JOHN 9:1-7 JESUS SAID TO HIM, ”GO, WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM”

 This is the chapter that illustrates Chapter 8:12 Jesus is the Light of the World

John 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the 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 these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

 In this very familiar Scripture we need to make sure we don’t think we know everything that is going on here since we have heard this story so many times.  There are a lot of things happening behind the scenes as in any Scripture we read.  That is why we have to be very careful when we study to make sure we are really getting the meaning behind it that GOD wants us to have. Number one his disciples assume the man is born blind because of someone sinning. We also need to understand that sometimes God allows circumstances in our lives so that He might get glory from the way we respond to it.  Third, there is a limited amount of time we have to work for God and do His will for our lives. Lastly, we have to go to the source of every solution to the problems of life. Note that He doesn’t always fix everything, but He enables us to handle all the ups and downs of life, no matter how bad things get.  Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1. His Compassion

There are more miracles of the giving of sight to the blind recorded of Jesus than healings in any other category (see Matt. 9:27-31; 12:22-23; 15:30-31; 21:14; Mark 8:22-26; 10:46-52; Luke 7:21-22).

In the Old Testament the giving of sight to the blind is associated with God himself (Exod. 4:11; Ps. 146:8).

It is also a messianic activity (Isa 29:18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.;

Isa 42:7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

Lu 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." and this may be its significance in the New Testament.

It is a divine function, a function for God's own Messiah, that Jesus fulfills when he gives sight to the blind."

Ex 4:11 So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?

Ps 146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous.

2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

 2Co 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

 1Jo 2:11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

This whole chapter is steeped in Controversy, Why was the man born blind v 2, was it really him 1) The Beggar and His Neighbors (Verses 8–12), The Beggar and the Pharisees (Verses 13–17) Why did Jesus do this v14, who is He really v15-41?  Controversy between The Pharisees and the Parents (Verses 18–23), Again- The Beggar and the Pharisees (Verses 24–34) Controversy between Jesus and the Pharisees (V39-41)

This chapter presents the sixth of seven special miracles recorded in John’s Gospel as witnesses to Christ’s deity (20:30–31). The first three signs show how a person is saved: through the Word (water to wine), by faith (healing the nobleman’s son), and by grace (healing the impotent man). The last four signs show the results of salvation: satisfaction (feeding the 5,000), peace (stilling the storm), light (healing the blind man), and life (raising Lazarus).

1. The man has the characteristics of the lost sinner.

(1) He was blind (Eph. 4:18; John 3:3; 2 Cor. 4:3–6). The unsaved, though intellectual like Nicodemus, can never see or understand spiritual things. See 1 Cor. 2:14–16.

(2) He was begging. The unsaved are poor in God’s sight, though perhaps rich in the eyes of the world. They are begging for something to satisfy their deepest needs.

(3) He was helpless. He could not cure himself; others could not cure him.

John 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

He is more concerned with the man than His own life.  Lu 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Probably Jesus healed this man in Jerusalem (8:59). John apparently noted that the man had been blind from birth to prove his helpless condition and to compare him with those who were spiritually blind from birth (cf. vv. 39-41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-3). While the Synoptics record several instances in which blind people received their sight, this is the only case of this happening to a man who was born blind. The miracle also illustrates the origin and development of faith.

2Co 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”

He is a prepared vessel to show the Glory of God, he was a miracle waiting to happen

So when Jesus said in verse 3, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him,” this is the work of God—that the man see natural light and that the man see spiritual light. That the man be given natural eyes, and that he be given spiritual eyes. That he see the glory of this world, and the glory of its Maker, Jesus Christ. And worship him.

Romans 8:28 –

 God is worth more than all the troubles we go through Romans 8:18

Psalm 63:3 says, “Your steadfast love is better than life.” And Jesus said to the prisoners in Smyrna, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Being loved by God, and being with God forever, is better than having eyes and better than being alive in this world. If we don’t believe that, then saying that God has wise and good purposes in all our losses, will not be much comfort. But if we do believe it, not only will God’s purposes comfort us and strengthen us, but they will make us able to patiently, and gently help others through their times of darkness.

2. His Purpose

 4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

There is an urgency to this command to Do God’s works, not ours, the time is short

All of us must tell others about Christ through our life, actions, words, and sharing with others about who He is

A time is coming when all work for God in leading others to Christ will be over and it will be too late for them and too late for us to get another chance to tell them.  There is a time to discuss theology or Biblical teaching, but all the time is the time to share Christ. 

Jesus tells them WE must work, then He proceeds to do the work Himself, see this is the way it really works because when we do our part God is really the one who is really doing the hard work that changes lives.  We are partners in this work.

Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  He is the truth, righteousness, holiness, and morality that only comes from God.

Eph 3:20 – He is able to do, His Power working in us

8:12 I am the light of the world

John 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them

He will be hidden from all who do not believe one day. He is even now hidden to those who do not want to know the truth

 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Spit on his eyes, may have motivated to get it off too because it was nasty

Jesus deliberately causes a controversy

Jesus did it because it was against the law to do it on the Sabbath—against the Pharisee’s understanding of the law—and He meant to unleash the controversy that would bring out both blasphemy and worship

1Co 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

Lu 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.

God’s part – God’s Sovereignty the work He will do in our life and others if we follow Him like we ought to.

Ge 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

3. His Power

 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.   

What else did Jesus say to the man?  Does the man have any idea of who He is at this point and if not why does he obey

John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

2Co 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Man’s Responsibility -  If he had not went, he would not have been healed.  Maybe this is where we get the term blind obedience. 

God doesn’t need man, but He uses man, He sent this man on a mission and he did it and God worked, we must listen and obey God

The second reason for the mud is to show that God usually uses means in doing his wonderful works in this world. Jesus could have simply spoken and the man’s eyes would have been opened. Most of the wonders of God in the Old Testament were brought about by the use of human means. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31). God is decisive in the victory, but he uses means. He doesn’t need the horse, but he uses the horse.

 The Siloam Aqueduct: Opposite to the main part of Silwan is the "Virgin's Fount," ancient GIHON (which see), whose waters are practically monopolized by the villagers. It is the waters of this spring which are referred to in Isaiah 8:5, 6: "Forasmuch as this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly,.... now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the River." These waters are sent from God, Jesus is the Living Water Chapter 4 and

Remember back in John 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

Early each of the seven mornings of the feast the high priest would lead a procession from the Pool of Siloam to the temple. Another priest would first fill a golden ewer with water from the pool. He would then carry it through the Water Gate on the south side of the temple and into the temple courtyard. There he would ceremoniously pour the water into a silver basin on the west side of the brazen altar from which it would flow through a tube to the base of the altar. Many Jews would accompany these priests. Some of them would drink from the pool while others would chant Isaiah 55:1 and 12:3: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. Joyously draw water from the springs of salvation." This was such a happy occasion that the Mishnah stated, "He that never has seen the joy of the Water-drawing has never in his life seen joy."301 The priest would then pour water into the basin at the time of the morning sacrifice. Another priest would also pour the daily drink offering of wine into another basin at the same time. Then they would pour the water and the wine out before the Lord. The pouring out of water represented God's provision of water in the wilderness in the past and His provision of refreshment and cleansing in the messianic age. The pouring out of wine symbolized God's bestowal of His Spirit in the last days. Every male present would simultaneously shake his little bundle of willow and myrtle twigs (his lulab) with his right hand and hold a piece of citrus fruit aloft with his left hand. The twigs represented stages of the wilderness journey marked by different kinds of vegetation, and the citrus fruit symbolized the fruit of the Promised Land.302 Everyone would also cry, "Give thanks to the Lord!" three times. Worshippers in the temple courtyard would then sing the Hallel (Ps. 113—118).303 This "water rite" had become a part of the Israelites' traditional celebration of the feast of Tabernacles. Essentially it symbolized the fertility and fruitfulness that the rain brought. In the Old Testament, God likened His blessings in the messianic kingdom to the falling of rain (Ezek. 47:1-7; Zech. 13:1). The Jews regarded God's provision of water in the wilderness and rain in the land as harbingers of His great blessings on the nation under Messiah's reign. Thus the water rite in the feast of Tabernacles had strong messianic connotations.

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