What does John 9:6 mean?

Explanation

John 9:6 describes an episode where Jesus performs a miracle to heal a man who was blind from birth.

The verse captures the method Jesus used for the healing - spitting on the ground to create mud with the saliva, and then applying this mud to the blind man's eyes.

Beyond the literal event of Jesus using a mixture of spit and dirt to anoint the eyes of the blind man, there is a deeper meaning that can be interpreted in various ways.

The action of Jesus combines natural elements with his divine power to effect a miracle, linking creation (earth) with Creator (Christ) and suggesting a physical action as an outward sign of divine intervention and spiritual restoration.

Historical Context

The events of John 9 occurred during the time of Jesus' ministry in the early first century. In the cultural context of the period, saliva was sometimes considered to have medicinal or healing properties. The use of mud made from spittle could be seen as a common folk remedy.

Additionally, the act of Jesus performing a healing on the Sabbath is significant, since it leads to controversy with the Pharisees who accuse him of breaking Sabbath laws (John 9:14-16).

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse epitomizes the idea that Jesus is the light of the world who brings sight to the spiritually blind.

Christian Perspective: The act of Jesus mixing his saliva with dirt to form clay can be seen as a symbolic re-enactment of the creation story in Genesis, where God forms man from the dust of the ground. The healing act can signify a new creation or a form of rebirth for the blind man.

Catholic Perspective: Some theologians may interpret this sacramentally, suggesting that physical elements can serve as vehicles of divine grace.

Protestant Perspective: A symbolic interpretation can be that humanity is blind in sin, and only through Jesus, represented by the light that allows physical sight, can one gain spiritual enlightenment.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a reminder of the importance to have faith in the midst of what can seem like nonsensical or illogical circumstances.

Just as the blind man obeyed Jesus without knowing the outcome, individuals are encouraged to trust in God's processes, even when they don't understand them.

The passage also encourages believers to acknowledge Jesus' power to work in unconventional ways.

Cross-References

• Genesis 2:7 (KJV): "And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
• Mark 8:23-25 (KJV): "And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought."

Language Study

The original Greek text of the New Testament employs specific terms in John 9:6:

• Eptysen: Translates to "He spat," highlighting the action that Jesus took.
• Pelos: Refers to "clay" or "mud," indicating the material formed by Jesus from the ground and spit.
• Epethesen: Means "he applied" or "anointed," suggesting a deliberate and purposeful action by Jesus on the eyes of the blind man.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, saliva was often seen as having healing properties.

The Greco-Roman world sometimes viewed spit as a means to ward off evil or treat ailments.

In the context of other religions, physical elements are also often used symbolically, such as water in baptism or the Hindu practice of using ash during rituals.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, there is no evidence to suggest that saliva mixed with dirt has inherent healing properties for blindness.

The healing described in John 9:6, would thus be considered a miraculous event, distinct from naturalistic explanations and understood as an act of divine intervention.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have provided varying insights on John 9:6:

Matthew Henry: He makes an allegorical interpretation that Christ is the light of the soul and, without Him, we are in a state of darkness.

William Barclay: Suggests that the story shows the power of Jesus to use even the simplest substances to create miracles, emphasizing faith over physical means.

Raymond E. Brown: In his commentary, he focuses on the symbolism of the action and interprets it as Jesus bringing spiritual sight to those who are spiritually blind.