Go and wash in the Siloam.

JOHN 9:5~11

Go and wash in the Siloam.

 

[A] We need to open our spiritual eyes.

v. 5, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 

○ Today I would like to share a message about “Siloam story” from the Gospel according to John, chapter 9 and verse 5 to verse 11.

 

○ We can see things because we have physical eyes. But if there are no lights(sun, moon, stars and artificial lights), we cannot see anything even we have physical eyes. We can see things only if we have any lights. In the darkness we cannot see anything even what is in front of us.

 

○ Likewise, only when we are in the spiritual light, we can see and walk in the way of salvation. OK, let’s read the today’s text verse 5 together, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 

○ “Jesus is the light of the world.” So that means only when we stay in the light of Jesus, we can walk the way. we can know the truth. And we can receive the life.

 

○ In the spiritual world, the light and the darkness co-exist. Only when we accept the light, then the darkness is driven out. Let’s read John 1:5 together “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.” Jesus came to the world as the light. But people in the darkness did not accept the light. Even now, people prefer darkness to light.

 

○ Today’s story is that Jesus healed a man who was born blind. This story gives a message that only when there is the light of Jesus, we can see the real things and the spiritual world. When we accept the light of Jesus, we can discern good from bad. We believers must open our spiritual eyes. So we must grow in faith and we must progress spiritually.

 

[B] Do not forget our spiritual state.

v. 6, “After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.”

 

○ One day as Jesus was walking along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples saw the man together. However, the reaction of Jesus and his disciples to the blind was completely different.

 

○ Jesus thought that how to heal the person. On the other hand, the disciples wanted to find the cause of the blind(v. 2). The difference between Jesus and the disciples is like night and day. This is the difference between divine thought and human thought.

 

○ Jesus kneaded the mud and rubbed and smoothed it over the blind man’s eyes. And Jesus told him, “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” In fact, Jesus intended to give a message to his disciples through the healing of the blind.

 

○ Jesus told them that there are people who have eyes but cannot see. Such people cannot see their sins and dirt. These are the disciples. In fact, the disciples were spiritual blind.

 

○ Many people in the world don’t know the fact that they live in the darkness. So they cannot do God’s work. So they cannot help, care and save their neighbors. Because they belong to darkness, then they deceive, cheat, abuse, and exploit people.

 

○ Likewise, the disciples did not know that they are in the darkness. They did not know that they do not have eyes to see themselves as sinners.

 

[C] Go and wash in the Siloam.

v. 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.

 

○ Where did Jesus say the blind man to go? It was Siloam. OK, let’s read the verse 7 together. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” (this word means “Sent”) So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”

 

○ It was Siloam that Jesus told to the blind, “Go and wash off the mud.” The word Siloam means “Sent” or “One who is sent.”

 

○ Who opened this blind man’s eyes? The mud is not a cure, and the Siloam is not a doctor. The Siloam is a sign. This sign indicates Jesus himself.

 

○ When we go to Jesus, our eyes open and we can find the way to our salvation. When we go to Jesus, our eyes open and we can realize what the truth is. When we go to Jesus, our eyes open and we can receive the life in abundance. Who is Jesus? Jesus is our spiritual Siloam.

 

○ In 2 Kings chapter 5, there was a story of Naaman. Naaman was the commander of the king of Aram. He was a great hero but suffered from leprosy. He was a leper.

 

○ One day he heard the saying that Elisha the man of God would heal him of his leprosy. So that he visited Elisha and obeyed the Elisha’s orders. Then he was clean, he was healed.

 

○ Who is the spiritual Jordan river? The spiritual Jordan is the Lord. So we must sink under the river of the Lord. So we must go deep into the Lord’s words, thoughts, and values.

 

[D] When our spiritual eyes open, we live a new life.

v. 11, He replied, “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.”

 

○ There were four views looking at this miracle. First, the disciples would have been surprised after the healing of the blind, but their disbelief would have remained.

 

○ Second, the Pharisees also could not change their prejudice and could not believe in Jesus.

 

○ Third, the blind man’s parents reacted strange. They said they knew he is their son, but they don’t know what happened to make him see(v. 20). They avoided answering the fact.

 

○ And fourth, the man who was blind before confessed that he opened his eyes boldly and believed in Jesus as the Lord(v. 35~38).

 

○ As this man was bold and grew in faith, when the Lord opened our eyes, we become bold and grow in faith. When our eyes open, we no longer hide in the face of injustice. When our eyes are open, we do not avoid in front of the barrier. When our eyes open, we do not feel timid in front of anyone.

 

○ Elisha opened his eyes and saw horses of fire and chariots of fire of God. So Elisha prayed to Jehovah to blind the Aramean army and the Lord did(2 Kings 6:18~19).

 

○ Stephen also opened his eyes and saw the heavens opened and the Lord standing beside God(Acts 7:56). So he was bold in front of the persecution.

 

○ OK, let’s read the 2 Corinthians 5:17 together, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

 

○ Those who open their eyes see the work of God. Those who open their eyes participate in God’s righteousness. Those who open their eyes do as co-workers and witnesses to the Lord. Those who open their eyes act the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. Those who open their eyes continue to grow in faith and complete the way of salvation. I hope we believers all live a new life in Christ.