Jesus frees us from spiritual blindness
MEDITATION: Do you recognize the light of God’s truth and power in your life? God wants to remove every obstacle that might hinder us from recognizing the light of his truth and wisdom for our lives. Saul, the first king of Israel, failed to recognize God’s light and power to save him from his enemies. God replaced Saul with David, the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. God saw something in David which Jesse and his other sons did not recognize - a man after God’s own heart who delighted in doing what was pleasing to the Lord. David was a man of courage and vision who defeated his enemies and united his people. His strength and success came not from himself but from God who anointed him with the power and wisdom of his own Spirit. What can keep us from the light of God’s truth, wisdom, and strength for our lives? Sin blinds us and causes us to stumble and fall - unable to rise on our own or to walk in the freedom of God’s love and truth. Sin clouds the mind in moral confusion, and it grows in darkness and resists the light of God’s truth. Only God’s light can uncover the darkness of sin and free us to walk in the path of holiness and peace with God.
The light of the world
When the disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth, they asked Jesus what kind of sin had caused this blindness. The Jews had understood that many infirmities were the result of human folly and sin. While sin can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities, not all sickness is the direct result of sin. Sickness can befall us for a variety of reasons. Jesus answered that God had allowed this infirmity for a greater purpose which God wanted to demonstrate as a sign of his presence and power. Jesus then made a claim which only God could rightfully make. Jesus stated unequivocally, I am the light of the world. In so many words Jesus was saying that he is the one true source of power and light which sustains life and overcomes the darkness of sin, confusion, and spiritual blindness. Jesus’ mighty works - his miraculous signs - confirmed the truth of his message and claim to divine authority and equality with his Father in heaven. One of his greatest signs was the healing of a man who had been blind from birth.
Healing of man born blind
When Jesus approached the blind man he first awakened hope in him - the hope which God offers those who seek his help. Jesus then did something quite remarkable for the blind man, both to identify with this man’s misery and to draw expectant faith in him as well. Jesus touched the man’s eyes with his own spittle mixed with dirt and bid him to wash in the Pool of Siloam which was close to the Temple. This pool of fresh flowing water was one of the landmarks of the city of Jerusalem.
What is the significance of the healing of the blind man 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 which Jesus offers through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit. Do you want the Holy Spirit to pour out on you his renewing power of faith, vision, and healing love? The Lord 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.”