The Pool of Siloam
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Jesus heals the man who was born blind
John 8:6-12
Then he spat on the ground and made mud from the spittle and smoothed the mud over the blind man’s eyes, and told him, “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam” (the word Siloam means “sent”). So the man went where he was sent and washed and came back seeing!
His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Is this the same fellow—that beggar?”
Some said yes, and some said no. “It can’t be the same man,” they thought, “but he sure looks like him!”
And the beggar said, “I am the same man!”
Then they asked him how in the world he could see. What had happened?
And he told them, “A man they call Jesus made mud and smoothed it over my eyes and told me to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash off the mud. I did, and I can see!”
“Where is he now?” they asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
The Pool of Siloam was built by Hezekiah. His workers constructed an underground tunnel from a spring outside the city walls to carry water into the city. Thus the people could always get water without fear of being attacked. This was especially important during times of siege (see 2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30).
Steps of Faith
Jesus’ miracles were meant to strengthen people’s faith and lead them to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Christ’s miracles were significant, not just because of their power, but because of their purpose—to help, to heal, and to point people to God. This man’s simple act of faith in going to wash, as Jesus instructed, resulted in his restored sight. Faith is a step between promise and assurance. Miracles seem so out of reach for our feeble faith. But every miracle, large or small, begins with an act of obedience. We may not see the solution until we take the first step of faith.
