Day 6. Sight to the Blind
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"Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. '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 9:6-7
It is related that one day, several summers ago, the Empress of Austria was riding over the countryside in her carriage. A little distance from the road, she saw a woman acting in a strange manner. She soon discovered that the woman was blind, and further, that she was so close to a precipice — that another step might hurl her to her death. The Empress quickly left her carriage and hurried to the poor woman, just in time to save her life.
The world admires the act — but here is one still more beautiful. The King of Glory sees a poor blind beggar sitting in darkness, is moved with compassion for him, and stops to open his eyes.
We here trace the course of Christ with this blind man. He saw him, and was touched by his condition. He came unasked to the blind man, and brought the healing unsought to him. He touched his eyes, bringing Himself as the light of the world — into contact with the man's darkness. So Christ comes first to us, not waiting to be sought. In His incarnation, He brought Himself in contact with our fallen nature to save it. By His Spirit He touches each blind soul that believes, and brings light and salvation to it.
He used means with the blind man, making clay with the spittle, anointing the man's eyes, then sending him to wash. Christ uses means in the opening of men's spiritual eyes also. He sends His grace to us through His Word, through the ordinances, through the touch and love of human friends.
He gave this man something to do, something requiring obedience and action. So He gives the sinner something to do, asking him to believe, to rise up, to wash in the fountain, to confess his Savior, and follow Him into lowly service. Thus, the curing of this blind man illustrates the opening of the spiritual eyes.
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