptism as the Light of Christ healing us of the blindness of sin by washing in the waters of Baptism.
The iconographic painting above depicts Jesus curing the blind man through the baptismal waters. Notice John standing behind Jesus.
Oh dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. May You wash me with Your light and with You life-giving healing waters of your mercy so that I may not walk around carrying the burdens of my sinful decisions and choices. I love You too much to live as a spiritually blind person. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
From the Bible:
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”
Acts 2:38.
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
1 Peter 3:21.
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” John 3:5.
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:15.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” Matthew 3:11.
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