John 9: 1-2, Blindness and evil
As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born.
2 Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned? Was this man born blind because he sinned? Or did his parents sin?”
The disciples' question is a natural one. Who is to blame for this calamity. Deep down, we need to blame someone for disasters, so that we can assure ourselves they won't happen to us. In this case, the disciples wonder if the blindness was caused by disobedient sinful parents or by the child himself.
John 9: 3-5, Why is there evil?
“It isn’t because this man sinned,” said Jesus. “It isn’t because his parents sinned. He was born blind so that God’s power could be shown by what’s going to happen.
4 While it is still day, we must do the works of the one who sent me. Night is coming. Then no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
The response of Jesus is not necessarily comforting but closer to the message of the book of Job in the Old Testament: God has plans and, in general, we are not privy to them. Here we are told that this is so that God will be glorified, that God's power will be displayed. (Is this enough to satisfy long distraught parents or the blind man himself?)
The rest of Jesus' message is that for a short time the disciples get to see God clearly at work. He, Jesus, is the light of the world, but darkness will return.
John 9: 6-7, Mud and healing
After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man’s eyes.
7 “Go,” he told him. “Wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Siloam means Sent. So the man went and washed. And he came home able to see.
After answering the disciples' question, Jesus then takes steps to heal the man. In this case, the healing seems to take some extra steps. (Why? Jesus seems to be forcing the man to take some action himself.)
Is there a reason for the parenthetical comment about the name of the pool?
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