What an odd question we think. Disciples of Jesus ask Him as they observe a man blind from birth. Their rabbi instructs them that neither the sin of the man nor the sin of his parents caused his blindness. Then amazingly Jesus puts mud on the man’s eyes and sends him to the pool of Siloam, where the man will regain his sight!
3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
John 9:5 NIV – instruction of the Messiah Jesus
6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him,
“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent).
So he went away…
Light sent to darkness
Beginning with my title which seems not to translate in English, look once more to John 9:6. “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). – NASB
Therefore: Jesus – True Light (sent to) the Darkness.
Do not miss in His miracle the Messiah’s mission of purpose. Jesus Siloam – Jesus is sent to our world of darkness from which Light has been hidden.
John’s Gospel reminds us of translation into the Greek from Hebrew Scripture. Isaiah 8:6 serves the Jews a background of the famous pool of Siloam (see-low-awm’) in Jerusalem.
Sent to – Jesus sent the blind man with ‘mud in the eyes’to wash, just as Isaiah chastised those Jews who refuse to obey the LORD.
He did not send the blind man to Siloam to be healed. The pool of Siloam did not give the blind man the Light of his sight. The Lord Jesus sent him to it and by the blind man’s obedience he was healed by the Lord.
First century Jerusalem, Ephesus (where John likely penned the Gospel), Judea and Palestine were all places where many people were multilingual. They had to be. Latin speaking Romans ruled many lands, but Rome governed locally with the international language of the day, Greek.
In Jerusalem where Hebrew remained the language of faith, Jews also conversed daily in several local Aramaic dialects, but the language of commerce was Greek.
When John writes, “Siloam” (which is translated, Sent), the Apostle uses a Greek word which should sound familiar to the Christian of this day: apostellō, ἀποστέλλω related to the word “Apostle,” ἀπόστολος – apostolos.
Later, Jesus will instruct His Apostles:
“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
John 13:15-16 NASB – instructions of Jesus to His Apostles
This cleansing prior to His crucifixion is also related to sending out the Apostles into the darkness of this world.
What does cleansing have to do with sin? Can purification in the baths and pools wash the guilt from your past? Was John’s baptism more than just ritual purification?
All point to the Light of Life, permanent change sanctifying a sinful flesh to be HOLY in the Presence of the LORD GOD.
The Apostle John later notes at a time the Jews are plotting to kill Jesus what seems an insignificant detail to 21st century readers:
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. – John 11:55 NIV
This is a tradition-filled history familiar to the listeners of Jesus at the time the Lord healed this man blind from birth.
In order to understand the importance of this cleansing, ritual purification or baptism, next we will examine another mention of Siloam from Luke’s Gospel.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 NKJV
As these days of darkness slowly impinge upon the light which brought joy to our days and shortened our nights, we despair. The enemy somehow has taken hold in the stealth during the unwatched hours before dawn’s light. In days past an armor for the battle at hand would have lain nearby, but not this evil eve of a day we dread and denied could ever dawn.
The mist of the valleys of death’s shadows billows toward our resting place, while evil awakes nearby the tents of huddled men of flesh naked to assault without watchman or armor. Because this day of evil will soon commence, a day of the enemies choosing, not ours, we should have stayed alert with armor at hand. But the battles of darkness have wearied our flesh and the sound of the trumpet alarms the unprepared warriors bereft of their armor.
War
We never saw it coming. And the unseen awful creatures of the unseen darkness, even those of the light which stand with us, we never saw.
Yet these also stand in a battle – a struggle of spirits; those of light and those of darkness, all vying for victory in the war to come.
I heard the second living creature say, “Come! ”
Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another.
And a large sword was given to him.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 6:3b-4 CSB
The LORD God prepares His faithful and sends out His angels. The victory was won at the Cross, but these final battles are not yet fought.
Even now, angels of the prince of darkness would lure your soul, captive in this failing flesh, toward the false light of the fires of darkness deep in the valley of the shadow of death.
You don’t believe in this, you say – evil spirits and angels. Just fearful myth, you say, since the evil one has already questioned God in your ear.
Yet the spirit of true light, the shining hope of the resurrection of the dead and judgment of death and evil tells us the truth of eternity.
Light
Genesis 1:
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Formless and empty – does this describe your mortal life? What shape have your battles of this frail flesh taken – defeat?
Yes, defeat in inevitable death.
Darkness covered the surface of the watery depths…
As you sleep so briefly, lightly the enemy lurks in the mist of dark valleys. He plans his battle against you, helpless prey to sin and death.
The deceiver whispers to your restless soul as he once whispered to man before our original sin, ‘Did God really say “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of an unformed universe?”
‘I wonder,’ you think.
‘My theory of life need not include a Creator of separation of light from darkness – of good from evil.’
Then God said, “Let there be light,”
and there was light.
God saw that the light was good,
and God separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:3-4 CSB
The Light of Good News
You worship self or you worship things and traditions of men who have died. Perhaps a false prophet or spirit of an evil age gave your fathers excuse to deny God, your reason to reject the LORD’s own love for His creation.
Though you have heard of the Gospel, you turn away from the eternal Light of your only hope.
The Gospel of John
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
In him was life,
and that life was the light of men.
That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. = John 1:1-5
So much darkness and deceit in these last days… God help us.
They have heard the Gospel of John, yet their hateful words and stopped-up ears fail to discern the darkness to come.
This is the judgment:
The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
The Word after John 3:16 – John 3:19-21 CSB
Jesus spoke to them again:
“I am the light of the world.
Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Gospel of John 8:12 CSB
The Armor of the Redeemed
“He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light.”
Job 33:28
You may not believe the supernatural battles spoken in scripture, the heavenly scenes of Job, Ezekiel and others. Certainly you doubt the earthly battles of God’s redeemed.
Yet only a man or woman of foolish flesh will deny the truth of death and the good judgment of a righteous justice of the souls of man.
Those asleep in these last days must heed the warnings of Almighty God through Scripture.
The metaphor of God’s armor required to resist the evil one stands as preparation for all who seek the light of day.
Warnings of the evil to come
The LORD will destroy evil just as before, even using warriors of the enemy to purge the sin from the chosen.
Jeremiah 46:
3 Deploy small shields and large; approach for battle! 4 Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish the lances; put on armor!
5 Why have I seen this? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are crushed, they flee headlong, they never look back, terror is on every side! This is the Lord’s declaration.
… We stumble at midday as in the twilight; Among those who are healthy we are like dead men.
14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far off. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. 15 Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil is plundered. The Lord saw that there was no justice, and he was offended.
17 He put on righteousness as body armor, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. 18 So he will repay according to their deeds:
“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord:
“My Spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forever,” says the Lord.
Isaiah 59:21 CSB
The Armor of Light
Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.”
He said this, and then he told them,
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.”
The Gospel of John: 9b-11 CSB
Ephesians
This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Darkness verses Light — that is, evil opposing good, the rebellious turned against redemption and Christ’s enemy, the prince of darkness battling against God until the very end.
This darkness will fall upon the sleeping warriors of these last days, consuming their failing flesh and fallen world. The Lord will purify with the refining fire of His righteousness.
Yet those dressed in His armor will live victorious. By the Cross Christ has redeemed the faithful from our sins!
13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
“with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Ambush by the enemy
The attacks of Satan are not the quick end which destroys instantly, but burning flames of ambush from the darkness of the unseen places.
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:11 NASB
The SWORD OF THE SPIRIT is the WORD by the HOLY SPIRIT of the Living God, sent for our salvation.
Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18 CSB
Have you dressed for this dark day?
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet…
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
Revelation 1:10, 4:1,
Is your armor at hand for the day of evil?
“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 9:11
Light from Darkness
What do you believe about light and darkness, about good and evil, about God and the opponents of the LORD?
John begins his gospel much like Genesis with contrasts between light and darkness and introduces evidence of the presence of Christ and the Spirit of God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…
That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:1,5 CSB
John compares Jesus to light, God’s answer to formlessness and darkness. Moses illustrates darkness in the beginning (Genesis) as chaos prior to God’s intervention by creation.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
And the Spirit of God moved like the wind over the gathering wave of a deep unending sea.
Light and darkness, good and evil, God’s plan and chaos: always separated. The Apostle John makes this separation very clear to the church as he writes in his third letter:
3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Choose Light or descend into darkness?
We like the Apostle John because he points us toward Christ’s love for the world. His gospel emphasizes Jesus’ love with little mention of the devil.
Some christians and others of this twenty-first century doubt the existence of the devil or question the influence, if any, of Satan and demons. We think we know these influencers of evil from other books of the Bible and tend to dismiss demons and devils.
John’s gospel is all about the Light.
John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
Yet Jesus cautions us, pointing to contrasts between light and darkness, good and evil, and yes, between following Him or the prince of darkness.
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
“I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness.
John 8:12 & John 12:46
These warnings against darkness from the Son of God ought to be enough, yet the prince of the world would tempt us to worldliness.
These warnings from John’s gospel do not differ from those of the Prophets.
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! What will the day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.
Amos 5:15 CSB
Revelation – ἀποκάλυψις apokalypsis
When we think of young John, the loving faithful follower of Jesus, we forget that he lived a long life as the only surviving Apostle. Rome finally banished John to Patmos where he received a terrifying apocalypse from the risen Christ.
Orazio Fidani, Saint John the Apostle, c. 1640-56
God judges the world; that is, those of the world who have turned away from the only Savior, our Lord.
Do you fear the uncertainty of darkness?
Consider the uncertainty of death!
Should God punish sin?
Dare you consider the darkness of death, experienced by your soul?
“Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”
Revelation 16:1
Last Judgement – Michelangelo
10 The fifth [angel] poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.
People gnawed their tongues because of their pain
11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they did not repent of their works.
Judgement! And punishment, even after death.
No redemption from sin, no help from the beast or false prophet.
Certainly no post-death incarnation into a new or different body, not even that of a lowly animal. (Such selfish idolatry of those lost souls who strictly adhere to such ancient lies or worship false gods.)
The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key for the shaft to the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the shaft to the abyss, and smoke came up out of the shaft like smoke from a great furnace so that the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.
The Dragon Thrown Out of Heaven
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.
You with eyes to see, souls seeking the Light of salvation: observe the terrible intensity of the battle between good and evil – Satan’s opposition to the Lord God and Christ Jesus. It is a battle to the death for our souls!
Yet by the mercy of the LORD’s Sacrifice of love on the Cross for you, Christ Jesus purchased victory eternal over the dragon of darkness.
9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.
The many names of the evil one
He hides in the shadows of darkness and speaks lies to false prophets. We know this dark imitator of light by many names, confusing even more our blurred vision of his subtle evil.
The great dragon – δράκων from familiar imagery of Greek mythology to John’s audience. The ancient serpent – ὄφις , a familiar reference to the cunning tempter in Eden , a clear reference to original sinחַטָּאָת.
John clarifies the identity of the enemy with two additional names more familiar to us, first: the devil – διάβολος diabolos in the familiar Greek, which means slanderer or accuser. He is known as the tempterπεῖρα, one who would bring you to a trial or terrible experience. It is a word from a root word πέραν meaning, ‘to pierce,’ which contains significant symbolism in the war between good and evil, between Christ and Satan.
John’s second identification is the most familiar and most feared: Satan. The contemporary name in the Greek, Σατανᾶς Satanas, also known to fellow Jews, believers along with John, as Satanשָׂטָן.
Revelation 16:10 refers to Satan’s princely throne as ‘throne of the beast,’ θηρίον thērion, implying his wild, venomous nature, even brutal, savage and ferocious, sometime illustrated as a bestial man.
Is is any wonder that the evil one wants man, created in the image of God, to dismiss him as myth?
More names of the prince of darkness
While relating the prophesy known as the fifth trumpet, John refers to Satan as: ‘the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.’
Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.
Revelation 12:7-8
Though Satan rules the darkness and entices sinners to turn against Christ Jesus and bow down at the throne of darkness, dare you doubt the consequence of the war between good and evil?
Satan and the false prophet are defeated and punished.
The saints then reign with Christ.
The Lord reigns over a new creation and a new Jerusalem.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more…
Revelation 22:3b-4a
The Apostle John pleas to his beloved churches, to beloved saints who claim Christ. The commandment of God is love, as Christ has loved us.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
1 John 1:5
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
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