The mikvah is a ceremonial bath used in ritual cleansing or purification. The Pool of Siloam was such a bath. It was required that the mikvah be supplied by running water and that the person would be immerced in order to fulfill the purification requirement. The Jew would enter one side of the mikvyah, enter the water being fully immersed and then proceed to leave the pool by the other side. He would then proceed to the Temple for worship. The pool of Siloam is fed by a conduit that is cut for a distance of 1,780 feet through solid rock, which starts at the so-called Virgin's Spring (En-rogel) or Gihon Spring. The reason for which it was cut is unmistakable. The Virgin's Spring is the only spring of fresh water in the immediate neighborhood of Jerusalem, and in time of siege it was important that, while the enemy should be deprived of access to it, its waters should be made available for those who were within the city. We cannot be sure that this immediately followed the events of Chapter Eight when the Jews sought to stone Him. John records in verse 2 that Jesus' disciples were with Him and they are not mentioned in Chapter Eight. This could have happened the same day or later. Robertson writes, based on the grammar of the words "as Jesus passed by" this was a later event.

          The area near the Pool of Siloam was a busy area with lots of people passing by daily. The blind man was probably there begging for alms. The area near the Pool of Siloam was a busy area with lots of people passing by daily. The blind man was probably there begging for alms and as an adult and born he would have had no other way to support himself. As Jesus and the disciples passed they saw the man and asked ". . . who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"

           It was a common belief of the Jews that parents who were sinful or amiss in their obedience to God or religious duties could past the results of their sin on to their unborn children. Therefore a child born with some physical imperfection was seen as suffering from the sins of the parents. Some held to the false view of pre-existence in which the child in its pre-existence sinned and therefore caused the deformity in his present life. This gives us some insight into the religious views of the Jews which came from the teachings of the Pharisees. Although they were informed about the law, they were clearly deficient in their understanding of origins of sin. Romans 5:12 explains "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12) When Adam sinned, as the progenitor of the human race he sinned and passed to all men the nature to sin. Every man then is born with a "carnal"or nature to sin which means to"miss the mark." (John 9:2-4) Jesus' did not address their false beliefs, but simply stated that neither this man nor his parents had sinned. Paul explained "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." (Romans 7:5) The term "flesh" refers to the carnal or sinful nature of man which is the source of all wrong doing and rebellion. A man in his natural unregenerated state can only do what his nature allows him to do. Paul explicates writing "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) The unbeliever in his natural state has no spiritual nature, which is the nature of God received by the baptism of the Holy Spirit being born again when a person believes in Jesus Christ for their salvation. (John 9:2-4) Jesus used a common used phrase which compares day and night to life and death. While it was day and light, He was alive and able to accomplish God's will. However, Jesus predicts His death referring to it as night when men cannot work because of the darkness.

           Jesus literally states He was light to the world as long as He was in the world. Luke explains why Jesus came into the world "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79) John also explains "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) Jesus as the Light of the world is referring to the truth that He was the Messiah come to earth to free men from the curse of sin and death. The truth was the light. John 1:1 says Jesus was the Word (Logos) which means the truth and is called "light." One can see this truth John 3:19 "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:21) The word "light" has a further function in the enabling of the believer to respond to the truth and apply it in his life. John further tells us that a man can reject and actually hate the light because of his love of sin.

           Jesus when He had said this demonstrated His ministry of showing Himself as the Messiah by performing a miracle in healing the blind man. Jesus could have simply spoken and the blink man would have received his sight, but Jesus had a reason for spitting on the ground and placing the wet clay on the man's eyes. He directed the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeyed the Lord and was instantly healed as he washed in the pool.

           People who had physical deformities were seen as unclean and their present would defile the Temple area because their imperfection countered the purity of God. Leviticus 21:17-21 restricted man having any physical affliction from serving as a priest. Even physically normal people were required to be washed clean before they could enter the Mount. This washing was done in the Pool of Siloam. The blind man then would not have been allowed to enter the Temple area. There Jesus told him to go to the pool and wash in the pool of Siloam. The Lord did not say for him to wash his eyes, but simply to wash which because of the custom would mean to immerse himself completely in the water.

           Once the man entered the pool and washed his received his sight. John's record simply matter of factly states the events, but this must have cause quite a stir with the people who witnessed this and also with the once blind man. We cannot imagine what his reaction was when the clay was washed away and for the first time in his life he open his eyes and saw his surroundings. It would be an understatement to say he greatly rejoiced in now being able to see.

           His "neighbors" meaning fellow Jews who knew of his blindness now saw him walking around and that he now could see. It seems in astonishment they said to one another "Isn't this the man who was blind and sat and begged?" His healing could have changed his appearance and therefore brought into question if this was the once blind beggar. Many blind people have deformed or discolored eyes. However, the man healing we complete and he was made whole totally cured and was not immediately recognized. Some said this was the man and other were not so sure. However, the man who had sat and begged for such a long time spoke and emphatically declared, "I am he."

           The group then asked the obvious question "How did you receive your sight?" The man replied explained that the man named Jesus had anointed his eyes with clay and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and he had washed as he was told and could not see. It is well to note that in the man's account he did not mention Jesus spiting and making the clay he placed on the man's eyes. The reason seem clear that the man being blind did not see what Jesus did, but only knew he had place the moist clay on his eyes. This seemingly minor detail shows the accuracy of God's word.

           Those present now asked the man where was Jesus? Apparently, the Jesus had not followed the man to the pool and the man did not know where Jesus was now.

           The people who had witnessed the healing and had questioned the man then took him to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the religious and civil leaders of the people and this wonderful and unusual event warranted the man being shown to the Jewish rulers. The Pharisees as Robertson states were the accepted professional teachers who posed as knowing everything so it would logical to bring the matter to them for an explanation. Thus the rulers proceeded in questioning the man and asked how he had received his sight. The man again recounts that he had obeyed Jesus and now could see.

           This is an interesting point, because Jesus had been telling these same men to believe on Him and follow or obey His teachings. Of course they had refused. Now standing before them was a man born blind who obeyed and the result was Jesus had healed Him. The point could not be mistaken that this proved that believing and obeying Christ had a positive effect.

           The Pharisees showed the hearts by immediately, even upon seeing the results of a true miracle of God standing before them, condemned Jesus because He healed on the Sabbath. They concluded that Christ could not be of God because He had broken the Sabbath. But the truth was that Jesus had not violated the Sabbath, but one of their man made self-righteous laws. The law gave provision for the rescue of even animals who needed help.

           The miracle could not be denied that this man born blind had received his sight when he obeyed Jesus. Some blatantly denied Him, and others being more honest concluded that a "sinner" could not do such miracles. There was division among them. Throughout history when Jesus is presented, taught, or preached there is a division among those who hear of Him. In our politically correct Western society to mention the name of Jesus bring sharp reaction. Jesus Christ was not politically correct when He was on earth and has not been even to our day. He is in direct opposition to the atheistic society that denies godly moral principles and upholds every sin and perversion of man. Jesus is in our day is being received by our government and leaders in society in the same way He was when He was on earth. His message is the same today, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) Sinful men do not like to be rebuked and their sin and warned of the eventuality of their end in hell.

           Note what Matthew records was Jesus' instructions to His disciples when He sent them forth to preach the kingdom. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." (Matthew 10:33-35) (Also see Luke 12:51)

           In contrast Jesus when He told the disciples of the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) The different in the responses to Jesus Christ is that some believe Him as the Holy Spirit begins conviction to their hearts. Others, so harden by their sin shut up their hearts and minds to the truth and reject the Lord. They do not truth stand in the way of their unbelief. It is interesting that those who reject Him almost always are greatly offended outwardly and respond with attacks meant to discredit Him. Their response shows that deep down they do know the truth, but refuse to openly admit it. Thus they quench the convicting power of the Holy Spirit in a foolish attempt to justify themselves.

           Again, as if they could somehow disprove what they knew to be true they continued their interrogation of the blind man again asking him what was their explanation of who Jesus was and what He had done. The blind man responded that Jesus was a prophet. In Israel's history it was the prophets that God has used to speak to the people and do miracles or signs before them. The clear implication was that the believed that Jesus was a prophet sent from God. Still seeking to disprove the miracle they refused to believe the man had been born blind so they call his parents to continue their examination.

"And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now

           Clearly, the parents did not help the unbelieving Jews in discrediting the Jesus. They simply but tactfully replied that the man was their son and that he was born blind. But whether they knew the details of how their son had received his sight or not, they did say. In their defense, it is possible did not know any more than their son had related to them. They said they did not know who or how he had received his sight, but that he was of age and responsible for himself. As an adult he could legally testify for himself before the court. John records the parents would not respond further because the Jewish leaders had said they would cast anyone out of the synagogue if they confessed that Jesus was the Messiah. It could be that his parents realizing the great miracle of their son receiving his sight believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but were not willing to publicly commit themselves to being believers.

           John does not identify those the parents feared as the Jewish rulers, but simply s the calls them "Jews" This passage provides strong evidence of the technical use of the term "the Jews." Doubtless these parents were Israelites, but they were not "Jews" in the sense of being part of the ruling class. The title "Jews" in this context was identifying the hierarchical and ecclesiastical-political authorities and not the populace of the nation of Israel.

           False churches, and Christian cults always practiced excommunication. It is a way to control their members and maintain their authority. However, salvation is between a man and God and it is God who imparts salvation to a man and if received it is eternal. Even God does not practice excommunication. Further, God has not given any church, which is biblically an assembly of believers, the authority to give or take alway salvation. Churches can and should practice "church discipline" which means breaking fellowship with members who are in open sin and refuse to repent. Church members who openly and publicly sin bring dishonor to the name of Christ and the congregation. In order to return them to fellowship with the Lord and to not condone sin, the local church is instructed to disfellowship them.

           Four times the Jewish rulers ask the man who was healed to denounce Jesus. What a paradox that they would instruct him to give God the praise for his being healed, but to brand Jesus, who was the means of his healing as a sinner. The could not deny the miracle had occurred by blinded by their pride and self-righteous arrogance refused to accept that Jesus had healed him. To do so would have been to admit Jesus' claims as being the Messiah, the Son God as being true. They condemned Jesus as a sinner, which meant He had nothing to do with the healing. They based their condemnation on His healing a man on the Sabbath day. The man simply replied he did not know whether Jesus was a sinner or not, but he absolutely knew he could now see. Still seeking some justification for their aspersion of Jesus' character they ask the man again what had Jesus done and how he had opened his eyes. It seems they were trying desperately to get the man to say Jesus was the Messiah, whereas they then could cast him out of the synagogue and discredit him.

           Most believers have the same response to their receiving salvation. Whereas the sinner was once blind to God's truth and salvation, now through the miracle of redemption their eyes are opened and they can see the truth. We can not the biblical facts of that God saves the sinner, but we cannot comprehend God's act beyond what we know. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Can we truly fathom the love of God that He would suffer and die, paying for the sins of the one who sins against Him? The statement is rhetorical and the answer is "No" we cannot truly grasp the infinite love of God that saves the sinner, but we can be grateful and praise God for His mercy and grace.

           Each time the man is questioned his answers get better. This fourth time the man responses with great wisdom and also some indignation in their persistence in not accepting his answers. The once blind man asked them why they wanted to hear his answer again and added, "is it you want to be His disciples." There can be no question the man was rebuking them for their obstinance. His rebuke brought a swift response form his questioners as they began to revile him, which means the tone of their questions changed to being abusive and contemptuous as they accuse him of being Christ's disciple.

           The replied they were Moses' disciples and they knew God had spoken to Moses and given him the law. But Jesus had supposedly broken the law and thus He, in their blinded eyes, could not from God. If we go back to John 3:1, we can see the deception and bias in their statement. Nicodemus saw Jesus' miracles and knew that no one could do these miracles unless God was with Him. We see the same understanding among the people in Luke 7:11f when Jesus raised the son of he widow from Nain from the dead. "And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people." (Luke 7:16)

           The man then, clearly led of the Holy Spirit begins to boldly preach to these self-righteous Jewish leaders. He points out vividly the foolishness of their denying that Jesus was from God. These were not merely ignorant common men, but the elite of Israel; those who were superior in knowledge and position in Israel. Yet this beggar, with no formal training, scorns their arrogance and exposes their unwarranted prejudice against Jesus. The man brilliantly presents a vital principle of biblical interpretation that any conclusion as to the meaning of an biblical event or statement must be interpreted in the analogy of the faith. He did this by pointing out the irrefutable fact that God does not hear sinners. That means God cannot bless error or be a party to the works of a man unless the work is in line with God's principles. The man reminds them that Isaiah prophetically stated, speaking of the latter days, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:5-6) Many times Isaiah refers to the spiritually blind and deaf having their eyes and ears opened to God's truth. (See Isa. 29:18) But in Chapter 35 the context is plainly addressing the physical blessings that God would give Israel in the promised kingdom (the Millennium). Isaiah 32:1 sets the context for Chapters 32-36 , which begins this discourse of s a Messianic prophecy "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment." (Isaiah 32:1) The "king" is the promised coming Messiah. Therefore Isaiah prophesied of the great miracles and prosperity that would accompany the coming of the Messiah. The wonder of the once blind man's statement is that he was apparently aware of God promises, but the biblical scholars of Israel where not. One thing he reminded the rabbi was never in history had a man born blind received his sight. Only God could heal and restore the a blind man's sight, thus there was no grounds for their statements that Jesus was a sinner or that God was not with Him.

           As mentioned earlier, the response of the carnal heart, when exposed, is always to personally attack the one who reveals their error. Note the rulers did not address the man's statements, but judged the man as born in sin and therefore not worthy to instruct them who presented themselves as the spiritual leaders of Israel. The phrase "born in sin" refers back to 9:2 which was the question the disciples asked. They meant the man was a vile sinner who had sinned in some pre-existence or whose parents had sinned, thus disqualifying the man from having any spiritual incite or to address them who were the religious class of Israel.

           Their response was to excommunicate him from the synagogue which also meant he was ostracized from Jewish society as well. They effectively branded the man as the worst of sinners and unfit to be among the rest of Jewry.

           The excommunication was a serious matter and was done publicly as to be a warning to others. It can be assumed the man was somewhat distraught over what had happen even knowing that he was right. Jesus of course knew immediate what had transpired, but before His disciples and the people showed His compassion and went to where the man was to further instruct him.

           Jesus' question to the man perfectly and absolutely presents God's plan of salvation. Jesus asks the simply question "Do you believe on the Son of God?" He did not ask the man what religious works he had done, or even of the man's character. Jesus asked the crucial question? "Do you believe." As baffling as it was to the once blind man, that the Pharisees after seeing Jesus miracles would questioned that Jesus was from God, is that so many churches and religious leaders of today ignore that salvation is by faith alone apart from works. Yet, so many in Christendom, mix belief and works thus presenting a false Gospel. Jesus went to the man to instruct him in how he could be saved. If salvation was of belief plus works, such as baptism, church membership, sacraments or any other rite or religious act why did not Jesus explain this to the man? The answer is plain...salvation is be belief by faith alone in the Son of God who offers believers redemption, forgiveness of sins and eternal life as His free gift. God says:

           Jesus Himself said to Nicodemus when He instructed Him in how to be born again:

           The man asked Jesus who is the Son of God that he could believe in Him. There can be no question that Jesus asserted His deity and position to the man. Jesus said to the man he had seen the Son of Man and it was He who was speaking to him. The man both spiritually and physically was seeing Jesus the Christ and He savingly believed on Him. The man response was perfect evidence of true salvation, in that He immediately worshiped Jesus. This man though not formally trained was instructed enough in the matters of God to know that one only worships God. To worship any other that God was blasphemy. Always the man whose eyes are spiritually opened to who Jesus is will bow before Him. The man's earlier statement to the Jewish leaders now takes on great significance when he said, " . . . whereas I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25b)

           Jesus' instructions to the man was not done in private as verse 40 shows. Listening on the side lines were some of the Pharisees who heard Jesus' words. For their benefit Jesus stated that He had not come to bring judgment, but to open the eyes of the spiritually blind. It is amazing that for days now the religious leaders had railed on Jesus, belittled and humiliate Him, but He in His mercy and grace explains to these men He had not come to judge them unto condemnation, but to show them the truth. Once again their response exposed their true spiritual condition. With indignance and pride they asked Jesus were they too blind?

           How often does one see the blindness which causes those false religious leaders and cults to be offended when the truth is presented. In their pride they considered themselves to be far superior to other men as the knowledgeable spiritual leaders of the Jews. Their position in their minds put them far beyond any self examination or possibility of being in error. The illustration fits perfectly that is often heard that if a rock is thrown into a pack of dogs the one who is hit is the one who howls. Clearly, truth had struck home and they lashed out in a vain defense.

           Jesus candidly responded that, "yes" they were blind. He explains that because they denied they were sinners they were guilty of their sin. This presents another vital part of how salvation is received. Only the person admits to being a sinner will see the need for forgiveness and God's mercy. The self-righteous and confident in their worthiness of God's favor, thus they see no need of grace. Jesus had just told the man who was healed that salvation was by faith in Him as the Son of God. The Pharisees denied Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and their unbelief was vividly apparent . Thus their denial of His miracles and message being of God, showed the hardness of their hearts and therefore their sins could not forgiven. God cannot save the unrepentant.