Sunday 16 March 2025.png
An incident from my early childhood (verified later by my mother) had me re-reading the account of one of Jesus’ more puzzling miracles.
I was probably just a toddler, but for some reason I had an intensely painful stinging wound or skin condition on my face. The family doctor made a house call (we probably had a dinosaur as a pet in those far-off days!) and his prescription has always stuck in my mind. He prescribed powdered aspirin for the pain, and my mother’s saliva for healing! Yes, she had to spit on my face!, hug me close and kiss me to make it better! I do know it worked!
It was the spit part that sent me to John’s Gospel, because Jesus made a similar prescription.
As Jesus walked along, He noticed a man blind from birth, a sight that sparked curiosity among His disciples. They asked, “Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” (John 9:2, NLT).
Their question reflected a deep-seated belief that suffering stemmed from sin, inviting a theological debate about guilt and punishment. But Jesus didn’t take the bait. Instead, He swiftly redirected their focus, saying, “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:3, NLT).
With this, Jesus brushed aside speculation, refusing to entangle Himself in a discussion that would delay the miracle at hand. His priority was clear: to reveal God’s glory through action, not argument.
This moment showcases Jesus’ deliberate choice to bypass theological wrangling. The disciples’ inquiry, though understandable, could have spiraled into a lengthy discourse—Who sinned? Why does suffering exist? Yet Jesus offered no elaborate explanation, no philosophical detour. His response was concise, purposeful, and forward-looking. He saw the blind man not as a puzzle to solve but as an opportunity to demonstrate God’s power. Without pause, He moved straight to the healing, showing that God’s work doesn’t wait for human questions to be settled.
Then came the prescription itself. Jesus spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread it over the blind man’s eyes. He gave a simple command: “Go wash yourself in the Pool of Siloam” (John 9:6-7, NLT). No further instructions, no promises of what would happen—just a directive.
Here, the spotlight shifts to the blind man, whose trust and obedience became the linchpin of the miracle. He couldn’t see Jesus. He didn’t know who this man was or why mud and a trip to the pool mattered. Yet, he didn’t hesitate or demand answers. He trusted Jesus’ words and obeyed, going to the pool, washing as instructed, and returning with sight: “So the man went and washed and came back seeing!” (John 9:7, NLT).
The blind man’s response is a profound example of faith in action.
Consider his situation: blind from birth, dependent on others, now faced with an odd request from a stranger. He had every reason to question—Why mud? Why the pool? What’s the point?—but he didn’t. His obedience wasn’t rooted in understanding or certainty; it was pure trust. This wasn’t passive faith but an active choice to follow Jesus’ command, no matter how strange it seemed. His journey to the Pool of Siloam wasn’t just a physical act—it was a step of faith that unlocked God’s power in his life.
Jesus’ bypassing of debate and the blind man’s trust together form the heart of this story. Jesus didn’t let theological curiosity slow Him down; He acted decisively to heal. The blind man didn’t let uncertainty hold him back; he obeyed immediately to receive.
Their actions reveal a powerful truth: God’s miracles often hinge on moving past questions and stepping forward in faith. While the disciples pondered causes, Jesus and the blind man demonstrated results.
This account challenges us. How often do we get stuck in analysis paralysis asking “why” when God calls us to act? Jesus shows that theological debates, though tempting, can’t overshadow the urgency of God’s work. The blind man teaches that trust and obedience, even without all the answers, open the door to transformation.
Together, they invite us to prioritize action over analysis and faith over doubt, trusting that God’s power shines brightest when we just follow Him without delay.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study