Devotions from Israel – John 9

by | Jun 11, 2021 | Context and Culture of the Bible, Devotionals from Israel, Historical Geography, Israel Tour | 0 comments

An encouraging word from John 9

 

Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours (BIMT) is all about teaching the Bible in the context of the land of Israel and other biblical countries (Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy). We teach the historical geography of the Bible as well as archaeology, customs and culture of the land. We aim to make connections between  the Bible and the land in all that we do.

This is another session in the new series of teaching videos called “Devotions from Israel.” This brief five-minute devotional comes from John 9. This story is about a man born blind who was healed physically and spiritually by Jesus.

 

About the Devotional

 
During the course of His ministry, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem probably six or seven times (depending on how one counts His visits). John 9 preserves the time when Jesus encounter a man born blind. It is the longest miracle narrative in all four Gospels.
 
What is so interesting about the beginning of the story is that while Jesus’ disciples asked a question of curiosity (“Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?”), Jesus responded with compassion. Jesus befriended him and offered him the means of experiencing healing. Jesus made some mud on the ground, and putting it on the man’s eyes Jesus sends him to the Pool of Siloam. If the encounter took place in the vicinity of the Temple, this meant about a 350 yard walk to the Pool of Siloam, probably using a Herodian street just recently discovered.
 

“The blind man progression of seeing Jesus is clearly observed: a man called Jesus … a prophet … a man from God … the Son of Man. Not only were his physical eyes opened by Jesus, but his heart was too!”

Siloam Pool
Following the man’s eyesight being restored, the religious leaders began raising questions. In fact, at least four times they asked the restored man how he could now see. Sounding almost comical to us as readers, the man replied, “I have already told you, do you want to become one of His disciples too?” What a great response!
 
Ultimately the man-born-blind who now could see placed his belief in Jesus. He proclaimed, “Lord, I believe” to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” It is a story of both physical and spiritual transformation.
 
It was in 2004 that the actual Pool of Siloam was discovered. Today, only one side of the pool has been exposed to date.
 
I hope you enjoy this video below. These five minute devotionals will be produced on a regular basis. We will try to share two devotionals per week this summer. As you are encouraged by the video, please consider sharing this post with others for their encouragement as well.

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