John 9:6-7

"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. 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" John 9:6-7

Jesus continually defies anyone's ability to put Him in a box. Sometimes He healed by touching the afflicted part. Other times He simply spoke the word and it was done. He could do that locally or from a great distance - it made no difference to Him which way He worked His miracles.

In today's verses, He makes a mud ball and places it on the eyes of the blind man. Then He tells the man to go wash in the "Pool of 'Sent.'" What is the significance of the washing? What is the meaning of being sent to this particular pool? Why couldn't the man have washed in the nearest ceremonial water pot - like the ones at the wedding feast at Cana? For these questions there are no easy answers - and most likely no real answer at all. But, one thing is clear; Jesus could do wonders with a bit of mud! The man went obediently to the pool of Siloam and returned seeing!

This miracle reminds me of Naaman when he was told by Elisha to "go wash in the Jordan" and he would be healed. Naaman at first refused to do this silly thing. "Aren't the rivers of Damascus much better - and much cleaner than that muddy stream in Israel?" But the wisdom of Naaman's servants prevailed and Naaman was healed of his dreaded affliction.

Either story points out some of the apparent ridiculousness of Jesus' requirements for healing. Mud? Wash? What good will that do? Why can't Jesus just speak the word and let it happen? I wonder what the blind man thought when he felt the warm clay touch his eye. Did the healing start then? Was it instantaneous? Did it happen on the way to the pool? Did it happen when the man washed his face? Again we ask questions and receive no answers - because there are none.

However, we can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that if either man had failed to wash in the designated body of water, healing would not have taken place. Why? The answer lies in obedience. Both obeyed. Only then did the result become evident. Does that mean we can earn our way to heaven by obedience? Hardly - unless that obedience is part of the command of Jesus to us.

He does tell us to "be baptized" and we shall be saved. Some ask, "What does taking a dip in a pool of water have to do with salvation?" Nothing. There is no "magic" in the water that purifies the sin-sick soul. The only thing water does is provide a test of our obedience and our faith. The real question is this: Do we trust Jesus to lead us in the right paths? If that means doing something the world would say is "foolish," do we balk and refuse? Or, do we boldly march where no worldly man will go - and taste of God's glory? Naaman chose to wash seven times in the Jordan. The blind man chose to wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam. Both were healed. That is sufficient evidence for me. I will obey when Jesus says, "Go!" Hallelujah, Amen
and Amen.