September 7

The Blind Man’s Obedience

Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing. — John 9:7 BSB

We should take note of the promptness of this blind man’s obedience. Picture him rising from his place, with the mud on his eyes, being led through the streets by someone. People probably laughed at him as he went along, but he didn’t care. Jesus had told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash, and that’s exactly what he was doing. The blessing of receiving his sight was worth any trouble it might take to go after it. He wasn’t going to let people’s laughter rob him of the cure that was so near.

Some likely told him it was all foolishness—that mud couldn’t cure blindness and that the water from Siloam had no special power. Yet, he pressed on through the streets, ignoring the sneers, until he reached the pool. He washed, and as he did, his eyes, which had never seen, were opened. For the first time, he saw the beauty around him—the sky, the hills, the colors, and the faces of people. His faith was rewarded.

There’s a clear lesson here for us. This man’s faith, walking through the streets to the pool, illustrates the kind of faith every sinner must have in obeying Christ to receive spiritual sight. People may scoff and ask, “What good is it to trust Christ and follow His way?” But like the blind man, the result is the opening of spiritual eyes to see the beauty of God’s kingdom, which had been so near all along. Faith always has its reward.