What do you believe?

Jesus did a creative miracle, right? New eyes. Maybe as we are made of the dust of the ground (think Adam), maybe the Lord was using the mud as creative material? Who knows, maybe this was Him showing Himself subtly as God? Scripture does say that all things were created through, by, and for Him.

I’ve heard it said too, that sometimes people need a point of contact for their faith. For some it was a shadow of an apostle, another a handkerchief, and yet another the robe of Jesus. The blind man feeling the mud on his eyes, was something tangible. Imagine it had to put some level of anticipation in the blind man; he couldn’t see with mud on his eyes so he would have to wash them to determine if his sight was/would be restored.

Was it an act of faith to go wash that granted the healing? Or was it just Jesus’ authority to heal him and when he washed his eyes he realized that he was healed? The previously blind man recalls Jesus anointing his eyes with mud, and then telling him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. He did it and then his eyes were opened. I don’t know if this man KNEW he was going to wash his eyes to receive sight or if he was just being obedient to the person who just put mud on his eyes and only sensed why?

Was it an act of faith to go wash that granted the healing? Or was it just Jesus’ authority to heal him and when he washed his eyes he realized that he was healed?

Where did it say that in this story?

Why does Jesus ask the man to go to bathe before the miracle would occur while others Jesus instantly healed?

John 9:1-12 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
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.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.

His journey to and the washing at the pool was an act of faith. It was required of him because he was a personification of all who were blind but now see. All who are sent to preach the Word.
Notice that His testimony is the Gospel. Those that hear him become Christians. Further on in the chapter.

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?