THE Saviour had just delivered Himself from the malice of His enemies, who took up stones to cast at Him because He declared Himself the “I am.” As He passed by, He noticed a man who had been blind from birth (John 9) The disciples inquired whose sin was responsible for this infliction—the man’s, or his parents’? They were as narrowminded as Job’s three friends, who regarded suffering as a special mark of divine displeasure, having no other thought as to it. The Saviour pointed out a higher purpose― “that the works of God should be manifest in him.” The man’s misery furnished occasion for the display of divine power and goodness.
He forthwith proceeded to heal him, adopting on this occasion methods altogether unique. He spat on the ground, made clay of the spittle, put it as ointment upon his eyes, and then bade him wash in the pool of Siloam, “which is by interpretation, ‘Sent.’” Healing resulted immediately. But what is there for us in this extraordinary record? The clay symbolizes our Lord’s lowly humanity; the water is an emblem of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-3937In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37‑39)). Thus when a man apprehends by the Spirit’s aid the momentous fact that the mighty God became human for his salvation, and that He who walked here abased was indeed the ‘Sent’ One of the Father, his spiritual blindness is dispelled forever. He forthwith begins to see, and everything becomes viewed in its true light. The Gospel is designed to open men’s eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:1818To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)). The Gospel is not a mere system of doctrines, nor is it simply a moral code; it is God’s testimony to men concerning His beloved Son―God and man in one person, once the suffering Surety, but now glorified in the highest heaven.
The healed man was soon challenged by his neighbors as to his recovered sight. He could only reply that “a man called Jesus” had thus blessed him. The religious leaders then took up the matter and soon manifested their bitter animus against the gracious Healer. Proofs of His power were not wanting, but they were in no humor to acknowledge His divine mission, let the proofs be ever so many. The parents parried their inquiries, dreading excommunication, the usual resort of prejudiced ecclesiastics when Scripture and reason alike fail them. In their examination of the man himself, the Pharisees affected to honor Moses, and even God also, but both at the expense of the Lord Jesus, Whose dishonor was their undeviating aim. The man’s simplicity irritated them. His expression of surprise that so great a wonder should be wrought in the land, and the professed exponents of God’s truth unable to decide from whence the power came; and His guileless reason that his Healer must at least be a worshipper of God and a doer of His will galled them beyond endurance. Accordingly they cast him out, saying in their offended pride, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?”
They could not have conferred upon the poor fellow a greater boon, little as they intended it. The cast-out sheep was soon found by the Good Shepherd, despised and rejected as himself. When his Deliverer revealed Himself to him as the Son of God he fell at His feet adoringly, saying, “Lord, I believe.” Religion is as hostile to the Son of God now as in the days of His humiliation; but why need we concern ourselves with its moral and spiritual blindness when there is sufficiency in the Saviour outside of it all to satisfy the need of every longing soul?