5/19/11 John 9:6- 9

⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 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.
⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

(Pool of Siloam, Bibleplaces.com Todd Bolen)

Thoughts: Jesus spit- made a salve and put it on the man's eyes.  Jesus was not opposed to salves, or potions or medicine that we know of.  But in a time in which medicine and knowledge were weak, Jesus helped beyond what humans could dream to do.  One missionary long ago told me of a South American tribe that had a missionary for many years, but would not respond to the gospel.  One day the missionary read this passage and hundreds came to Christ.  The tribes witchdoctors were called "spitters" because they would spit and heal people.  When they read this, they said aloud, "Jesus is the Chief Spitter!"  The missionary said he didn't know for sure why Jesus spit to heal this man, but maybe it was to reach that tribe with the love of God.  Jesus heals- not only with spittle, but most of all with His Good News.

Prayer:  Strengthen me with your love and grace, O Lord. 

John Calvin Abridged: Jesus appears to heal the eyes in an absurd way.  For he anoints them with clay blocking even more vision.  The blind man, by faith in the simple word of God, is fully convinced of Christ's healing he hastens to go to the place commanded and washes. As God the Father made us from clay, so Christ heals with clay.