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John gives us a literary masterpiece this weekend about sight. Let’s take a closer look. We have a man born blind and the Pharisees want to know the reason. Did the man do something wrong or did his parents?
Jesus provides a critically important spiritual principle. Neither did. Sometimes God allows physical evils (a defect of nature or blindness in this case) so as to bring a greater good out of it.
Next, Jesus spits on the ground and makes mud with his saliva. We wonder, “Jesus, couldn’t you just say the word and heal the man? Why use such nitty-gritty stuff like saliva and mud?” According to the Dead Sea scrolls, God spat on the ground and formed Adam’s body from the clay or mud of the ground. The first man, then, was made from God’s “spit” and from the clay or mud. Hence, we have a kind of creation theme on our hands. Jesus “recreates” the blind man, moving him from darkness (un-creation) to light (creation).
Additionally, Jesus sends the man to the Pool of Siloam to wash. Historically, this was the pool that collected drinking water from the Gihon spring, which was named after one of the rivers in the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:13). Again, we see the creation theme as Jesus recreates this man.
Spiritually speaking, the pool symbolizes baptism. The baptized are “washed and sent.” Siloam means “sent.” Like the man, the baptized are sent on mission to proclaim what Jesus has done for them.
Finally, we see the effects of washing. In the argument between the religious authorities and the man, there is disagreement whether it is really the man. “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” The man says, “I am” or in the Greek “Father Andrie .”
John’s Gospel has seven “I am” statements. “I am the bread of life.” (Jn 6:35). “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). And “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). In other words, now that the man is washed, he is truly beginning to see Jesus. Anointed, the man is an “alter Christus,” or another Christ.
Think of your own baptism. You were washed and anointed with sacred chrism. You are still you, but different. St. Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). You are given the Holy Spirit. God lives in you so that you can see, think and act like Christ.
Jesus is the standard or model of what it means to be human, meaning “to be fully alive.” Notice that whatever challenges, opposition or evil our Lord faces, he always remains calm and brings great good out of it. When the same happens to you, do you have the same perspective?
Finally, the blind man moved from seeing Jesus as just a man, then as a prophet and finally, to One worthy of worship. Do you see Jesus in this way? As Lord, Jesus always remains in control, and in his wisdom and power, brings good out of evil. Whatever you are going through, may Jesus help you see how he is at work that you may remain confident in him.
Father Andrie is pastor of St. Therese in Deephaven. He can be reached at [email protected].
Sunday, March 27
Fourth Sunday of Lent
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