What significance does the act of spitting have in John 9:6's healing process? Setting the Scene John 9:6: “When Jesus had said this, He spat on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.” Why Spit and Earth? A Convergence of the Natural and the Divine • Spit is an extension of Jesus’ own body—an unmistakably personal medium. • Dust recalls humanity’s origin. Genesis 2:7: “Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground…” • By mingling His saliva with earth, Jesus reenacts creation on a miniature scale, signaling that the power once used to fashion Adam now opens blinded eyes. Echoes of Old Testament Signposts • Blindness to sight fulfills messianic promise. Isaiah 35:5: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened…” • Spitting on the ground distinguishes this miracle from mere spoken healing, emphasizing that the Messiah employs diverse methods yet one power. Common Near-Eastern Medical Custom Transformed • Ancient physicians sometimes used saliva for eye ailments. • Jesus employs a familiar action yet invests it with divine authority, moving viewers from natural expectation to supernatural result. Intentional Physicality • The blind man cannot see Jesus’ face; he feels the touch. Mud on eyes gives tangible assurance of the coming cure. • Physical contact counters any idea that God’s work is distant or abstract. Progressive Revelation in the Miracle 1. Jesus spits—initiation. 2. He forms mud—creative act. 3. He applies mud—personal involvement. 4. He commands washing (v. 7)—human obedience. 5. Sight is restored—divine completion. The sequence invites the man into cooperative faith, mirroring believers’ journey from darkness to light. Christological Significance • Spit mixed with earth showcases Jesus as both true man (human saliva) and true God (giver of sight). • John 1:3: “Through Him all things were made…” The Creator touches creation again to redeem it. Reflection for Today • No material—however humble—lies outside God’s redemptive reach. • The method may seem lowly, yet the result is unmistakably divine, urging trust in God’s sometimes unexpected means. |
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