Jesus as the Light of the World: Lessons from the Man Born Blind

In our daily meditations, we are contemplating the miraculous acts of the Lord Jesus. Today, we examine the healing of a man who was born blind.

¹As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing (John 9:1-7).

Jesus as the Great "I AM"

In the previous chapter, Jesus declared that He is the great I AM (John 8:58), the name God told Moses He would be called by (Exodus 3:14). For the Jewish people, it was unthinkable for Jesus to use that same name and declare Himself the Light of the World! How could He claim to be God? They were so outraged by the Lord's assertion about Himself that they tried to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59). Jesus also declared in the previous chapter, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He made this statement about Himself in the temple courts (John 8:2), likely before the four giant candelabra that symbolized God as the One who guided them through darkness during their wilderness wanderings. Notice that Jesus didn't say, "I am a light," but instead, He said, "I am the Light of the World." He exclusively claimed to be Israel's Light. Now, He set out to dispel the darkness from a man born blind to demonstrate that He is the Light of the World.

A Test of Faith: Mud, Saliva, and the Pool of Siloam

Imagine being in the shoes of a man born blind. He could hear the conversation between the Lord and His disciples but couldn’t see what was happening. He likely heard Jesus gather saliva in His mouth and spit it on the ground. I presume the Lord told him He was about to apply something to his eyes. Did he know about Jesus before mud was placed on his eyes? I don’t think so. He later explained, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see” (v. 11).

Radical Obedience: Why the Pool of Siloam Mattered

Sometimes, the Lord tests our obedience to His voice. He may confront your mind to reveal your true heart. How would you feel if someone rubbed mud into your eyes? Do you think the man was offended as he stumbled with dirt covering his eyes, seeking the Pool of Siloam? Likely, some offered him water to wash his face, and others may have laughed at his obedience to the Lord. Was anyone guiding him? We don't know, but regardless of obstacles or guides, he was committed to obeying Jesus. His faith was rewarded when he reached the steps of the pool (located at the bottom of Zion hill). He washed, and instantly, he was healed.

Walking Toward Your Healing in Times of Darkness

How determined are you to hear God’s Word and do His will? What if the man had washed his eyes before arriving at Siloam? I don’t think he would have been healed, and we wouldn't be reading about his obedience to the Lord. Can I encourage you today not to compromise your faith in Christ? In times of great spiritual darkness, hold on to Jesus and walk closely with Him as we stumble toward Siloam. We might not see everything we wish to see, but obedience to Christ yields significant dividends! The end of our faith is well worth obeying His Word. Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is so much more to explore about God’s plan in Jesus and the Man Born Blind, found in the All Studies box under the heading of John's Gospel.

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